Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The percentage of small businesses that rely on finance or funding to invest in business growth has reached an eight-year high, and those most in need of it are the enterprises predicting significant expansion for the months ahead, according to new research by Novuna Business Finance. The nationwide poll of 1,242 small business owners revealed…
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Latest data from the British Retail Consortium has found that total retail sales increased by 7% year on year in April, against a decline of 4% in April 2024. This was above the 3-month average growth of 2.9% and above the 12-month average growth of 1.4%. For March and April together, compared with the same…
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New research from iwoca has found that big-ticket loans are set to see increased interest from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as growth ambitions resurface. The research revealed that two in five (42%) brokers think loans above £100,000 will see the most growth in demand in the next twelve months. Currently, loans over £100,000 comprise…
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The latest Business Trends report from BDO, the business advisory and accountancy firm, reveals UK employment has reached a new 12-year low as businesses grapple with rising labour costs and global uncertainty. This drop in the BDO Employment Index signals further cooling of the UK jobs market, with vacancies continuing to decline in Q1 and falling below…
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A car dealer from Kent who now lives in Spain has been banned from being a company director for 12 years after his company received a second £45,000 Covid Bounce Back loan it was not entitled to. Joseph Harrison was the director of South East Commercials Ltd, a used car sales dealership in Kent before…
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The Bank of England has cut interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%. Responding to the announcement, Suren Thiru, ICAEW Economics Director said “This cut in interest rates is a timely shot in the arm for those businesses struggling to adjust to last month’s substantial spike in business costs and households contending with burdensome mortgage costs.…
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The Office for Students (OfS) has revealed that financial pressures continue to mount across Universities, with more than 40% now operating in deficit. The new report, which examines the sector’s fiscal outlook for 2024–25, outlines serious challenges that threaten the long-term viability of institutions. The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) has previously raised…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew in March 2025 by 11% compared with the same month in 2024. In Q1 2025, new business was 5% higher than in Q1 2024. The business new car finance sector reported new…
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Independent finance provider, Time Finance has appointed Terry Wolfendale as Head of Sales (South) within its Invoice Finance division as the lender ramps up its business finance support for SMEs. Wolfendale joins Time Finance having held a number of senior leadership roles over a 25-year period, including Lloyds Commercial Finance, Bibby Invoice Finance, RBS and…
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The National Debtline and Business Debtline have provided more free debt advice in 2024 than ever before as cost-of-living pressures continued to hit household finances, according to the Money Advice Trust’s latest Impact Report. The charity’s free, independent debt advice services for individuals and small businesses provided six million minutes of debt advice, with 271,900…
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New research by ThinCats has found that mid-sized companies that borrow are sixteen times more likely to achieve growth than face insolvency. The data found that companies that borrowed were more likely to achieve growth than non-borrowers, with the level of borrowing proportional to growth potential. Nearly 40% of mid-market SMEs have achieved revenue growth…
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New research from EY. has found that whilst the majority of companies say they have energy-related strategies and targets in place with three in five (62%) say the volatility of costs is already impacting profitability and competitiveness, with 66% concerned about the availability and reliability of energy supply to meet their future needs. The latest…
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A former pub owner who failed to disclose his bankruptcy when he applied for Covid support funds has been handed a suspended sentence. Gary Wright did not inform the bank that he was bankrupt when he obtained a £25,000 Bounce Back Loan in the summer of 2020. The 46-year-old made the application on behalf of…
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