Posted by martinparry on October 21, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance | 
Natwest Bank have recently sent me an email inviting me to attend a webinar entitled, “How to access the funding you need for your business”. Now there’s ironic!
However there are some interesting speakers presenting. They include Alex White of BDO; Peter Ibbetsen, Chairman of Small Business, Natwest and Alan Burton of Tree of Knowledge.
So if you are interested in registering, here and I look forward to joining you on the day.
Sc: martin.parry@mgba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 22, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance |
According to Cath Everett in MyCustomer.com RBS/NatWest is attempting to burnish its tarnished image in the wake of the government bail out by launching a 14-point Customer Charter guaranteeing minimum service levels.
The organisation is keen to transform itself into the UK’s ‘most helpful bank’ and devised the 14-point Charter based on feedback from more than 30,000 customers. It also plans to publish details of how it is measuring up against its own standards every six months in an independent audit undertaken by Deloitte.
Brian Hartzer, the bank’s chief executive, said: “We had a searing experience as a business and are thankful we were rescued. We have since taken stock of how we do things. There’s a lot we do well for customers, but we can do more and we want to change.”
Although such change would not happen overnight, the Customer Charter showed that the organisation was “on the case” and would be held to account for the progress it had made, he added.
Sc: www.mycustomer.com www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 18, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance |
A quarter of all small businesses are unhappy with the support offered by their high street bank, a new report suggests.
The research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found over a million small business owners have expressed dissatisfaction with their bank over the past year.
The level of unhappiness with bank service directly corresponds to the number of different bank managers business owners have to deal with, the report found.
Over a quarter of those who have dealt with two bank managers over the past year expressed dissatisfaction but the figure increased to 52% for those who had dealt with three bank managers and 70% for five.
Some 26% of respondents said a good relationship with their bank manager was one of the most important factors for choosing a bank. Other factors cited were the convenience of the branch location and the competitiveness of the account package, both cited by nearly a third of respondents.
The FSB is now calling for a Post Bank, which utilises the Post Office network, to be established. The lobby group believes this would provide a ‘local and trusted’ option for small business owners as well as increasing competition in the sector.
Sc: www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 15, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, Loans, SME News, Tax |
| Indicator |
Value |
Change on week |
Change on month |
Change on year |
|
|
|
|
|
| FTSE 100 |
5103.44 |
+ 11.37 |
- 283.96 |
+ 664.84 |
| £ against US |
1.44 |
0.01 |
- 0.08 |
- 0.15 |
| £ against € |
1.20 |
+ 0.03 |
+ 0.03 |
+ 0.06 |
| UK inflation |
3.7% |
none |
+ 0.3% |
+ 1.4% |
| UK interest rates |
0.5% |
none |
Location West Coast Bank width=”22%”>none |
none |
* Figures are as at midday on 7 June 2010
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 10, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, SME News, Tax |
levy on banks may raise the cost of borrowing for some consumers. The levy on the banks may ultimately be paid for by the borrowers. There is also potential for an impact on inflation in the short term. On a global scale, the G20 want a blueprint for changes to global banking rules by the end of this year although implementation may be delayed. Rules surrounding capital and liquidity may be an alternative to a banking tax but plans for banks to have increased cash reserves by 2012 could lead to further bank lending cuts as the banks would need to raise fresh capital in a short amount of time. From our personal experience small businesses are currently finding it pretty tough to obtain the funds they need from banks. Hopefully a solution will be found that will avoid theneed for an additional tightening on lending and the consumer ultimately paying the price.
Sc: www.wallacestein.com
Sc: www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 4, 2010 under Banks, Finance, Grants, Loans |
The Welsh Assembly Government has announced a £3.5 million funding boost for small and medium-sized businesses in North Wales. The money will be used to develop the ‘Skills for the Workforce’ programme, which help employees acquire new skills.
To read more on this story go to:
http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/businessandeconomy/2010/100524cashboost/?lang=en
Compiled By www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 1, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Sales, SME News, Tax |
Two pieces of good news for business at last. Firstly, UK gross domestic product (GDP) has been revised upwards for the first quarter of 2010, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The economy grew by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter, which has been revised upwards from the original estimate of 0.2%. The growth in the economy has been driven by the manufacturing industry. High industrial output boosted the economic growth, but some economists warn that Government spending cuts and the eurozone debt crisis could affect sustained growth.
Secondly, the level of business investment in the UK rose by 6% during the first quarter of 2010 compared to the previous quarter, according to figures from ONS. However, the level of business investment is still 11% lower compared to the same period a year ago. The rise in business investment is due to increased capital spending by private sector, non-manufacturing industries.
To read more on this story go to:
http://www.statistics.gov
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/oie0510.pdf
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/
manufacturing-pushes-up-economic-growth-1982837.html
compiled by www.ukba.co.uk www.mgba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on May 18, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, Grants, Loans, SME News |
Do you or your clients need funding for their business? Business Link West Midlands “Finance for Business Consultancy” grants are now available to help with applications for the following activities (a) Work on grant applications such as GBI or GRD (b) Assistance with the development of a business plan as part of a fund raising project. (c) Charges levied by business finance consultancies in support of their work on fund raising projects. The average contribution to consultancy fees £2,500 ex vat (50% of project cost). If you would like to know more email martin.parry@mgba.co.uk
Sc: www.mgba.co.uk www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on May 17, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, Loans, SME News |
According to Midlands Business Insider, a key indicator of the strength of the regional economy has revealed that the number of businesses insolvencies in the Midlands has dropped. Nottingham-based research company Experian’s latest insolvency index shows a year-on-year fall in the number of businesses going under in April. The East Midlands was the UK region showing most improvement, with an insolvency rate of 0.11 per cent in April 2010 compared to 0.15 per cent in April 2009. Some 116 companies went under in the East Midlands in April compared to 166 the previous year. In the West Midlands there were 194 insolvencies in April compared to 253 12 months earlier. But Rolf Hickmann, managing director of pH, an Experian company, warned that it continues to be vital for businesses to understand the circumstances of those they are doing business with and the risks to which they could expose their company. “It is easier for the smallest businesses, with just one or two employees, to make adjustments to their operations and pull in the reins when times are challenging. For the largest business, there is the flexibility that comes with economies of scale. Mid-sized businesses do not typically have the luxury of either of these benefits,” he said.
Sc: Midlands Business Insider and http://www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
