Supporting our Business Customers

We are committed to helping you and your business succeed through the current difficult trading conditions and for your long term business goals.

We have a range of different support materials that are available to help you and your business.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

The Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme is a new intervention, with a Government backed guarantee, allowing businesses access to funding for immediate working capital needs or longer term investment requirements.

The scheme is available to both new and existing businesses with viable business proposals, which are currently having difficulty securing funding due to market conditions.  

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Real Help for Businesses Now

The Government has launched Real Help for Businesses Now, which provides information on help available from the Government for businesses during the current trading conditions.

Support available includes business health checks, free training, HMRC help with delaying tax payments and loan guarantees. Information can be accessed through a Business Link adviser on 08456 009 006 or www.businesslink.gov.uk/realhelp. 

Interactive Business Guide

Staying on top of your cash flow and ensuring regular payments from your customers has never been so important. We have developed an interactive PDF with the Institute of Credit Management which provides a “best practice guide” with helpful tips and hints to avoid late payments. You also have access to a profit erosion calculator, helpful role-play scenarios and quizzes to test your knowledge.

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Top Tips to combat the Crunch

Read the top tips that we have produced with the Institute of Credit Management to help businesses ensure that they are fully equipped and prepared to manage their way through the current market conditions.

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Forum of Private Business

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) offers a package of support and services aimed at smaller businesses, many of which can help you survive the current downturn. These include:

• unlimited access to a helpline, available weekdays from 8am to 6pm, to answer all your business queries
• a ‘no collection, no fee’ debt collection service for UK debts and the facility to trace debtors that have ‘gone missing’, to help recover your money
• access to HR advisers who can provide guidance and support on a range of matters, from company restructuring to discipline and grievance

We are able to offer a significantly reduced rate for the FPB’s services: just £75 – saving upwards of £125 on the standard annual fees. This even includes a year’s subscription to the FPB’s guides to employment and health and safety in the workplace, worth an extra £270.

Speak to your Business Manager for more information.

Read a selection of articles from the FPB’s latest quarterly magazine for members, Business Insight, with advice and information for smaller businesses:

• Take a tax break – help may be available from the taxman for businesses struggling to pay taxes
• Recession busting – help and advice is at hand
• Redundancy: When there’s no easy option – managing redundancy  

To find out more:

• Call into your nearest branch or call 0845 606 4455
• If you’re an existing Business customer, contact your Business Manager
• Existing Business Direct customers, call 0845 606 4455