News story

Chancellor launches consultation on measures to help small business lending

Consultation on measures to help SMEs who have been rejected for a business loan, launched by Chancellor.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Calculator, a pen, and a bundle of £10 notes

Speaking at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) 40th anniversary conference, the Chancellor announced how proposals published today (Friday 28 March) aim to make it easier for SMEs to find alternative loan providers.

The consultation asks whether the government should legislate to require lenders to release information on SMEs they reject for finance, so that they can be identified and approached by alternate credit providers.

The ultimate aim is for new online platforms to be created so that lenders can find SMEs that are looking for a loan, but have been rejected first time around.

Over half of SMEs seeking finance for the first time get rejected, and research suggests most of them do not try again.

Big banks account for the vast majority of main SME banking relationships (over 80%), but innovative new forms of credit, such as peer-to-peer lending and crowd-funding platforms, are being created in the UK all the time.

The proposals will bridge the gap between SMEs not knowing other lending options could meet their needs, and alternative lenders not knowing these businesses need a loan.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne said;

The success of small and medium sized business is key to the government바카라 사이트™s long term economic plan. That바카라 사이트™s why we are fully focused on making sure businesses can get the finance they need to grow and create jobs. This includes actively supporting innovative new forms of business lending.

We바카라 사이트™re setting out new proposals that will help match up other lenders with small businesses that may have been turned down for a loan by a large bank. A big bank saying 바카라 사이트˜no바카라 사이트™ should not be the end of the line for a small business. Now, with our plan, it won바카라 사이트™t be.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said;

Too many businesses are put off looking for finance if they are turned down by their bank. By putting the onus on banks to refer these businesses to other sources of finance, we can help make sure the potential of the country바카라 사이트™s small businesses isn바카라 사이트™t lost. A better referrals system will be good for competition, and good for the economy.

Photo courtesy of , used under Creative Commons.

Updates to this page

Published 28 March 2014