A recent poll conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses found that of the 20 per cent of respondents who had applied to banks for credit, more than 40 per cent had been refused - an increasing percentage. Despite credit easing initiatives introduced by the Government, enabling the banks to offer loans at a one percentage point discount, the money is still not reaching those who need it.

As a result of failing to get the credit applied for, almost a third of those businesses have missed a growth opportunity, one in five have delayed their investment plans and 18 per cent believe they are at a competitive disadvantage.

This is where we come in. There are a host of other finance options open to businesses aside from bank borrowing, offering flexible, bespoke facilities. Whether you are looking to grow, invest or simply stay ahead of the game, we understand how vital finance is. So, if you have been turned down by the banks, contact us today – we will be more than happy to help.

R3, the Association of Business Recovery Professionals, warned recently of the difficulty many companies faced in meeting their quarterly rent costs at the end of March.

The organisation suggested negotiating preferable rates – such as monthly or ‘pay as you go’ payments with landlords, but added that directors could face accusations of wrongful trading if they tried to do so.

One possible alternative is to buy premises, rather than rent them – and commercial mortgages can help to provide your company with the capital to do just that.

By buying, you have the opportunity to negotiate on your mortgage repayments, which can allow you to balance your firm’s outgoings more consistently over the course of the year.

Of course, loans for business property purchases have the added advantage that, as you make your repayments, you are gradually building up capital in your premises.

This is clearly favourable in the long term, compared with renting or leasing and having no assets at the end of your tenancy.

The British Property Federation has noted that it is not just the occupants of retail space who hold such ambitions, but also those who own and rent out the property.

“I meet landlords on a weekly basis who are as passionate about the shopping experience they provide as the retailers who occupy their premises,” says BPF chief executive Liz Peace.

Her comments follow the government’s response to Mary Portas’ review of high street conditions, which includes a recommendation to provide £500,000 of funding for business improvement districts.

This support for town centres in meeting the setup costs of such districts is a drop in the ocean alongside other suggestions – such as using £10 million of taxpayer money to bring empty shops into regular use once again.

“Ultimately, if we want our high streets to thrive, a clear local-driven vision is required,” Ms Peace argues.

We can help you to access commercial mortgages and other finance for business improvements either as the owner of the property or as a tenant with collateral to put forwards.

As economic conditions begin to improve in the years to come, wisely invested business loans can help to put you well on the road towards success, and at the forefront of your chosen market as it begins to grow once more.

This is not only to ensure that funds are available to borrow through commercial mortgages and other types of loans for business, but also has an effect on the interest rates companies face on their lending.

On the subject of growth, he spoke of “stability, credibility, the low interest rates they bring, and passing on those low rates to families and businesses”.

He added that the government aims to provide businesses with the kinds of infrastructure that they need in order to operate with confidence.

In turn, he hopes that this confidence will lead to investment, expansion, new hirings and innovation, helping British businesses to “be the best”.

For companies looking to arrange commercial mortgages in the months and years to come, ongoing economic recovery is likely to prove good news.

In short, the chancellor’s words indicate that there should be more finance for business purposes as the UK economy strengthens, with favourable interest rates chargeable on business loans.

In the 12 months to January 2012, total asset finance approved by FLA members rose by 2%; however, in January alone the figure was up by 14% compared with the previous year.

The statistics also suggest that small businesses are making even greater use of asset finance as, when high-value deals are removed from the total, the 12-month growth stands at 11% and the figure for January alone climbs to 23%.

Geraldine Kilkelly, chief economist and head of research at the FLA, says: “Our latest figures follow the trend of growth in asset finance that we have seen over the past 12 months.

“While cash flow is important for small businesses, the evidence is that many are using asset finance to invest in new equipment and to expand their businesses.”

In the 12 months to January 2012, the total amount provided as asset finance by FLA members reached almost £21 billion, providing a much-needed injection of capital at a time when bank lending is still relatively subdued.

“Legislation alone cannot do enough to enforce prompt payment of suppliers,” he says. “We need practical, business-focused solutions to help SMEs in particular and make sure they are paid promptly.”

He is now looking at industries where prompt payment is commonplace, in order to determine what causes some sectors to suffer from widespread late payment.

By reducing lateness in supplier payments, he hopes to improve cashflow for small businesses so that they can “thrive and grow”.

Forms of invoice finance can help to cope with temporary disruptions to cashflow due to late payment.

Invoice discounting allows you to draw money against the amount you are owed by debtors, with fees discounted from the remainder before it is paid to you.

Meanwhile, factoring allows you to outsource your invoice processes completely; the invoice finance provider pursues the debtor for payment, and your administrative burden is reduced as a result.

According to figures from the Co-operative Bank, 50% of Britons saw their debts rise over the past year, and 70% in total now say they are having debt problems.

Despite this, few are taking the necessary action to clear what they owe – on average, debts reach nearly £1,250 before consumers do anything about them.

Even then, roughly 5% of people have taken out expensive payday loans and over 12% are hoping a lottery or gambling win will allow them to clear their debts.

If non-paying debtors are causing difficulty for your cashflow, invoice finance can help to provide a stop-gap solution until they can be made to pay up.

Invoice discounting allows you to borrow funds against the amounts owed to you by invoiced clients and customers who have yet to pay, up to 85% of the total.

When they eventually pay the full amount, your invoice discounting provider deducts the necessary charges from the remaining 15% of the payment, and you receive the remainder.

On February 16th, mayors and representatives of around 400 EU cities, including Manchester, met with European commissioner for regional policy Johannes Hahn at the first Urban Forum in Brussels.

The topics up for discussion are likely to come as good news for any city firms seeking finance for business developments that will create new jobs or enhance the urban environment in which they operate.

“While regional policy helps all regions to develop their individual strengths, it is essential to exploit the full potential of cities in particular,” said Commissioner Hahn.

The European Commission is now encouraging member states to draw together their different funding options for businesses.

This should see combined investment efforts to promote employment, social inclusion, education and “institutional capacity”.

Loans for business development are already available through several different avenues of funding, from invoice discounting – which offsets the amount borrowed against any outstanding invoices owed – to commercial mortgages that use property assets as security.

Figures from the British Insurance Brokers’ Association show that investing in a business continuity plan can open doors to previously inaccessible insurance markets.

Premiums can drop, while excesses are also often lowered for companies that are well prepared to deal with any disruption.

BIBA head of corporate affairs Graeme Trudgill says: “The results are quite striking, with small businesses potentially very vulnerable.”

Using finance for business continuity preparations can have an even greater impact if a disaster does occur, however.

The BIBA study found fire and flood to be the two greatest threats to business continuity – and 95% of those surveyed did not believe small firms have preparations in place to deal with such incidents.

By using finance for business continuity improvements, you can invest in an often-overlooked area with clear financial benefits in the long term.

This has the dual benefits of long-term potential cost savings on insurance policies, along with the added peace of mind that comes from knowing your business is protected against the worst kinds of disaster.

General secretary Brendan Barber has expressed concern that banks’ reluctance to approve business loans could lead to the Bank of England’s latest QE injection ‘gathering dust’ in the vaults of the major high-street financial services providers.

“More needs to be done to ensure that this latest injection of cash actually reaches the businesses that need it,” he says.

However, he adds that the dual decision to increase QE and hold the base rate of interest at 0.5% was the right one for the Bank to make in the current economic climate.

If you do not believe your bank would approve your requests for loans for your business, we may be able to help.

We are experienced in arranging loans for businesses of all sizes, in all states of profitability.

Whether you are profitable or loss-making, a new start-up, a large organisation or a sole trader, we can help you determine the best form of finance for your business needs.