Member Article

Millions of pounds worth of funding available for SMEs during Leeds Business Week

Hundreds of Yorkshire businesses are being urged to kickstart their cashflow and take control of their funding by attending a free seminar at Elland Road, organised as part of Leeds Business Week.

It’s being organised by the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB), the UK’s trade body for business finance brokers, whose members constantly help small businesses access thousands of pounds worth of vital funding they had previously been unaware was available to them. This year, for the first time in seven years, NACFB brokers have exceeded the £1 billion mark in monthly SME lending.

NACFB patron Allison Lee, who is a Director of East Yorkshire-based company, Heritage Commercial Finance, said:

“This seminar is essential for all SMEs who are looking for finance opportunities. So many businesses are missing out on funding simply because they don’t know who to turn to. There are huge advantages to using a broker to source money, particularly as businesses have found it more and more difficult to get funding in recent years.

“We find it frustrating that people are, sadly, still in the dark about what options are available. Brokers know the market and know exactly how and where to source this funding and can present potential lenders like us with a comprehensive package of information which makes underwriting their proposals a relatively simple process.”

Whether a business is planning growth, refinancing or simply looking at improving cashflow, the NACFB has developed this seminar to show them how to access a wide range of funding solutions - commercial mortgages, bridging finance, development finance, buy to let mortgages, leasing and asset finance, peer to peer funding, factoring and invoice discounting and vehicle finance.

Last year, Business Secretary Vince Cable launched the NACFB Small Business Finance Directory, called Find SME Finance, recognising at a national level the Association’s work in providing more funding to SMEs. Businesses simply need to log onto www.smallbusinessfinancedirectory.co.uk to find a broker in their area who will help match them with the right lender.

Allison Lee continued:

“The money is out there and we are determined to show businesses how to get hold of it. I can’t stress enough what an excellent opportunity this is for SMEs right across Yorkshire to find out more.

“In addition, NACFB members work alongside the British Business Bank which brings expertise and Government money into the equation to help the smaller business finance markets.”

Those attending will then have the opportunity to ask about specific funding requirements at a funding surgery, to be held immediately after the seminar.

“This seminar,” added Allison Lee, “will cover ALL areas of lending for SMEs. We’re asking all organisations, committees, associates and networking groups to spread the word in order to help Yorkshire businesses move forward with access to finance.”

The breakfast seminar is being held between 8.30am and 10.30am on Thursday 16th October 2014 in the Lorimar Suite, East Stand, Leeds United Football Club, Elland Road, Leeds. It kicks off at 8.30am with tea, coffee and bacon rolls, with the first presentation starting at 9am. Spaces are limited, so if anyone would like to attend they are asked to book via www.leedsbizweek.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Fiona Dwyer .