10 April 2012
Peter Aldous MP today welcomed the launch of the Small Business Finance Directory, a new source of help aimed at small businesses in accessing commercial finance.

The new Directory is designed to help businesses find alternatives to conventional bank loans or overdrafts when these may be hard to obtain.

It is free to use and lists around one thousand sources of commercial finance for small businesses. It aims to help around 60,000 businesses to find suitable commercial finance in its first year.

Mr Aldous said:
“Businesses need finance for many different reasons, and securing facilities from banks is not the only option, in particular when financing short-term cash flow or working capital, buying assets, funding stock, or financing imports or exports. I hope the directory will help businesses across the Waveney constituency access affordable finance. I have placed an easy access button on the home page of my website.”

The Directory was developed by the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) and the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) with the support of the Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA). It is the first comprehensive Directory of its kind to cover the UK as a whole, and includes a search facility based on the region, town or postcode of local sources of finance and brokers.

Lord Sassoon, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, said:
“The Government recognises that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. That is why we are providing support to small businesses to ensure that they can access affordable finance to invest and grow. The Small Business Finance Directory has been developed at the request of local businesses and I wish the scheme success in meeting the target to help 60,000 businesses in the next twelve months.”

The Directory covers leasing and hire purchase, commercial mortgages, asset-based finance, invoice discounting and invoice factoring. The independent advisors listed in the directory can also help to match business needs with affordable finance.

The Directory is available at http://www.smallbusinessfinancedirectory.co.uk/
or on Peter Aldous’ website: www.peteraldous.com