Project Merlin fails to meet its targets, and more from the FSB

Project Merlin fails to meet its targets
The FSB and research from the ‘Voice of Small Business’ Member Survey was quoted extensively across the national, regional and trade media in the last week, as the Bank of England released figures that showed the five high street banks that signed up to Project Merlin missed their lending targets to small businesses. Watch Andrew Cave on the BBC, read the press release and read a selection of coverage in City AM, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Guardian, Huffington Post, Sky News, Telegraph, Reuters and Management Today.

Alternative forms of non-bank finance should be explored
Following the news that the banks missed their Project Merlin targets, read the FSB’s comments in the Guardian on the Government’s credit easing scheme which also suggests that alternative forms of non-bank finance need to be explored. The FSB will be publishing its own report setting out proposals to boost these non-bank sources of finance later this month.

Free online training for mentors
Get Mentoring – a Government initiative to recruit 15,000 new mentors – has released an online training tool to help would-be mentors. Read the press release and find out more about how to join.

Calling all manufacturing members
Sky News is looking to speak to members that have businesses in the manufacturing sector to get reaction to the Chancellor’s Budget which is due on 21 March. Email if you are interested in being involved.

Mentoring in action
Listen to one FSB member, Rosemary Parr, on Radio 5 Live as she embarks on mentoring a young unemployed lady who wants to start her own business as part of a year-long series. (item is at 2hrs 45)

Pension’s roadshow
Ahead of the deadline to have all employees signed up to a pension scheme, the Government scheme ran through NEST is holding regional roadshows to talk to employers about preparing for workplace pension reform, and will be in Manchester on 22 February and Bristol on 27 February.

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