The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme opens to businesses today (23 March), offering emergency financial support for SMEs and microenterprises vulnerable to an economic downturn as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Category: Opinion
An equal world is an enabled world: why we want to forge a gender equal world to enable women entrepreneurs to thrive!
This International Women’s Day we’re celebrating female entrepreneurship. Responsible finance providers lend to entrepreneurs who are unable to access mainstream finance; creating opportunities and supporting job creation. In 2019, 40% of responsible finance loans went to… Continue reading
Social enterprises need access to finance to help rebalance the UK economy
In the UK 100,000 social enterprises report access to finance is a barrier to their growth and development. In response, last week Lord Victor Adebowale launched a new Commission on Social Investment to look at how… Continue reading
Responsible finance providers are a vital source of unsecured credit for low-income households
There is widespread recognition that the provision of unsecured credit is an essential service for many households to allow them to smooth the effects of fluctuating income and expenditure; responsible finance providers work to create a… Continue reading
Responsible finance providers are key to the UK’s shift to a sustainable economy
There is a growing consensus that the success of our move towards sustainable development and net-zero relies upon an increase in finance for the just transition. The just transition is a ‘transition which delivers a resilient… Continue reading
Responsible finance providers have a long and proven track record – the next Government must invest in them
Responsible Finance, the voice of the responsible finance industry, sets out their Manifesto for the 2019 General Election. The responsible finance industry works to promote prosperity and address inequality by empowering people to take control of their financial… Continue reading
Good growth for cities is bolstered by the responsible finance industry
SMEs in all regions of the UK need access to finance so they can contribute to local regeneration, employment, innovation and social cohesion. By providing finance to underserved and excluded SMEs, responsible finance providers create a… Continue reading
Scaling Up Community Investment in the UK Report welcomed
A new report sets out how responsible finance providers – enterprise-lending community development finance institutions – could increase their lending to £250 million annually to underserved small businesses if the right support is in place. Continue reading
Queen’s speech: in these chaotic times it is vital not to lose sight of issues crucial to people and place
People and place are key foundations in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, and sustainable economic development is central to this. The UK is transitioning to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in response to the burgeoning… Continue reading
School’s out for the summer – but what happens to struggling families?
The summer holidays bring extra financial costs to families, and for those who are already struggling it can lead them to take out exploitative high cost credit. Responsible finance providers help families to smooth fluctuations in… Continue reading