Business Finance Council

The Business Finance Council works with lenders to ensure their SME customers can access the finance they need to grow and thrive.

Purpose

The purpose of the Business Finance Council is to work with lenders to ensure their SME customers can access the finance they need to grow and thrive.

The Council is jointly chaired by the BEIS Secretary of State, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets.

Its members, listed below, include major lenders and providers of alternative finance, UK Finance and the Finance and Leasing Association, the British Business Bank and Business Representative Organisations.

The Council will:

  • share information on the lending market for small and mid-sized businesses, particularly the availability of working capital
  • assess the effectiveness of actions underway to support small and mid-sized businesses in accessing finance, including advice and mentoring
  • support the use of programmes offered by the British Business Bank
  • ensure that information provided to businesses from government and from finance providers is aligned, consistent and accurate

The Council may make recommendations for action by banks, finance providers and businesses, and may act by consensus among its own members where this is judged to be effective.

SME Finance Charter

The Council has drawn up an SME Finance Charter with pledges from UK banks and finance providers to support their SME customers.

Terms of Reference

Business Finance Council members

Chair

The Business Finance Council is co-chaired by:

  • the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
  • the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister
  • the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets

Organisations

  • BEIS, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility
  • British Business Bank
  • UK Finance
  • Barclays
  • Metro Bank
  • Virgin Money
  • Funding Circle
  • HSBC
  • Lloyds Banking Group
  • NatWest
  • Santander UK
  • British Chambers of Commerce
  • The Federation of Small Businesses
  • Finance and Leasing Association
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
  • The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers
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