A recent report¹ from Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation and accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, has emphasised the critical importance of manufacturing to the North West economy. 

According to the study, the North West stands out as the UK’s most productive manufacturing region, with industry accounting for 15% of the regional economy. Furthermore, the North West supports 342,000 jobs in key manufacturing sectors, almost …

It is a truism that the only constant in business is change. Couple that with the uncertain political and economic environment, and for ambitious businesses the need for predictability and certainty of funding has never been greater, says Stuart Bates, co-founder and commercial director at Praetura Commercial Finance, in an article published in the ‘Growing British Business’ report in The Times.

Stuart outlines how without diluting equity, …

Do you ever look back at what you’ve said in the past and wonder why you said it?

I certainly do. A few years ago, I was quoted in an article saying: “Deal delivery is everything”. You see, it’s the word ‘everything’ that doesn’t really work for me and I’m not sure it did then either.

Let me explain.

On …

In a nutshell, what is Asset Based Lending (ABL)?

Asset Based Lending is being used increasingly by ambitious businesses in the Region as a dynamic source of funding. ABL unlocks working capital across all asset classes with Invoice Discounting at the core, supplemented by loans against Stock, Plant & Machinery and Property. Cash flow loans are also available (subject to EBITDA) to secure even higher …