Our commitment to the SME Finance Charter
We are proud to be working with the UK Government as part of the Business Finance Council, and we’ve committed to the new SME Finance Charter to ensure small businesses continue to receive support and access the finance they need to grow.
The SME Finance Charter is a commitment by finance providers to support small businesses in the UK through Brexit, COVID and beyond. It consists of five principles which reflect priority areas that the government and finance providers have identified in ensuring that SME finance works effectively.
WE’RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND READY TO LEND.
Enterprise Answers is an ethical lender supporting entrepreneurship and jobs in communities under-served by mainstream providers. We do this by channelling investment into traditionally overlooked businesses, helping them to rebuild, adapt, diversify, and add new employment in the months to come.
Enterprise Answers, as a Community Development Finance Institution, is devoted to tackling this local disparity in the market by offering dedicated loan and business support packages specifically designed to support these SMEs through volatile markets and tightening credit conditions.
We have a range of loan term finance packages available to support you and your business ranging from £10,000 to £150,000.
WE’LL HELP YOU BUILD BACK BETTER AFTER COVID-19.
Enterprise Answers is proud to be a delivery partner for the Government-backed Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) – supporting businesses primarily based in Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire with loans ranging from £25,001 to £150,000. Enterprise Answers lending enables businesses to become sustainable, proposer and contribute to the local economy.
WE’LL SUPPORT YOUR APPLICATION AND SIGNPOST OTHER OPTIONS IF NEEDED.
Enterprise Answers takes a transparent, fair and relationship-based approach in our decision-making process because we know that accessing the right support and finance can be transformational for local businesses.
We currently approve the majority of lending applications but where we are unable to, we will signpost you to alternatives including other CDFIs, local authorities, Growth Hubs, The FSB or Chambers of Commerce for further support.
WE’LL TREAT YOU FAIRLY AT ALL TIMES.
Enterprise Answers adheres to the Standards of Lending Practice for Business Customers voluntary code. This sets high standards for good lending practice and provides principles for treating customers in the right way.
If you find yourself in financial difficulty, we have colleagues on-hand to assist and endeavour to help you get back into good financial health.
We encourage you to let us know if you’re unhappy with any aspect of our service. If we can’t resolve a complaint to your satisfaction, you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
WE’LL WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED BRITISH BUSINESS BANK (BBB) TO SUPPORT SMES.
The British Business Bank is dedicated to making finance markets work better for small and mid-sized businesses. We’ve worked with the British Business Bank since 2014 on a number of Finance Guarantee Schemes such as, Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFG), Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS) and the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). This helps us increase our lending to viable businesses that have inadequate security.
Here are some useful links to BBB’s Finance Hub and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Business Finance Guide, which offer information on finance options.
Read more about the SME Finance Charter and what it means for British business here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sme-finance-charter