FREE eMAG: SME Covid Toolkit Tier Three business help
READ HERE: Packed with expert pandemic comeback help and advice for businesses, plus contact and further information links, it can be viewed at frontrowmedia.uk/2020/thestar/smetoolkitdecember.
The lead sponsor is Finance For Enterprise, which provides a range of tailored business loans designed to support new entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
It is helping companies to navigate their way through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other sponsors include Cannon PR, which explains why you should never underestimate the power of PR, and Launchpad, which offers workshops, training and one-to-one support for new entrepreneurs.
Finance For Enterprise is a delivery partner for Start Up Loans UK, the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
It marked a significant milestone in 2020 - it's 35 years since the alternative lending provider opened its doors for the very first time.
Although much has changed across South Yorkshire's business landscape since the mid 1980s, the need for SMEs to access business lending has never been greater.
Over the past 12 months alone Finance For Enterprise as helped businesses to access in excess of £10m - a record amount and managing director, Andrew Austwick, believes the funds provided by Finance For Enterprise don't simply help businesses to overcome short-term cash flow gaps, but that bring long term benefits for the local and regional economy.
Loans provided by Finance For Enterprise typically help businesses to innovate, diversify and grow, helping to retain skilled jobs and building wealth within the local economy.
Finance For Enterprise's latest social impact report has revealed the financial support delivered by the alternative lending provider has contributed towards over 1,000 jobs being created or safeguarded, as well as helping to fund 124 start-up businesses.
"We understand businesses are the lifeblood of every community. When they prosper the whole region benefits.
"Paradoxically, banks are often reluctant to lend to businesses looking to obtain financial assistance, but are only too happy to offer loans to businesses which aren't.
"One of the driving forces behind Finance For Enterprise has been to help viable businesses overcome barriers to growth.
"Our research has suggested the financial support delivered by Finance For Enterprise has helped to add more than £208m over the past seven years alone."
Andrew took the helm at Finance For Enterprise in April. Under his leadership, the company has relocated to new, larger promises, and strengthened its team of dedicated and experienced Investment Managers, as they help businesses to navigate their way through the Covid-19 pandemic.
"When businesses, work with Finance For Enterprise, they are assigned their own Investment Manager, who guides them through the application process, as well as offering advice when it comes to preparing supporting documents.
"The days of working with a local business bank manager, who spends time getting to know their customers, has long but disappeared.
"All too often lending decisions are determined in call centres by computer algorithms. The impact of Covid-19 has illustrated the importance of being able to discuss a lending application, rather than being forced to wait for hours to speak to someone sitting hundreds of miles away with little understanding of the challenges of business faces.
"When we consider a lending application, our Investment Managers work closely with business owners to help them access the right funding solution for their business."