AAT and Informi launch partnership with Lloyds to help UK small businesses break barriers to growth
18 September 2018
AAT has teamed up with Lloyds Banking Group to help Britain’s small business owners make the most of the finance opportunities available to them.
The partnership will also include Informi, the organisation set up by AAT in 2016 to provide free expert guidance and practical support for small businesses, in order to help them on the path to success.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lloyds Banking Group will provide rich content on a series of relevant topics to accounting technicians, accountants and bookkeepers via the AAT Comment website, along with articles of interest to small business owners through Informi. The organisations will also closely work together to help lobby for change that will positively affect small businesses.
Among issues that the partnership will focus on includes working capital for small businesses, invoice and asset finance, payment services and international trade.
With over 250 years’ experience in supporting small businesses to realise their growth ambitions, we recognise that access to support and guidance is often as important to their future success as having the right finance,
says Ed Thurman, Managing Director, Global Transaction Banking, Commercial Banking at Lloyds Banking Group.
“Through this partnership, AAT members will be able to support their clients with insight that will shape working capital conversations, as well as provide access to guidance and information on international trade.”
As a membership body in the field of accounting, AAT ultimately exists to help finance professionals fulfil their potential, and, in turn, help wider businesses achieve theirs,
says Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of AAT.
“This partnership is designed to help our members and the wider sector gain useful insights from an established expert who can help provide solutions for many of their clients.”
We are thrilled to be working with such a well-established name as Lloyds in order to help guide small businesses towards resources they may find helpful as they seek to grow and succeed,
says Steven Drew, spokesperson for Informi.
“In the light of high-profile payment practice failings impacting significantly upon small businesses, it is more important than ever that business owners are supported in order to help reduce capital pressures on their business. This partnership will not only help provide guidance, but will also lobby Government to ensure that payment practices are reformed for the better.”
To complement today’s announcement, Lloyds Banking Group has supplied guidance for small businesses seeking support on Informi’s website on working capital and cash flow when selling overseas.
Lloyds Banking Group is one of the UK’s leading retail and commercial banks serving millions of customers, every day. It supported 100,000 businesses last year to start up and helps businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large corporates and financial institutions to fulfil their growth ambitions.
