Speakers' Corner
This is a weblog by David McMeekin (Chairman of Company Guides Ltd, The Capital Fund and the London Technology Fund) on the key issues of SME funding. If you would like to join the debate, please post any comments you have below the relevant article.
Is there a gap?
Posted: Tuesday, 12th September 2006
I was a little surprised to see an article in the Telegraph the other week quoting research that apparently concluded there is no equity gap (Don't mind the gap, 'it's a perception', 1 August 2006).
The conclusion is apparently based on Library House records. These show a 'significant gap' between the amount of money companies wish to raise and the amount they actually raise.
On funding and the Small Business Service (SBS)
Posted: Wednesday, 23rd August 2006
Civil servants are an easy target for negative headlines ("Agency proves to be the wrong tool for the job" Financial Times, 24 May 2006 - registration required), particularly with a National Audit Office (NAO) report to hand (supporting Small Business, NAO, 24 May 2006). While in no way wishing to be an apologist for the SBS, I feel honour bound to set the headlines in context and question some of the assumptions - particularly in relation to access to finance - that followed the publication of the Report.
Each year a proportion of our SME population will seek external funding.
Please be sure to read this important legal information.