Business News Round Up (26/09/19)
HSBC commits £650m to Scottish SMEs
HSBC UK has announced it will pledge £650 million to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland. The Scottish lending fund is part of a wider £14 billion package for SMEs across the UK as part of its commitment to helping businesses realise their potential for growth and navigate Brexit.
http://www.bqlive.co.uk/finance-funding/2019/09/26/news/hsbc-commits-650m-to-scottish-smes-36327/
Region retains top tier position for foreign investment
The Manchester-Liverpool region has been as the 12th most popular global location for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the latest Global Location Trends report published by IBM. The report analyses corporate location selections, focuses on greenfield investments, expansions and co-locations for foreign direct investment.
HSBC UK launches £1.05bn North West fund
HSBC UK has announced a £1.05 billion lending fund to support SMEs across the North West. The 2019 fund includes increased ring fenced pots for international businesses and for the agriculture sector. The allocation for international businesses has been increased to £2 billion to help companies grow overseas.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/hsbc-uk-launches-1.05bn-north-west-fund
One in three firms put investment on hold, finds snapshot of business activity
Scottish business activity remains weak but long-term economic confidence is largely positive despite uncertainty caused by Brexit, the US-China trade war and political uncertainty, according to the Scottish Business Monitor from Addleshaw Goddard and Fraser of Allander Institute. A survey of more than 500 business revealed nearly one in three business in Scotland cut back on all new investment in the last quarter.
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/one-three-firms-put-investment-20174721