Blog Archives - askif Inclusive Finance

The impact of the CBILS scheme

Source:
Date: October 23, 2020

Everyone from pastry shops to tech startups are building back better with support from the CBILS scheme As October quickly disappears, it’s almost impossible to believe it’s been six months since England was forced into national lockdown. We have all become accustomed to the only certain aspect of life being the presence of uncertainty and as we approach the Winter months with a tiered lockdown plan, it seems this isn’t about to change. The public health, social and economic implications... Read More...

AskIf appoints new Director of Operations and Projects

Source: AskIf
Date: August 11, 2020

As AskIf continues to grow, our fresh-thinking start-up is now scaling up with new senior hires to help us achieve our mission to do better for UK SMEs. Meet the newest member of the team, Wasim Mushtaq, Director of Operations and Projects... Wasim is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship and business transformation. A former Vice President at Barclays Bank Plc and recent graduate from MIT Sloan School of Management, Wasim will bring a wealth of experience to the AskIf Team. ... Read More...

Helping SME’s create energy efficient businesses

Source: AskIf
Date: July 31, 2020

“Our role in the Q-Energy Project will ensure energy efficiency is not only financially viable, but the most cost-effective part of any business plan.” Ask Inclusive Finance (AskIf) will be partnering with Qbots energy on the Q-Energy project, a landmark programme with an aim to develop a platform which will improve energy efficiency across the UK’s 5.9m SMEs. With research showing SMEs are currently responsible for over 50% of business energy use, it is hoped the project will kickstart the... Read More...

AskIf CEO’s Open Letter to Chancellor

Source: AskIf
Date: April 20, 2020

AskIf urges Government to resist calls for 100% guarantee on CBILS With pressure on the government to increase the CBILS guarantee to 100%, AskIf believes this is NOT the solution and there are much better ways to reduce complexity, improve access and increase the speed with which businesses can access the funding they so desperately need. AskIf CEO, Sam Bamert sets out why she believes a 100% guarantee would be damaging to UK SMEs, damaging to the taxpayer, and damaging... Read More...

AskIf, appoint two new team members to aid delivery of CV-19 loans

Source: AskIf
Date: April 6, 2020

AskIf appoints former CEO of Start Up Loans to their senior management team.Also recruiting former Director of Corporate Portfolio Management at Santander as new Head of Credit Risk.Both will play a critical role as the firm delivers the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). Joanna Hill, former CEO of Start Up Loans, has been appointed as Commercial Director at AskIf - one of the 40 CBILS Accredited Lenders. Joanna was instrumental in building the Start Up Loans Company, which supported... Read More...

AskIf Funding Limited accredited as a lender for the term loan variant of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) Scheme.

Source: Business Money
Date: March 4, 2020

Through the EFG scheme, AskIf Funding will be able to lend to viable smaller businesses with insufficient security under normal terms. EFG provides the lender with a government-backed 75% guarantee against the outstanding facility, potentially enabling a ‘no’ credit decision from a lender to become a ‘yes’. Read More...

AskIf launches AskIf funding, a lender accredited under the British Business Bank’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

Source: British Business Bank
Date: March 4, 2020

Ask Inclusive Finance, the inclusive tech-enabled funding platform, today announces its plans to transform the finance ecosystem serving small and microbusinesses in the UK, to help kickstart economic growth needed up and down the country. AskIf’s ambition is to ensure that every creditworthy small and micro business in the UK can get the funding and help it needs to achieve its full potential. AskIf Funding, the first ‘AskIf-arranged’ lender on the platform, has gained formal accreditation from the British Business... Read More...

AskIf shortlisted as a finalist for two Growth Finance Awards

Source: Growth Finance Awards
Date: June 27, 2019

The Growth Finance Awards launched this year in order to celebrate the companies providing “more than finance” to the UK’s growing businesses. It’s the first event of its kind, celebrating the innovative organisations breathing optimism into all regions of the UK by helping ambitious SMEs to scale new heights. These growth champions provide the vital capital inflows - around £79.7 billion last year - that help thousands of businesses to scale- up, boost productivity and create new jobs up and... Read More...

Our CEO, Samantha Bamert makes the Natwest Wise100 List

Source: Pioneers Post ‍
Date: October 30, 2018

The annual NatWest WISE100 recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business. The NatWest WISE100 (Women in Social Enterprise 100), produced annually by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest bank, were revealed last night, as attendees celebrated female leadership and explored the theme of ‘sharing the stage’ to involve more women in the impact economy. Read More...

Five questions for: Samantha Bamert, CEO of AskIf

Source: MoneyWeek
Date: April 6, 2018

"Since launching the platform last year, we have already processed over £4m of applications and financed over £1.3m of loans, creating 48 new jobs, and safeguarding a further 20 within 28 small businesses." Read full article on MoneyWeek website Read More...