Author: Carol Jones

Business continuity planning involves devising a strategy and resources for the years ahead. It is an extremely valuable form of planning for companies in all industries and sectors. In some instances it would be considered vital, particularly when it is expanded into business continuity and resiliency planning. Guest houses, bed and breakfasts and hotels are clear examples where it is crucial to have a strategy for ensuring that the business can continue in adverse circumstances. Here at Stewart Hindley & Partners we specialise in providing this valuable planning, as well as assisting with supporting funding, mortgages and B&B and guest house finance of all kinds. Continue reading “Aiding you with business continuity planning”

Traditionally, it was uncommon to see people remortgaging and switching to other providers. This practice only became popular over the last decade or so with people taking the opportunity to switch and secure better rates for themselves rather than sticking with the provider they started with. Comparison websites had a hand in the change too because they let people easily compare rates and see how much switching could save them. Continue reading “Reduce risk by remortgaging”

The British pub has been an institution under threat for quite some time as a result of several legislative, social and economic trends that collectively squeezed industry margins and revenue. Over the last few years, the sector has seen a wide range of structural changes. Throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, we saw an increase in consolidation as breweries and companies integrated their operations in order to achieve economies of scale. However, the turbulent conditions of recent times have forced many owners to offload their assets, which has led to companies implementing better pub management policies. The upshot is that the industry is seeing a positive turnaround and it is forecast to return to growth over the five years as companies and establishments adapt to consumer trends. Continue reading “Securing finance for your public house”

Re-mortgaging a bed and breakfast can offer many advantages, including giving owners the option to secure cost savings with a better rate. With most mortgages you’ll be on a competitive introductory rate for the first 2-5 years before being switched to a higher rate. This makes switching more attractive and means you could save a great deal in the process too if you get it right. Continue reading “Why should you remortgage?”

When businesses face cash flow difficulties, it is not uncommon for owners to avoid payment of VAT and corporation tax to pay creditors and suppliers and continue trading. The problem is that HM Revenue & Customs are the most likely to send in bailiffs and issue a winding up petition. Many business owners assume that once this action is implemented it is the end of their business, and that liquidation is inevitable. However, this does not necessarily have to be the case. We specialise in hospitality and marine finance and funding, and we can assist our clients by finding an alternative solution. Continue reading “Dealing with business tax arrears”

Anyone who has every taken a holiday or visited a seaside town in the UK will have a sense of how popular bed & breakfast accommodation is. This is due to the fact that they offer accommodation that is generally more personal and homely than larger hotels. This popularity is reflected in the overall contribution of bed & breakfasts and guest houses to the economy, which is estimated to be around £2.5billion every year. In order to sustain this economic success, businesses in the sector require expert help and sometimes access to supportive refinancing. Stewart Hindley & Partners are proud to be at the forefront of offering these services, specialising in hotel, bed and breakfast and guest house finance of all kinds. Continue reading “Connecting hospitality businesses with supportive lenders”

You will have noticed in the news recently that various banks and institutions are coming under scrutiny for mis-selling products to businesses. It would seem that the PPI scandal was not the end of unfair practices coming from the financial sector. It has emerged that a number of institutions have sold fairly lucrative looking loans and financial products to businesses which turned out to have hidden swap closes and undisclosed derivative products linked to them. A significant number of businesses affected by this are based in the hotel, accommodation and leisure sector. Continue reading “Accessing finance after being mis-sold loans”

For small to medium sized businesses, the last few years have been difficult. In the Bank of England’s most recent Trends in Lending report, it was stated that the growth in stock of lending to SMEs was negative in the three months leading up to February this year. However, although this may seem discouraging, there are plenty of positive signs ahead. Continue reading “Upcoming developments in business funding”

Securing finance for a hotel can be a little more difficult than it was several years ago because of the changes brought about by the global financial crisis. Lenders are willing to lend, but at the same time have become more stringent with their checks. They are ready to look into specifics about the business rather than just the property and assets. This means people seeking hospitality or marine finance need to be much more prepared if they want to secure essential mortgages or loans. Continue reading “New lending rules provide an unexpected benefit”

Owning a hotel or bed and breakfast is an attractive business prospect for many people. When running a hotel or B&B you are likely to be interacting with customers from all walks of life and from many different locations, making this a varied and interesting career choice. Continue reading “Our experience in handling funding for bed and breakfasts”