Kate Sharp, CEO Asset Based Finance Association said of the report:
"The results of the Business Factors Index for the first quarter of the year are indicative of the up and down conditions still faced by many UK businesses as the country begins to recover from recession. Although the recent Budget contained a number of measures designed to support small and medium-sized businesses, access to finance remains a key challenge as high street banks remain risk averse, and the practical application of Government funding for small businesses remains fraught with issues."
" In order to continue the positive growth seen in March, firms must keep their financial options open and seek solutions which can benefit them in the short and long term. Members of the Asset Based Finance Association are currently advancing around £14 billion to businesses in the UK and Ireland and, although recent Government measures should help begin to free up funding to companies, the Business Factors Index shows the importance to small and medium-sized businesses - the lifeblood of Britain's economy - of a consistent stream of funding."