There are now more start-ups in the UK than ever before, and in order to reach a level of scale, these organisations need to finance effectively. Smaller companies can find themselves turned away from mainstream bank lenders, who do not want to lend to businesses with fewer than three years of financial statements as evidence. Similarly, larger or more experienced firms that no longer fit traditional bank lending criteria continue their struggle to source mainstream financing.

http://www.smeweb.com/sme/smes-have-never-been-more-important-to-keeping-the-uk-economy-afloat-but-are-we-truly-supporting-them