Businesswoman Samantha Acton, proprietor of the Southbourne-based Domestic Angels network, has certainly got the alternative-finance message. Ms Acton, speaking to the award-winning local newspaper, The Daily Echo, criticises what she styles “the obsession” with getting banks to lend to small businesses again.
“A good entrepreneur will seek and secure investment from alternative sources as the banks’ reduced willingness to lend is merely perceived as a challenge to overcome or get around, not the end of the road.
“In fact I would hazard a guess that the alternative funding streams may actually be more appropriate, lending more than just finances – for example, personal commitment or proven commercial expertise.
“Interestingly, amongst my local business community there is no issue around borrowing finances, it’s a message that appears to dwell predominantly in the media and minds of politicians.”
Ms Acton added that banks were used to “dominating” small businesses.
At Money&Co. we believe that those days are drawing to close.