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Wednesday, April 6, 2011
NEWS 3
FPB CALL TO TEST NEW APPEALS
A SMALL business support group is urging members to put a new bank lending appeals process to the test. The British Bankers’ Association announced the creation of the new process this week which, it is claimed, will allow small firms to request a second opinion if they believe loan applications have been declined unfairly by one of the UK’s main banks. The Forum of Private Business (FPB) believes the creation of the appeals process is a welcome step which should, if applied correctly, help to restore some trust in bank lending among small firms. FPB chief executive Phil Orford said: “If business owners do not pursue the appeals avenue when their loan applications are denied, it will effectively let the banks off the hook and allow them to say that small firms are happy with their lending decisions.”
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early 1980s. “When I first came in, all the signs were hand written or stencilled. “Now , almost 100% are done on digital printers.” Technology is also shifting away from printed signage and advertising to sophisticated LED displays around pitch perimeters and 3-D logos actually painted on the pitch which are placed in specific relation to the location of TV cameras. “They look like they are standing on the pitch, until someone runs over them,” said Paul. “They’re quite distorted up close, but they are applied at a measured distance from the TV cameras so they appear properly on the screen.” Another aspect of the modern industry is specialist abseilers on the staff who can work high on stadium roofing to place signs as advertisers seek more and more outlets for their products. Paul admitted the business felt the pinch when the downturn hit advertising: “We were alright at first, but after six to nine months, then it started happening. “I think we have bottomed out now and, with a lot of help and understanding of the staff to get us through, we’re picking up work again and things are on the up. “Our turnover of almost £1m is slightly down on the previous year due to the downturn, but we have taken on a new salesman who is trying to pick up new things for us.”
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