As part of our ongoing drive to raise money and awareness for Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) our very own CEO John Moffat is taking on two tough challenges.

In his first challenge, John has committed himself to walking more than 15,000 steps a day for 100 consecutive days over the coming months to raise money for this incredible cause.

If that wasn’t enough, he is then taking on the bigger challenge of walking the Speyside Way. Covering more than 100km and taking up to a week to complete, this difficult route will see John brave tough terrain and inclement weather in aid of SHA.

SHA helps people affected by Huntington’s disease who require specialist services to cope with severe and complex symptoms.

This fantastic charity also helps raise awareness of this condition and supports the families of those affected by it.

Scottish Huntington’s Association aim to reach every Huntington’s family through their Huntington’s Disease Specialists, Financial Wellbeing Officers and Specialist Youth Advisors.

Speaking about the challenges, John said: “Whilst the walks I am undertaking are tough, they are nothing compared to the difficulties that people with Huntington’s disease face daily.

“I am looking forward to taking part in these challenges and doing my bit, alongside the rest of the firm, to raise money for this cause.”

John is inviting people to join him on his 15K step challenge on certain days in Strathclyde Park. He will mainly be walking Monday and Tuesday after work and Wednesday to Friday before work. If you would like to join him, click here.

If you would like to show your support by making a donation, please click here.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have struggled to access finance from banks for a while, with many having to turn to alternative lenders and sources to secure much-needed funding for investment.

However, the scale of this issue has not previously been explored in significant detail until now. A new study has found that almost three-quarters of SMEs believe that their bank actively discriminates against them in favour of lending to larger companies.

Independent polling agency, Censuswide, surveyed 500 UK SME owners to explore whether they had access to finance and sufficient support from their bank.

Whilst the headline figure on lending is concerning, what stood out significantly was the seeming reluctance of banks to back SMEs’ plans for growth.

Perhaps that is why the initial headline figure on bank lending and support is so worrying to many business owners.

Need finance?

Higher interest rates and more cautious lenders have resulted in many businesses struggling to access funding, especially from banks, as this study has shown.

A traditional bank loan is only one means of obtaining the funding required to meet your investment plans and there are several other sources that owners can consider.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Venture capital investment, including tax-efficient EIS and SEIS funding
• Peer-to-peer finance
• Crowdfunding
• Pitch events
• Grants

Each of these forms of finance and funding has pros and cons that should be carefully considered.

If you are struggling to find funding for your business strategy it is important to seek professional advice to understand the various options available to you.

Speak to our team today to find out how we can help you with your plans for growth and investment.