Budget 2009 fails to address commercial lending issues, says Crystal

With Alistair Darling avoiding one of the main problems stemming business survival and growth, the company has also stated that new pledges offer very little to help the small business community, entrepreneurs or investors as there are still very few options for raising finance.

Roger Dewsbery, senior underwriter at Crystal Commercial Funding, said: "From existing successful businesses to viable start-up companies, where is the help for SMEs?

"Nothing has been done to start the banks lending money, the higher tax band has been raised to 50 percent which will invariably deter success, and there is very little in the way of tax breaks.

"During a time when many small business owners feel the UK banking system is already letting them down, who can people turn to for support? The truth is the Government still hasn't given any answers to ailing British businesses and we must continue to push so our concerns are heard and addressed."

Through it's new division, Crystal Commercial Funding, Crystal Mortgages is the only UK firm to offer near-prime commercial mortgages that considers applications based on current payment ability over the more traditional serviceability checks which may cause applications to be declined by banks.