Sign up for Credit Strategy's broadcast this Thursday: Risk and recovery in commercial finance

Held as part of Equifax’s Market Pulse series, the masterclass will explore insights on practical ways in which lenders are managing the multi-billion pounds of debt amassed by SMEs through emergency business interruption loans and other forms of debt.

The panel will share insights on this theme in the context of a constantly-shifting outlook for credit risk professionals in commercial finance, in the wake of Covid-19 and the Brexit trade deal.

Amid estimates of defaults reaching £26bn on bounce back loans (BBLs), and flexible repayment options in place for businesses with bounce back or coronavirus business interruption loans (CBILs), the panel will discuss how lenders can support SMEs through this huge challenge.

The audience will see Andrew Kemp, head of recoveries for SMEs at HSBC UK Commercial Bank, describe how the lender is engaging with business customers as repayments start to fall due, the models HSBC is using and how the lender is managing a balance between forbearance and responsible debt recovery methods.

Andrew Goodwin, chief UK economist at Oxford Economics, will also examine how the government’s roadmap for relaxing restrictions impacts on the economic outlook, and discuss the implications of this month’s Budget.

The panel will also discuss trends across business insolvencies and commercial debt judgments, as well as new company formations since March 2020, and how that could impact onboarding and customer management processes.

Due to be broadcast on 18 March at 10am, the masterclass will be held at a time when combined lending levels through interruption loans, guaranteed in part or in full by the government, have surpassed £70bn.

To register for the masterclass, click here.

The full list of panellists for the masterclass is:

● Jayadeep Nair, chief product and marketing officer, Equifax UK;
● Andrew Goodwin, chief UK economist at Oxford Economics;
● Tony Mott, senior commercial consultant, Equifax UK;
● Andrew Kemp, head of recoveries, HSBC UK Commercial Bank.