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Banks create funds for firms hit by Carillion collapse | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Two banks have said they will provide money to support small business customers who are struggling after the failure of Carillion. | |
Lloyds is creating a £50m fund, while RBS is offering £75m worth of assistance. | |
Both were among the banks that stopped backing Carillion after the government refused to insure its debts. | |
The government has asked banks for assurances that they would help firms affected by Carillion's collapse. | The government has asked banks for assurances that they would help firms affected by Carillion's collapse. |
Meanwhile, Nationwide building society has said it will take in-house jobs which were performed by Carillion. | Meanwhile, Nationwide building society has said it will take in-house jobs which were performed by Carillion. |
It said it wanted to provide "reassurances" at an "unsettling" time. | It said it wanted to provide "reassurances" at an "unsettling" time. |
On Wednesday, Business Secretary Greg Clark met representatives of some of the banks to seek assurances that they would support small businesses hit by Carillion's liquidation. | On Wednesday, Business Secretary Greg Clark met representatives of some of the banks to seek assurances that they would support small businesses hit by Carillion's liquidation. |
Afterwards, he said UK lenders were ready to give "tailored support" and flexibility when it came to repayments. | Afterwards, he said UK lenders were ready to give "tailored support" and flexibility when it came to repayments. |
Carillion's collapse may delay Birmingham's Metro work | |
How do companies win government contracts? | How do companies win government contracts? |
Carillion collapse raises job fears | Carillion collapse raises job fears |
RBS said it was "offering a range of flexible options to support impacted small business customers in Carillion's supply chain, providing payment holidays and assistance with their overdraft to help manage any short-term cash flow challenges". | |
It said it would top up its initial £75m of assistance if required. Measures include a 20% increase in overdraft limits for three months, plus a three-month capital repayment holiday on loans. | |
Lloyds said its £50m fund, which is now available, was for small businesses within Carillion's supply chain that "may now be experiencing financial difficulty". | |
For the "most severely impacted" customers, that could mean capital repayment holidays on loans for six months to start with, to help with cash flow problems. | For the "most severely impacted" customers, that could mean capital repayment holidays on loans for six months to start with, to help with cash flow problems. |
Jo Harris, Lloyds managing director of business banking, said: "Small businesses don't normally have the cash reserves that larger businesses do, so any interruption to their cash flow can have a significant impact on their ability to survive. | |
"By supporting our small business customers during this difficult time, we hope we can help as many businesses as possible to get back on an even keel as quickly as possible." | "By supporting our small business customers during this difficult time, we hope we can help as many businesses as possible to get back on an even keel as quickly as possible." |
Lloyds was one of the banks to withdraw funding from Carillion, but is now stepping in to support firms affected by that decision. The BBC asked Lloyds whether there was a contradiction in that. | Lloyds was one of the banks to withdraw funding from Carillion, but is now stepping in to support firms affected by that decision. The BBC asked Lloyds whether there was a contradiction in that. |
The banks withdrew funding from Carillion because of "viability", said a spokesperson. "There are reasons the Carillion situation happened." | The banks withdrew funding from Carillion because of "viability", said a spokesperson. "There are reasons the Carillion situation happened." |
Lloyds had set up the fund for affected companies to ensure the impact of the collapse was "minimal", he added. | Lloyds had set up the fund for affected companies to ensure the impact of the collapse was "minimal", he added. |
'Provide clarity' | 'Provide clarity' |
From next Monday, 250 staff, mainly cleaners and maintenance workers, who were on the Carillion payroll will be be employed directly by Nationwide. | From next Monday, 250 staff, mainly cleaners and maintenance workers, who were on the Carillion payroll will be be employed directly by Nationwide. |
The lender will also take over contracts arranged by Carillion, which provide employment for another 1,500 workers. | The lender will also take over contracts arranged by Carillion, which provide employment for another 1,500 workers. |
Staff previously employed by Carillion carry out cleaning, maintenance and administrative functions for Nationwide, including in its 700 branches. | Staff previously employed by Carillion carry out cleaning, maintenance and administrative functions for Nationwide, including in its 700 branches. |
The building society said the move to take the jobs in-house would "provide clarity for those affected and ensure that services are maintained". | The building society said the move to take the jobs in-house would "provide clarity for those affected and ensure that services are maintained". |
Carillion also sub-contracted some of its cleaning and maintenance work for Nationwide to a number of other companies. | Carillion also sub-contracted some of its cleaning and maintenance work for Nationwide to a number of other companies. |
However, Nationwide said it would "now look to deal directly with third-party suppliers that currently support the Carillion contract". | However, Nationwide said it would "now look to deal directly with third-party suppliers that currently support the Carillion contract". |
A spokeswoman for the company said it was "too early to say" whether Nationwide would look to outsource the jobs again in the future. | A spokeswoman for the company said it was "too early to say" whether Nationwide would look to outsource the jobs again in the future. |
Carillion went into liquidation earlier this week, threatening thousands of jobs, about 20,000 of them in the UK. | Carillion went into liquidation earlier this week, threatening thousands of jobs, about 20,000 of them in the UK. |
It described itself as an "integrated support services business" and held about 450 governmental contracts, spanning the education, justice, defence and transport ministries. | It described itself as an "integrated support services business" and held about 450 governmental contracts, spanning the education, justice, defence and transport ministries. |
Its failure means the government will have to provide funding to maintain the public services run by Carillion. | Its failure means the government will have to provide funding to maintain the public services run by Carillion. |