Andrew Mitchell MP has met with local and regional representatives from Lloyds TSB at his offices on High Street to urge them to continue to support Sutton’s small business sector.
Andrew met with Andy Youngman, Lloyds TSB’s Area Director for Birmingham, and Gary Short, Lloyds TSB’s Senior Manager Commercial, who is based in Sutton Coldfield. Andy Youngman has overall responsibility for looking after Birmingham’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who bank with Lloyds whilst Gary Short specifically covers the Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth areas.
Andrew Mitchell convened the meeting as part of his ongoing scrutiny of bank lending to Sutton businesses and was pleased to find Lloyds respond with encouraging figures: both men expressed confidence in the local economy, reporting that overdrafts are down and local lending is up by 7.5 per cent.
Andrew Mitchell secured an open offer for local businesses seeking loans or advice to visit Lloyds who stressed they were very much “open for business.”
Mr Mitchell heard how Lloyds have been holding morning meetings for Sutton Coldfield customers – approximately 120 at a time – where they provide information and financial advice.
During the meeting Sutton’s MP also secured from Lloyds a re-commitment of their pledge not to close any of the town’s branches – there are four in Sutton Coldfield.
Andrew Mitchell MP said, “This was an important opportunity for me to bang the drum for businesses in Sutton Coldfield and to convey to Lloyds many of the views and concerns that constituents are writing to me about.
“Small and medium-sized enterprises are tremendously important to the local and national economy, both in terms of the wealth that they create and the jobs that they provide. Lloyds’ increased lending to businesses in Sutton Coldfield is therefore good news and an encouraging vote of confidence in our area.”