Note from Norman Chambers

Norman’s Note

Norman Chambers Managing Director|NACFB

It would be fair to say that 2021 has been a rollercoaster of a ride. If I were asked to name this fairground attraction, I'd pick The Bucketing Fluctuator because the pandemic and Brexit have spawned more ups and downs and erratic turns at which one could shake the proverbial stick.

The downslopes of supply chain chaos and chronic labour shortages in particular have been terrifying, eye-closing, and exhausting. The journey has impacted all aspects of our lives.

This includes the UK commercial finance sector which chose to do more than simply cling on for dear life. Instead, it raised its arms and embraced the race to the bottom secure in the knowledge that there is always an upside. Modus operandi were adjusted to incorporate the government-backed loan schemes, criteria were expanded to adapt to the borrowing needs of business, processes were flexed to accommodate new technology, sustainability began to be integrated into all aspects of corporate thinking, and perhaps more than ever before, lenders and brokers alike worked furiously together to cradle the country’s SMEs.

And what of 2022? My guess is that we’re already queuing up to ride the ride again. But this time, we’ll be better prepared. When I say we, I mean the NACFB community. We’re wiser now. And stronger. The safety bar will have more padding. So when the light on the track switches from red to green, and the carriage starts its chug uphill, we will all be focused on Moving Britain Forward. Together.