Entrepreneur takes banking advice role

Jan Fletcher told Business Secretary Vince Cable of her concerns about bank financing after joining his 26-strong Entrepreneurs’ Forum last year. The Harrogate-based entrepreneur said: “I just don’t think that what we are hearing from the banks is being reflected on the ground.

“I raised a number of issues and have consequently been asked to meet the chief executives of the UK’s leading banks and join this small banking finance advisory group.

“I am delighted to do this on behalf of Yorkshire and the country’s hard-working business peo- ple.”

She has been asked to consider including availability of finance to SMEs, costs of business finance and banking relationships.

Ms Fletcher said she is speaking to business leaders and organisations to gather their views.