A number of banks in the UK have launched a mentoring scheme aimed at offering greater support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The five biggest lenders in the country - HSBC, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Lloyds Banking Group - are recruiting former and current employees to help out with the initiative.
Set up by the business finance taskforce, the project will attempt to school small businesses in areas such as finance, marketing and human resources.
Speaking to the BBC, director at Lloyds Banking Group Stephen Pegg said: "Having a bit of financial input, someone to ask the right questions ... helps you put together better lending propositions."
He added that such backing will give companies the confidence to invest and provide a wider range of contacts.
The news comes after the British Bankers Association revealed the amount of money handed over to SMEs by the nation's banks dipped in May.
By Asim Shah
