WHILE bankers have had the unusual experience of being praised for their backing by a local construction company boss, a Cabinet minister has urged lenders to support more small firms.

Brian Verity, managing director of Skipton Properties, whose company is benefitting from the upturn in house building, says blanket criticism of the banks is unfair.

He has sung the praises of local business bankers at Royal Bank of Scotland for continuing to support the business ‘through thick and thin’.

“In my experience it’s unfair that all bankers tend to get tarred with the same brush. RBS has been very supportive of our business over many years since we switched from another bank where we had been for more than 20 years.

“We’ve been well served by RBS . We weren’t immune to the impact of the recession which hit the construction sector hard and it’s at times like those that you need a bank that understands your business and the pressures you face.

“Five or six years ago when we were losing money the bank could see that we would weather the storm and get through by taking appropriate action.

“We had to make some people redundant but we’ve been able to take some of them back as things have improved.

“Because RBS has worked closely with us and understands our business the bank has not turned us down once,” said Brian.

Jonathan Ellis, of RBS said it was ‘fantastic’ that Brian Verity had voiced his support for the bank.

He said: “We work with companies closely so people like Brian can take advantage of opportunities. It’s not just about helping in good times but also tough times. Skipton Properties is now seeing the benefits of the recovery.”

Skipton Properties has developments in Haworth, Keighley and Bolton Woods in Bradford.

But Business Secretary Vince Cable claims RBS is a key culprit as small business lending continues to contract. He said: “We’re often told the problem is bottoming out but in some ways it isn’t. In the last 12 months there have only been two months in which that lending has grown.”