Use of external finance has remained stable
45%
of smaller businesses are using external finance, a 1% decline on the previous year
5
of 12 UK Nations and regions recorded an uptick in use of small business finance
15%
of smaller businesses using external finance used credit cards, the most popular finance type
33%
increase in the number of loans and overdrafts to smaller businesses from major banks
Equity finance has declined across most of the UK
£10.8bn
in equity investment was raised by UK smaller businesses in 2024, down 2.5% on the previous year
3
of the UK’s Nations and regions saw annual growth in equity deal volume and value in 2024 – Scotland, the North West and the East Midland
British Business Bank remains committed to helping to reduce regional imbalances
84%
of businesses supported by the Bank in 2024/25 were outside London
£306m
of additional gross value added expected from businesses funded by the Banks’ Nations and Regions Investment Funds in 2024/2025