Finance options
Learn about the different finance options available to UK businesses.
Learn about our finance options
From business loans and grants to equity finance, there are a range of different types of finance available to UK businesses.
What type of financing would be suitable for your business?
If you have a growing business, there’s an external finance option to match your ambition. See what forms of finance are available for your business.
Explore finance types abouDebt finance
For smaller business owners seeking financial support, some sort of debt finance can be a desirable option.
This process involves securing funds from a financial institution and agreeing to repay the borrowed amount, along with any accrued interest, over a period of time.
Start Up Loans
Over 115,000 business ideas supported with more than £1.1 billion worth of loans. We offer low-interest personal loans and free mentoring to help you start or grow a new business.
Learn more about Start Up LoansBank Referral Scheme
The Bank Referral Scheme helps businesses by referring them to the right lender when they have been unsuccessful in finding a lending facility. Learn how it can help.
Community Enable Funding Programme
Struggling to secure finance? A Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) could help—especially if you've been turned down by mainstream lenders. CDFIs support diverse businesses and boost funding in underserved areas.
FinTech
We are continuing to engage actively with market participants, seeking appropriate opportunities in the FinTech alternative lending sector.
Debt Funds
We focus our efforts on supporting established as well as emerging managers raising funds that lend to smaller, generally higher growth, companies with revenues of up to £100m
ENABLE Programmes
Find out about our ENABLE Programmes and how we support financial institutions to unlock more lending for smaller businesses.
Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS)
The Growth Guarantee Scheme is the successor to the Recovery Loan Scheme. It is designed to support access to finance for UK smaller businesses as they look to invest and grow, and was launched with accredited lenders on 1st July 2024.
Structured Capital Solutions
Structured Capital Solutions help address the capital constraints faced by our partners
Equity Finance
Equity finance involves a business owner selling shares in their business to an investor in order to raise money.
Angel Cofund
The Angel CoFund invests alongside business angels to support businesses with strong growth potential. Learn more about how the Fund works.
Future Fund: Breakthrough
Future Fund: Breakthrough is a £425m UK-wide programme which encourages private investors to co-invest in growth stage, Research & Development (R&D) UK companies operating in breakthrough technology sectors.
Investor Pathways Capital
The Investor Pathways Capital initiative aims to support diverse and emerging fund managers across the economy and make it easier for new entrants, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to break into venture capital. The initiative, which will capture the value of a more inclusive investment ecosystem, is expected to launch during the first half of 2026.
Life Sciences Investment Programme
The Life Sciences Investment Programme (LSIP) is a £200m initiative which makes cornerstone commitments to later stage life sciences venture growth funds with a strong UK focus.
Long-term Investment for Technology and Science (LIFTS)
The Long-term Investment for Technology and Science (LIFTS) initiative seeks proposals from industry for the establishment of new funds or investment structures to crowd in UK institutional investment, particularly Defined Contribution (DC) pension funds, to support the growth and ambitions of the UK’s most innovative science and technology companies.
Managed Funds Programme
Our Managed Funds Programme seeks to draw in institutional capital to the UK’s venture and growth capital markets.
National Security Strategic Investment Fund
Learn more about the National Security Strategic Investment Fund and our purpose.
Patient Capital Funds
Through our core £2.5bn programme we invest in venture and venture growth capital funds, and co-invest alongside those funds in the most promising later-stage UK businesses within our portfolio.
Regional Angels Programme
Our Regional Angels Programme invests alongside angel investors into smaller businesses across the UK to help close the regional equity gap.
The Enterprise Capital Funds programme
Enterprise Capital Funds combine private and public money to make equity investments in high growth businesses. Learn more about ECF.
Our Nations and Regions Investment Funds
The Nations and Regions Investment Funds aim to foster sustainable economic development by encouraging innovation and facilitating local opportunities for both new and growing businesses throughout the UK.
Cronfa Buddsoddi i Gymru
Mae cronfa fuddsoddi gwerth £130 miliwn sydd â’r nod o sbarduno twf busnesau bach a chanolig yng Nghymru ar y trywydd i gael ei lansio yn hydref 2023.
Learn more Dysgu mwy Investment Fund for Wales
A £130 million investment fund aimed at driving the growth of smaller businesses in Wales by providing commercially focused finance through Smaller Loans, Debt Finance and Equity Finance.
Learn more about the Investment Fund for Wales
Investment Fund for Northern Ireland
A £70 million investment fund aimed at driving the growth of smaller businesses in Northern Ireland by providing commercially focused finance through Debt Finance and Equity Finance.
Learn more about the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland
Investment Fund for Scotland
A £150 million investment fund aimed at driving the growth of smaller businesses in Scotland by providing commercially focused finance through Smaller Loans, Debt Finance and Equity Finance.
Learn more about the Investment Fund for Scotland
Midlands Engine Investment Fund II
A £200 million investment fund aimed at driving the growth of smaller businesses in the Midlands by providing commercially focused finance through Smaller Loans, Debt Finance and Equity Finance.
Learn more about the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II
Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II
A £660 million investment fund aimed at driving the growth of smaller businesses in the North by providing commercially focused finance through Smaller Loans, Debt Finance and Equity Finance.
Learn more about the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II
South West Investment Fund
A £200 million investment fund aimed at driving the growth of smaller businesses in the South West by providing commercially focused finance through Smaller Loans, Debt Finance and Equity Finance.
Learn more about the South West Investment FundRelated articles
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