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Smaller loans from £25,000 - £100,000
Whether you are an entrepreneur wishing to start your own business, or an early stage or more established small business looking to grow you may find it difficult obtaining the finance you need.
Smaller loans can be used to fill the funding gap for growth and development projects.
How to apply
- Go to the fund manager’s website by clicking the box below.
- Make an enquiry directly to the fund manager.
- The fund manager will contact you to talk through your funding requirement.
- The fund manager may ask for more information and a formal application or pitch deck.
- The fund manager will evaluate your application and make the investment decision.
Have a question? Read our Frequently Asked Questions.
Funds Available
Smaller Loans, £25,000 - £100,000 (North West - Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cumbria)
River Capital WebsiteSmaller Loans, £25,000 - £100,000 (North West - Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Manchester)
GC Business Finance WebsiteSmaller Loans, £25,000 - £100,000 (North East)
NEL WebsiteSmaller Loans, £25,000 - £100,000 (Yorkshire & the Humber)
BEF WebsiteLatest News from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II

Blog post
Press release
Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II in the news
Manufacturer rolls out world’s first self-cleaning kiosk
25 July 2025
A company that makes the self-service kiosks used to place orders in Argos stores and fast-food restaurants has secured funding to help it roll out the world’s first self-sanitising kiosk at locations worldwide.
Learn more about manufacturer rolls out world’s first self-cleaning kioskNPIF II – NEL backs growth and job creation at Middlesbrough-based engineering supplier
24 July 2025
Middlesbrough-based Valves & Flow Control Resources Limited (VFCR) has secured a five-figure investment from NPIF II – NEL Smaller Loans, which is managed by NEL Fund Managers as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
Learn more about NPIF II – NEL backs growth and job creation at Middlesbrough-based engineering supplierVisual Architects transforming spaces with NPIF II backing
15 July 2025
Manchester-based event and interior design business Visual Architects has received a six-figure loan to accelerate its growth and expand its global client base.
Learn more about visual Architects transforming spaces with NPIF II backingNorthern Powerhouse Investment Fund II Success Stories

Magnitude Biosciences
Magnitude Biosciences, a specialist contract research organisation (CRO) in County Durham offering in vivo discovery of treatments for age-related conditions and other diseases using C. elegans, secured over £706,000 in combined funding to scale up its high-throughput screening (HTS) platform
Synergy Health
Synergy Health received a five-figure investment from NPIF II – River Capital & GC Business Finance Smaller Loans, which is managed by the consortium as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.

Moxie Financial
Simplify Business Services Limited, trading as Moxie Financials received £50,000 from NPIF II – River Capital & GC Business Finance Smaller Loans, which is managed by the consortium as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
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