Research

The British Business Bank uses research and analysis to design, improve and create new solutions to make finance markets work better

We regularly evaluate our interventions to ensure that they continue to address effectively market weaknesses.

Our latest research

Small Business Finance Markets 2024 report

Small Business Finance Markets 2024 report assesses how small business finance markets have changed over the last decade (2014-2023). The report also provides a detailed assessment of recent trends in smaller business debt and equity finance and also covers smaller business demand for finance and small business characteristics.

UK Venture Capital Financial Returns 2023

The UK Venture Capital Financial Returns 2023 report provides a comprehensive assessment of the performance of UK VC funds since 2002, as well as providing comparisons to the US and the rest of Europe.

BBLS, CBILS, and CLBILS Evaluation Report 2023

Our Covid-19 Loan Scheme Evaluation 2023 Report provides an updated assessment of the impact of the BBLS, CBILS and CLBILS on borrowers. It also looks at the processes used for scheme monitoring and loan recoveries. This is part two of a three-year independent evaluation which uses primary survey and secondary data to estimate the extent to which the Covid-19 Loan Schemes supported businesses during and following the pandemic.

Nations and Regions Tracker 2023

Our Nations and Regions Tracker 2022 Report provides analysis that illuminates the geographic patterns seen in UK small business finance. This is the Bank’s second annual Nations and Regions Tracker, designed to complement our flagship Small Business Finance Markets report with additional regional analysis.

Finding What Works: Pathways to improve diversity in venture capital investment 2023

Our Finding What Works report, undertaken by the British Business Bank in partnership with SQW, provides three clear, actionable, and evidence-based pathways for UK funds to improve diversity in venture capital investment which we hope will both stimulate discussion and action to improve outcomes for underserved entrepreneurs and the wider UK economy.

Equity Tracker 2023

Our Small Business Equity Tracker 2023 report provides an in-depth assessment of equity finance for smaller businesses. It is intended not only to inform the development of the Bank’s own strategy, but also to inform wider developments in both the market and government policy.

Backing innovation-led businesses 2022

The ‘Backing innovation-led businesses: the role of public investment’ report examines, for the first time, how the programmes delivered by the Bank and UK Research and Innovation (including Innovate UK) interact and where there is crossover. This will help inform future policy in both organisations, as well as innovation policy in government more widely.

UK Venture Capital Financial Returns 2022

The UK Venture Capital Financial Returns 2021 report provides a comprehensive assessment of the performance of UK VC funds since 2002, as well as providing comparisons to the US and the rest of Europe.

UK Venture Capital Financial Returns 2021

The UK Venture Capital Financial Returns 2021 report provides a comprehensive assessment of the performance of UK VC funds since 2002, as well as providing comparisons to the US and the rest of Europe.

Smaller businesses and the transition to net zero

Our Smaller businesses and the transition to net zero report highlights the crucial role smaller businesses can play in driving the changes required in the UK’s transition to a net zero economy. The report provides a snapshot of progress made by smaller businesses so far in their transition to net zero, while also looking ahead at how far is left to go. It examines the actions smaller businesses have taken already to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, as well as ones planned and considered.

UK Private Debt Research Report 2020

The UK Private Debt Research Report 2020 is the first time primary data collection and analysis has been reported for the smaller and Lower Mid-Market segment of the UK private debt market. The report aims to shine a light into the characteristics and dynamics of this important and growing source of capital to UK businesses and reveals £18.4bn of private debt lending in 2018 and 2019.

UK Venture Capital Financial Returns 2020

The UK Venture Capital Financial Returns 2020 report provides a comprehensive assessment of the performance of UK VC funds since 2002, and an overview of the current VC market, in light of Covid-19.

Alone together: Entrepreneurship and diversity in the UK

Our report on entrepreneurship and diversity in the UK examines the profound effects ethnic and economic background, gender and place have on entrepreneurial opportunities and outcomes.

UK Business Angels Market Report 2020

The British Business Bank’s UK Business Angels Market report 2020 reveals that angel investors across the UK are continuing to invest in early stage businesses and are optimistic about the future despite current economic uncertainty.

UK SME exporting trends: finance and trade

This research on UK SME exporters, finance and trade is published in partnership with Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Department for International Trade (DIT). It seeks to understand the attitudes, experiences and behaviours of SME exporters towards key aspects of international sales – both opportunities and barriers – and the role that access to finance plays.

The Future of Defined Contribution Pensions

This report provides an in-depth assessment of the case for defined contribution (DC) pension scheme investment in venture capital and growth equity, and proposes solutions to overcome key risks and challenges to access. It aims to enable better long-term retirement outcomes for the UK’s defined contribution pension savers, with a focus on commercial solutions that could be implemented in the private sector.

VC and Female Founders 2018 research

The British Business Bank, Diversity VC and BVCA are joining forces on an industry-wide initiative to build the first clear picture of the representation of women, and diversity more broadly, in the pipelines of UK VC firms. Funds are invited to make contact to share their anonymous data.

Using Intellectual Property to Access Growth Funding

The British Business Bank, in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Office, examines the challenges facing SMEs in using Intellectual Property as collateral for lending. It shows that firms with Intellectual Property have lower rates of default and loss than those without, and suggests further avenues of enquiry to address current market failures.

Going Digital: The Challenges Facing European SMEs – European SME Survey 2019

A joint study from Bpifrance, France; KfW, Germany; Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), Poland; Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO), Spain and the British Business, UK on the digital transformation of SMEs in France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom.