British Business Bank reports on Start Up Loans distribution outside London
What happened
The British Business Bank published figures detailing the Start Up Loans programme, which has provided over £1.4 billion through 140,000 loans, supporting more than 249,000 jobs across the UK. Since 2012, 70 per cent of this finance has been delivered outside London and the South East. In 2025/26, 11,520 loans were issued, with sectors such as hairdressing and beauty, hospitality, and e-commerce being prominent recipients.
From bmmagazine.co.uk
Why it matters
The figures illustrate the scale of government-backed small business investment and the regional spread of this funding across the UK. The programme shows that younger entrepreneurs and members of the Armed Forces have received substantial funding, supporting various customer-facing and professional services.
From bmmagazine.co.uk
Who's involved
- British Business BankManages the Start Up Loans programme and tracks loan delivery across regions.
- governmentProvides financial backing and mandates for the British Business Bank's regional investment goals.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- East MidlandsSpeculative
The East Midlands might see increased demand for small business funding, potentially boosting local sales and job creation.
- Greater LondonSpeculative
Greater London could face continued structural shifts in business funding away from the area.
- South EastSpeculative
The South East could benefit from government Start Up Loans funding, potentially increasing local investment and revenue.
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The entities involved
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British Business Bank
UK state-owned economic development bank
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East Midlands
official region of England
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South East
National Resource Management Region of South Australia
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