10.4 C
Manchester
Saturday, June 7, 2025
FinanceNorth West businesses receive highest number of Start Up Loans outside of...

North West businesses receive highest number of Start Up Loans outside of London

The British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme today announces that it has passed a major milestone of £600 million worth of loans delivered outside of London. Since its launch in 2012, the Bank has provided 10,881 loans to entrepreneurs in the North West, making up 12 per cent of the national figure.

 

Start Up Loans provides mentoring, support and funding to aspiring business owners across the UK and its impact has been particularly noticeable among individuals who might find it difficult to secure finance from traditional lenders.

 

Businesses in the North West received over £94 million in Start Up Loans. Of these loans, 39 per cent went to female-owned businesses. These figures reflect the diversity of entrepreneurialism across the country and highlight the success of the programme in supporting small businesses that reside outside London.

 

Case study: Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes, Kendal, Cumbria

 

Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes is a recipient of the Start Up Loans programme. Founded by Elaine Remy and based in Kendal, it received a loan of £5,000 in January 2020. Elaine set up the company after her mother Viola, known as Vie, passed away. She wanted to honour her mum as the generous and talented cake-maker she was and turn the loss into a legacy.

 

Elaine Remy, Founder of Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes said: “It was a tricky start for us, just two weeks after we sold our first cake, the UK was plunged into the first lockdown and all the events that we had planned to sell at were cancelled. Thanks to the Start Up Loan, we were able to get a website up and running, put some money into marketing and ramp up production. We’ve now been able to establish partnerships with rum companies and create a subscription service.

 

Having the support from Start Up Loans, as a government-backed programme, gave me the confidence to believe in myself and fully make the move to become by own boss. I hadn’t come from a business background, so whilst the low interest loans were brilliant, having access to the pre-and-post loan advice and guidance was crucial for me, and is ultimately what attracted me to Start Up Loans as a lender.”

 

Sophie Dale-Black, UK Network Director, North of England, said:

“Providing £600 million worth of funding to new businesses outside of London is a huge milestone for the government backed Start Up Loans programme and the strength of the North West reflects the broad diversity and ambition of the region’s small businesses at a grass roots level.

 

We have always been committed to providing support and funding to small businesses that hail from each corner of the country, particularly in areas of deprivation where people may struggle to access funding, and this milestone is tribute to that.

 

We are proud that our loans, mentoring and support for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs is helping to support the Build Back Better agenda and we’re delighted to have been able to help Elaine make her dream into a reality.” 

 

Breakdown of loans by region excluding London

UK Region Loans Made Amount Lent (£) Average Loan Amount (£)
East Midlands 4,883 41,863,670 8,573
East of England 6,106 55,471,473 9,085
North East 4,875 42,506,048 8,719
North West 10,881 94,240,374 8,661
Northern Ireland 1,356 11,049,064 8,148
Scotland 5,626 47,044,172 8,362
South East 8,378 81,207,421 9,693
South West 7,487 66,003,753 8,816
Wales 4,019 38,961,700 9,694
West Midlands 7,264 63,655,522 8,763
Yorkshire and The Humber 7,497 68,748,296 9,170
Region not obtained 185 2,164,521 11,700
Total 68,559 612,916,012 9,115

 

Start Up Loans figures up to 31 August 2021

Latest

Bouquet basics for Dad: Flower expert shares how to make those Father’s Day blooms last

A flower expert has revealed his top tips for dads to look after their blooms if they receive them for Father’s Day. Colourful bouquets and...

The Kim Jong Un Billboard That’s Shaking Up Manchester’s Fashion Scene

An eye-catching new billboard in Manchester featuring North Korea’s leader is challenging norms—and turning sustainable fashion on its head. A giant image of Kim Jong...

Heat Engineer Software Limited receives significant investment from Greenarc

Heat Engineer Software, the Lancashire based company at the forefront of heat loss calculations and the sizing of both renewable and traditional heating equipment,...

Pioneering project to change way people travel in Britain

A pioneering project is set to transform how people explore and move across Britain and Ireland. Slow Ways, a non-profit Community Interest Company, has already...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

The Kim Jong Un Billboard That’s Shaking Up Manchester’s Fashion Scene

An eye-catching new billboard in Manchester featuring North Korea’s leader is challenging norms—and turning sustainable fashion on its head. A giant image of Kim Jong...

Bouquet basics for Dad: Flower expert shares how to make those Father’s Day blooms last

A flower expert has revealed his top tips for dads to look after their blooms if they receive them for Father’s Day. Colourful bouquets and...

Heat Engineer Software Limited receives significant investment from Greenarc

Heat Engineer Software, the Lancashire based company at the forefront of heat loss calculations and the sizing of both renewable and traditional heating equipment,...

Pioneering project to change way people travel in Britain

A pioneering project is set to transform how people explore and move across Britain and Ireland. Slow Ways, a non-profit Community Interest Company, has already...

More News

Flexiss Group Partners with Compound Real Estate on £300 Million Comporter Self-Storage Portfolio

Flexiss Group and Compound Real Estate have announced a major £300 million partnership to create a premier self-storage portfolio, strategically located across London and...

Using EquitiesFirst financing to adjust to a potentially volatile Japanese Yen in 2025

The Japanese yen stands at 152.34 against the US dollar as of early February 2025, following a peak of 158.33 in early January. The drop...

FoxTech Announces £150,000 Cybersecurity Investment to Safeguard Businesses

A Limited-Time Opportunity to Detect and Address Security Weaknesses This February To address the growing risks of cyber threats across industries, FoxTech is launching a...