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Start Up Loans celebrates record ‘summer of business’ lending to UK entrepreneurs

Press release 10 September 2026

  • Start Up Loans reveals twelve-year high in the volume and value of loans taken out between the start of June and end of August
  • Over £40m of lending delivered to smaller business leaders during summer 2026, a 14% increase in value compared to 2025

The Start Up Loans programme, part of the British Business Bank has today revealed that summer 2026 saw the highest number of loans for the season over the last twelve years, with a record £40m of lending delivered to entrepreneurs across the UK. 

The programme, which is part of the British Business Bank, delivered 3,215 loans over the course of June, July and August 2026, versus 2,849 in 2025 – an increase of 12.8%. Equivalent figures for 2024 and 2023 were 2,594 and 2,341 respectively.

Over the summer months, an impressive 25% of loans have been secured by Gen Z founders, reflecting a potentially growing interest among the younger generation in starting their own ventures. 
A core objective of the programme is to provide loans to smaller business leaders in all corners of the UK, thereby driving regional growth. This summer, 85% of loans were taken out by entrepreneurs located outside London. 

The programme is also dedicated to providing finance to those who might otherwise encounter barriers in accessing funds. 38% of loan recipients over the summer months were female, 21% were from ethnic minority groups, and 5% were unemployed at the time of applying for their loan.

Louise McCoy, Managing Director of Start Up Loans, commented:

During this ‘summer of business’ we’re proud to see that demand for Start Up Loans has reached an all-time seasonal record, indicating growing entrepreneurial activity across the UK.

It’s also great to see a high proportion of women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds using the finance to invest in their business, and benefiting from the guidance and mentoring support offered by the Start Up Loans programme. There’s entrepreneurial talent in every part of the country and we’re committed to helping people access the finance they need to start and grow their business, whoever and wherever they may be.

Further Information

If you are a journalist and have a media enquiry, please contact [email protected].

Notes to editors

About Start Up Loans

The Start Up Loans programme provides personal loans for business purposes of up to £25,000 at a fixed interest rate per annum and offers free dedicated mentoring and support to each business. Eligibility for a first Start Up Loan is being extended to businesses that have been trading for up to 60 months.

The primary aim of the Start Up Loans programme is to ensure that viable start-ups and early-stage businesses have access to the finance and support they need in order to thrive. A network of Business Support Partner organisations supports applicants in all regions and industries throughout the UK. The Start Up Loans programme is not designed to generate a commercial profit. Capital payments together with the interest are recycled to help meet increasing demands for finance.

Free guides on a range of subjects related to starting a business are available on the Start Up Loans website. You can find recent media press releases here.

The funding for the Start Up Loans programme is provided by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The Start Up Loans programme is operated by The Start-Up Loans Company, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, registration number 08117656, registered office at Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 2GQ. The Start-Up Loans Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of British Business Bank plc which is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. British Business Bank plc and its subsidiaries are not banking institutions and do not operate as such. With the exception of BBB Investment Services Limited they are not authorised or regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority. BBB Investment Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A complete legal structure chart for the group can be found at british-business-bank.co.uk.

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