The Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) has distributed over £50m in funding to small businesses across the North of England via the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme. More than 4,500 loans have been provided, helping entrepreneurs launch and expand their operations.
The programme has supported diverse business founders, with female entrepreneurs receiving 37% of the loans, ethnic minority business owners securing 14%, and 8% of loans going to young entrepreneurs aged 18-24. The loans offer up to £25,000 for each director, with a maximum of £100,000 available per business.
Many businesses have benefited from the funding, including JPC Specialist Motorsports in the North East, which received £20,000 for growth. Xtra9ce Wigs in Wigan used £25,000 to relocate to a larger premises, while Leeds-based Yorkshire Mushroom Emporium secured £50,000 to increase production and scale operations. The mushroom farm, founded in 2021, has expanded from a small-scale operation to a fully-equipped facility, providing restaurants with fresh gourmet mushrooms and home-growing kits. The funding helped purchase new equipment, which improved efficiency and reduced costs.
The programme continues to provide crucial support to small businesses, enabling them to scale, invest in infrastructure, and contribute to local economies.
