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