British Business Bank boosts North-west female-founded businesses with £50 million in Start Up Loans

Start Up Loans name North West as most entrepreneurial UK region outside London

The British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme has delivered £50 million worth of loans to female-owned businesses in the North West, with businesswomen in Greater Manchester receiving £20 million of that total.

With 36% of loans provided in the North West going to female entrepreneurs, the milestone underscores the Bank’s commitment to supporting underrepresented founders in the UK. This compares to government data showing just 18% of smaller companies with employees were female led in 2022.

Alongside the funding it provides through the Start Up Loans programme, the British Business Bank also supports a number of initiatives aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs. This includes Lifted Ventures, which aims to increase the flow of early-stage capital to female founders in the UK.

Louise McCoy, Managing Director, Start Up Loans Products at British Business Bank said:

“The North West is full of entrepreneurial talent so I’m proud that we have provided over £50m worth of Start Up Loans to female entrepreneurs in the region.

“The British Business Bank is dedicated to supporting underrepresented groups and this milestone is just another example of the fantastic work the Start Up Loans programme is doing to make funding easier to access for women who want to set up or grow a business. Our funding is helping to create a thriving small business community in the North West and we look forward to providing even more support in 2025 and beyond.”

Lauren Rowland, co-founder of Craft + Common, which secured a £25,000 loan in 2023, said:

“We never could have imagined how our little idea would have come to life, and we have achieved so much success in just two years. We’re very grateful for the support we have received from our local community and beyond.

“The Start Up Loan funding from GCBF supported us in getting started and we wouldn’t be where we are now without it. We have opened a second studio in Lymm which has received lots of support from the local community and we’re excited to see what is next for us.”