Home . Business support directory . Business funding options
Almost all businesses require external investment at some point to support expansion and development.
With bank loans more difficult to obtain, many businesses are looking to alternative sources of funding.
This section provides information on several sources of funding available to Leeds City Region companies.
For specialist funding options – for example for carbon reduction or taking on an apprentice – try our business support search tool
Offers an overview of potential sources of funding, and advice on how to improve your prospects of securing investment.
The website includes an interactive tool to help identify the best sources of finance for your business.
Connect Yorkshire helps growing businesses across Yorkshire obtain debt or equity funding. Offers a range of services to help growing firms become investment-ready and attractive to finance providers.
The Local Enterprise Partnership plays a role in two key government-backed funding programmes:
A £36m loan fund to support projects that will contribute to economic growth in Leeds City Region. This fund is managed by the Leeds City Region LEP.
See the latest information and application guidance on the Growing Places Fund
The Leeds City Region LEP has secured £20m from the government's Regional Growth Fund. Businesses will be able to apply for a share of this funding from early 2013.
Read more
If you can’t find a suitable source of funding from the commercial sector, there may be public-sector backed schemes to help you. These generally have specific eligibility rules.
Some local authorities in Leeds City Region offer grants or loans to small businesses. To find out if there is a scheme available in your area, use our business support search tool, selecting your area followed by 'finance and grants'.
Several banks have received government funding through the Regional Growth Fund to support small businesses:
HSBC Assisted Asset Purchase Scheme
NatWest Regional Growth Fund programme
RBS Regional Growth Fund programme
Santander’s Mezzanine Scheme
Finance Yorkshire
Provides funding for SMEs in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Finance Yorkshire is government-backed and offers seedcorn, loan or equity investment to support development or acquisition. Business loans range from £15,000 to £150,000, equity investment from £100,000 to £2 million, and mezzanine loans from £100,000 to £1 million.
Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) The Business Enterprise Fund is a social enterprise that lends money to businesses who are unable to get lending from the banks. It started trading in 2005 and, as a social enterprise there are no share holders, with any profits generated reinvested into the business. They provide loans from £500 to £100,000 to individuals for business use in West and North Yorkshire.
Yorkshire Association of Business Angels (YABA)
YABA has a membership of over 140 angel investors. Through its introduction service it can offer start-up and early-stage companies with high-growth potential access to finance up to £250,000. YABA can also introduce companies to mentors or non-executive directors from its directory of members