Loans to start, grow and strengthen your business

Q: Could BEF fund my business?

If you're starting, growing or looking to strengthen your business, there's a good chance we can help. We offer funding from £500 to £250,000 and will always take the time to understand your business before recommending the most suitable option.

Q: Do you lend to businesses outside of the North of England?

Yes. While we have a strong presence across Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and the North West, we also provide funding to eligible businesses across England and Wales through our loan options. Eligibility depends on the type of funding you're looking for and where your business is based. If you're unsure which options are available to you, our team can help you find the right loan .

Q: Will I be dealing with a real person?

Yes. From your first enquiry onwards, you'll deal with experienced people who take the time to understand your plans, answer your questions and support you through the process.

Q: How is BEF different from other lenders?

We're a not for profit lender focused on helping businesses move forward. That means taking a more personal approach, looking beyond the numbers and making decisions based on your business, your ambitions and your circumstances.

Q: Do I need perfect credit to apply?

No. We understand that every business journey is different. While credit history forms part of the assessment process, we look at the bigger picture and take time to understand your wider circumstances.

Q: How do I find the right loan?

Our Loan Finder can recommend the most suitable funding option for your business in less than 30 seconds. Simply answer a few quick questions and we'll point you in the right direction.

Funding from £500 to £250,000, backed by people who take the time to understand your business ambitions, not just your credit score.

Find the right loan for you in 30 seconds

In the last 12 months

£ 25.6m

Invested in businesses like yours

£ 102.4m

Added to the regional economy

4,626

Jobs created or protected

379

New UK founders backed

Trusted by businesses across the North and beyond

For more than four decades, we've helped founders and business owners access the funding they need to start, grow and move forward.

As a not for profit lender authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, we're committed to delivering fair, relationship led finance that creates lasting impact.

Supporting businesses Strengthening communities

"Every loan we provide helps ambitious businesses take the next step while creating jobs, opportunity and long term economic value in the communities they serve."

-Doug Heseltine, Director of Investments

Why businesses choose BEF

People first

Real people. Real conversations. Real support throughout your funding journey.

The bigger picture

We consider your plans, potential and wider circumstances, not just a credit score.

Fair finance

Straightforward funding with transparent terms and a relationship led approach.

Community impact

Every repayment helps us support more businesses, creating a positive impact that reaches far beyond the individual loan.

What we've learned from funding thousands of businesses

Every year our team supports founders, growing businesses and established companies looking to move forward. While every business is different, the strongest applications usually share a common theme: a clear plan, a defined purpose for the funding and confidence in the next step they're trying to take.

Whether you're launching a new venture, investing for growth, creating breathing space with working capital or refinancing expensive debt, understanding your goals is the starting point for every funding conversation.

What funding does your business need?

Starting up

Turn your business idea into reality with funding and support designed to help new businesses get off to a confident start.

Explore Start Up Loans

Working capital

Create breathing space, manage day to day costs and keep your business moving forward with confidence.

Explore Momentum Loans

Growth and expansion

Invest in people, equipment, premises, technology or marketing to take your business to the next level.

Explore Momentum Loans

Refinancing

Replace expensive short term borrowing with a more sustainable funding solution that supports long term growth.

Explore Momentum Loans

How funding with BEF works

1. Find your funding match

Answer a few quick questions and we'll recommend the most suitable funding options for your business.

2. Tell us about your plans

Tell us about your business, your plans and how funding could help you achieve them.

3. Receive personal support

A dedicated Loan Manager will guide you through the process and help you understand what happens next.

4. Take you next step

If approved, you'll receive the funding you need to invest in your business with confidence.

Find the right loan in 30 seconds

Funding decisions made by people who understand business

	BEF	Many lenders
Decisions	Decisions Human judgement	Decisions Automated assessment
Approach	Approach Understands your plans	Approach Focused on criteria
Support	Support Dedicated Loan Manager	Support Self-service journey
Relationship	Relationship Ongoing support	Relationship Transaction focused
Purpose	Purpose Business growth	Purpose Commercial returns
Impact	Impact Community focused	Impact Commercially focused

More than funding

The right funding can make a difference. So can having the right people alongside you. Here's what business owners say about working with BEF.

"Sanni has been absolutely brilliant throughout my Start Up Loans application. The support, guidance and communication have been excellent from start to finish. She has been patient, approachable and always willing to help with any questions or concerns, making what can be a stressful process feel much more manageable. I genuinely appreciate the time and effort Sanni put into helping me progress my application and keeping things moving as quickly as possible. I would highly recommend her support to anyone going through the Start Up Loans process. Thank you again for all your help."

Brad Jay

"Worked with Julie and she made the whole process of applying for a Start Up Loan incredibly easy, what I imagined would be a headache was pretty straightforward thanks to her help! I would definitely recommend working with Befund, they're a great bunch of people who are genuinely invested in helping you."

Abby Cook

"I applied for the a start-up loan through BEF and work with Sanni Tait & Jane Cusse, who were brilliant throughout. They were efficient, supportive and extremely helpful all the way through the process. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend BEF to anyone who is looking to secure funding, especially if they are lucky enough to deal with Sanni & Jane."

Danny Harrison

"Rowan was nothing short of phenomenal throughout this whole experience. With the expansion of my gym to a larger premises, I knew we would need funding to create the space I wanted. From the very beginning, Rowan did everything she could to support. It is a long-winded process at the beginning, but anything I was unsure of or did wrong, Rowan corrected and kept me on track. We successfully received the full 20k we applied for, and it has transformed the business and helped us grow amazingly! couldn't recommend more!"

Josh Hall

"I had an excellent experience working with Habib to secure my business loan. He was knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely invested in helping me succeed. He guided me through every step of the process, made everything clear and stress-free, and worked hard to find the best possible option for my needs. I truly appreciate the professionalism and dedication, and I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for business funding support."

Shane Farenando

"Just completed a loan with BEF the whole experience was very professional and effective. I would not hesitate in recommending BEF to anyone. Emma was a pleasure to work with she helps and considers in depth the whole company situation with knowledge and decisions are made using real world experience."

Michael Dawes

"Julie Micklethwaite has been amazing. She helped me access business start-up funding and made the whole process so much easier than I expected. She’s really supportive, easy to talk to, and explains everything clearly without making it feel complicated. I’m so grateful for her help and would definitely recommend her to anyone starting a business. Thank you Julie!"

Jenny Sharpe

"I applied for a Government Start Up Loan Habib Karimi at the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) supported me to submit my application. Explaining everything simply and making the process run efficiently. He was professional and supportive. Fantastic experience and I received the funds quickly. He ensured he checked all the details and that I was lending an amount my business could afford. Highly recommend Thanks Laura from Organise Your Life With Laura"

Laura Royston

"Julie Micklethwaite at the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) has been absolutely fantastic to work with. She has now successfully secured two invaluable start-up loans for my business, and the difference this extra cash flow has made to our development is huge. Julie was efficient, professional, and guided me smoothly through the whole process, making everything straightforward and stress-free. We’re really happy with the service she provided through BEF and very grateful for her support – highly recommended!"

Daniel Harvey

"We had an excellent experience with the Business Enterprise Fund. Emma was incredibly helpful throughout the process—professional, efficient, and genuinely supportive. She managed to get our funding sorted within just a couple of days, which made a huge difference for our business. The entire process was straightforward and stress-free. We highly recommend the Business Enterprise Fund to any business looking for quick and reliable support. Thank you again, Emma and team"

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