Business loans

On this page you will find information about loans that may be available to support your business in Portsmouth.

Better Business Finance – Help with business planning, accessing finance, and finding a mentor.

British Business Bank ‘Start Up’ ‘Scale Up’ ‘Stay ahead’ – A loan guarantee scheme to facilitate lending to viable businesses. The British Business Bank is a state-backed economic development bank that supports economic growth by simplifying access to finance for SMEs.

Enterprise Business South – Business start-up advice and loans (part of Business South and Cavendish consortium of business advisers) are agents for the Virgin Start-Up loan scheme – £25,000 loan per director, up to £100k. Loans can be as little as £1k to qualify for 15 hours free mentoring from Virgin or Enterprise First for first 12 months.

Fredericks Foundation – Loans for disadvantaged people looking to set up or expand their own business. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have made a genuine application for funds to their bank or a mainstream lender and been turned down. Max £10,000 for start-ups, £20,000 for established businesses.

Funding Circle – Funded by the British Business Bank, loans are available for SMEs at competitive rates.

Let’s Do Business – Business loan finance for start-ups and existing businesses who have experienced difficulties in accessing mainstream finance.

Prince’s Trust – For those aged 18-30 interested in being self-employed. Low interest loans of £5,000 with additional one-to-one support, training and mentoring.

UnLtd – 50% of awards are committed to Black, Asian and minority ethnic social entrepreneurs, and/or disabled social entrepreneurs across our funding programmes.