Start Up Loans is a UK-wide initiative to provide advice and financial support to new business owners who have been trading for less than three years, and has an emphasis on supporting individuals who might find it difficult to secure loans from traditional lenders.
SWIG has worked with the Start Up Loans Scheme since 2012 and has so far helped over 3,300 South West entrepreneurs with loans worth more than £35m.
Alongside funding, applicants can receive support including advice on creating business plans, guidance on cash flow forecasts, and expertise on personal survival budgets. The scheme also offers up to 12 months of mentoring support and access to a range of special business offers.
John Peters, Managing Director, SWIG Finance, said: “Start Up Loans is a unique resource for start-ups and newer businesses, as it directly combines no-cost, hands-on advice with access to finance. It is vital that new ventures get to grips with their finances at an early stage and this is what the scheme helps to do. I’m incredibly proud that SWIG Finance has been successful in becoming the South West’s partner, and we can now look forward to supporting even more of our region’s entrepreneurs.”
You can read the full Start Up Loans press release here.
About SWIG Finance
SWIG Finance is a people-based lender that provides loans and support to help smaller businesses in the South and West Country grow. We base our lending decisions on potential rather than collateral, which means that we can often support businesses when others can't.
We’re growing every year. In 2024/25, we lent £14.8m to 501 businesses, helping to create and secure over 1,272 jobs and generate £75.7m in social impact. Download the report here.
If you’d like an informal chat about your funding requirements, get in touch with our friendly and professional team to see how we can help: info@swigfinance.co.uk / 01872 227 930