UK Business Finance Statistics 2026

This page gathers the most-quoted statistics on UK business finance: asset finance, specialty lending and the wider SME funding market, each drawn from a named primary source (the Finance and Leasing Association, the British Business Bank, the Bank of England and official records). Last updated June 2026. Every figure below links to its primary source.

£40bn of new asset finance was provided to UK businesses, a fifth consecutive year of growth. Source: Finance and Leasing Association

Asset and specialty finance

£40bn

of new asset finance was provided to UK businesses, a fifth consecutive year of growth. (2025) Source: Finance and Leasing Association

£24bn

of new asset finance went to UK SMEs, a record level. (2025) Source: Finance and Leasing Association

£163bn

of new finance was provided to UK businesses and households by Finance and Leasing Association members. (2025) Source: Finance and Leasing Association

The UK SME lending market

£68bn

of gross bank lending went to UK SMEs, up 9% on the year and the second highest level in 13 years. (2025) Source: British Business Bank, Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26

68%

of all SME lending came from challenger and specialist banks or non-bank lenders, rather than the big high-street banks. (2025) Source: British Business Bank, Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26

~50%

of UK smaller businesses used external finance. (2025) Source: British Business Bank, Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26

5.5m

private-sector businesses operate in the UK, and 99.9% of them are SMEs. (2024) Source: DBT Business Population Estimates

3.75%

was the Bank of England base rate, the anchor for UK business finance pricing. (December 2025) Source: Bank of England

FundBiz data

14

specialist business finance lenders are tracked in the FundBiz Business Finance Lender Index, with product type, ticket range, typical rate, decision time and FCA status recorded for each. First-party data (2026) Source: FundBiz Business Finance Lender Index See the Lender Index

Our own data

The figures marked "First-party data" above are published by FundBiz from its own dataset and are not available elsewhere. The full methodology and the underlying table are in the UK Business Finance Lender Index.

Methodology and sources

Every statistic on this page is taken from a named primary source and links to the original record so you can verify it. We do not republish figures from secondary blogs. The page is reviewed and the figures refreshed on a regular cadence; the "last updated" date reflects the most recent substantive change, not an automated rebuild.

Cite this page

To reference these figures, please credit FundBiz and link to this page:

Source: FundBiz, UK Business Finance Statistics 2026, https://fundbiz.co.uk/statistics/ (accessed June 2026).

Compiled by Oliver Mackman. Published by FundBiz.

UK Business Finance statistics 2026: key figures
ValueWhat it measuresPeriodSource
£40bnof new asset finance was provided to UK businesses, a fifth consecutive year of growth.2025Finance and Leasing Association
£24bnof new asset finance went to UK SMEs, a record level.2025Finance and Leasing Association
£163bnof new finance was provided to UK businesses and households by Finance and Leasing Association members.2025Finance and Leasing Association
£68bnof gross bank lending went to UK SMEs, up 9% on the year and the second highest level in 13 years.2025British Business Bank, Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26
68%of all SME lending came from challenger and specialist banks or non-bank lenders, rather than the big high-street banks.2025British Business Bank, Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26
~50%of UK smaller businesses used external finance.2025British Business Bank, Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26
5.5mprivate-sector businesses operate in the UK, and 99.9% of them are SMEs.2024DBT Business Population Estimates
3.75%was the Bank of England base rate, the anchor for UK business finance pricing.December 2025Bank of England
14specialist business finance lenders are tracked in the FundBiz Business Finance Lender Index, with product type, ticket range, typical rate, decision time and FCA status recorded for each.2026FundBiz Business Finance Lender Index

Source: Finance and Leasing Association, British Business Bank, Bank of England, DBT, FundBiz Business Finance Lender Index

Each figure links to its primary source on the statistics page above. Updated June 2026.

View as plain-text Markdown 
### UK Business Finance statistics 2026: key figures

| Value | What it measures | Period | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| £40bn | of new asset finance was provided to UK businesses, a fifth consecutive year of growth. | 2025 | Finance and Leasing Association |
| £24bn | of new asset finance went to UK SMEs, a record level. | 2025 | Finance and Leasing Association |
| £163bn | of new finance was provided to UK businesses and households by Finance and Leasing Association members. | 2025 | Finance and Leasing Association |
| £68bn | of gross bank lending went to UK SMEs, up 9% on the year and the second highest level in 13 years. | 2025 | British Business Bank, Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26 |
| 68% | of all SME lending came from challenger and specialist banks or non-bank lenders, rather than the big high-street banks. | 2025 | British Business Bank, Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26 |
| ~50% | of UK smaller businesses used external finance. | 2025 | British Business Bank, Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26 |
| 5.5m | private-sector businesses operate in the UK, and 99.9% of them are SMEs. | 2024 | DBT Business Population Estimates |
| 3.75% | was the Bank of England base rate, the anchor for UK business finance pricing. | December 2025 | Bank of England |
| 14 | specialist business finance lenders are tracked in the FundBiz Business Finance Lender Index, with product type, ticket range, typical rate, decision time and FCA status recorded for each. | 2026 | FundBiz Business Finance Lender Index |

Source: Finance and Leasing Association, British Business Bank, Bank of England, DBT, FundBiz Business Finance Lender Index

Each figure links to its primary source on the statistics page above. Updated June 2026.
Reading the headline figures
“Record asset finance volumes and a £68bn gross-lending headline can read as easy access to credit, but the same data shows 68% of SME lending now comes from challenger and non-bank lenders rather than the high street. Strong totals mask where the money actually flows, so a business turned down by its bank should read these numbers as a signpost to specialist lenders, not as proof that mainstream credit is open to it.”
OM

Oliver Mackman

Director, FundBiz

Reviewed 10 June 2026

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