Find more funding
There are many other organisations who may be offering funding that will help you, and our handy funding search tool brings them all together.
Social Investment Scotland Secures £3.5m Boost for Smaller Businesses
New funding aims to improve access to finance for underserved businesses and social enterprises across Scotland
Social Investment Scotland (SIS) has secured £3.5 million from the British Business Bank to increase access to finance for smaller businesses, charities and social enterprises across Scotland. The funding will support organisations that may struggle to obtain lending through traditional finance providers, with loans ranging from £25,001 to £125,000.
The Edinburgh-based organisation has become the eighth Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) accredited through the British Business Bank’s Community ENABLE Funding programme and the first accredited lender with a dedicated focus on Scotland. The programme is designed to strengthen the UK’s CDFI sector and improve access to finance in communities that are often underserved by mainstream lenders.
SIS has more than 25 years of experience providing responsible and impact-led lending to charities, social enterprises and businesses across Scotland. The organisation will initially deploy the new funding through a pilot programme covering several local authority areas, including Glasgow, Argyll and Bute, West Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Inverclyde.
The British Business Bank said expanding the Community ENABLE Funding programme across the UK’s nations and regions is a key priority. The programme aims to support up to £150 million of lending during its first two years by providing capital to social impact lenders that can then invest directly in local businesses and communities.
According to SIS Chief Executive Alastair Davis, the funding will help reach businesses that are often overlooked by mainstream lending institutions, providing the capital needed to grow, create jobs and strengthen local economies. The organisation will work alongside referral partners to ensure the funding supports businesses and communities that can benefit most.
Alastair said:
“We promised Scotland would be next when we launched the Community Investment Enterprise Fund to help CDFIs support small businesses in England and Wales. With that fund now fully deployed, this accreditation brings that ambition closer to home.
“Through the Community ENABLE Funding programme, we can reach small businesses across communities in Scotland that are often underserved by mainstream lending, giving them the capital they need to grow, create jobs and build resilience in their local economies.”
The investment is expected to provide an important source of finance for smaller organisations across Scotland, helping them access funding opportunities that can support growth, resilience and long-term community impact.
