GC Business Finance has recorded its most successful quarter to date in the delivery of Start Up Loans, issuing 609 loans worth a combined £7.2 million between April and June 2025 — a 12.5% increase on the same period last year.

The Manchester-based lender, which operates as a national Business Support Partner for the British Business Bank, has seen a sharp rise in demand for early-stage finance, underpinned by its growing national presence and expanded advisory team.

The business has been delivering Start Up Loans since 2012 and was appointed as one of the Bank’s national delivery partners in 2023, a move that has significantly increased its visibility across the UK’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Since the appointment, GC Business Finance’s Start Up Loans team has quadrupled in size. In that time, it has provided thousands of new entrepreneurs with access to personal loans of up to £25,000 alongside one-to-one support.

Nearly 10,000 loans have been issued through GC Business Finance since the scheme’s inception.

Alex Mearns, head of start up lending at GC Business Finance, said: “This has been a landmark quarter for our Start Up Loans team and the figures are a clear reflection of the increasing demand for early-stage finance, along with GCBF’s ability to meet this demand across the UK.

“We’re now supporting more entrepreneurs than ever, helping them access the finance they need to get ideas off the ground, grow their businesses and contribute to the wider economy.

“We’re continuing to expand our team in response to growing demand and look forward to supporting even more new ventures in the months and years ahead.”

Among the recipients of Start Up Loans this quarter was Craft + Common (pictured), a Lytham-based business that received £50,000 across two loans to open its first craft studio and bar.

The company has since gone on to open two additional locations, both self-funded, with further expansion in the pipeline.

Reclaim Tentwear, a sustainable fashion brand focused on repurposing used tents into clothing, also secured over £10,000 through the scheme. The funding was used to purchase a hydraulic press to increase production capacity and to support the company’s marketing strategy as it seeks to grow brand awareness.

Louise McCoy, commercial managing director, small business lending, at the British Business Bank, said: “GC Business Finance continues to play a vital role in delivering Start Up Loans to businesses across the UK.

“Its Q1 performance highlights the strong appetite for early-stage finance and the value of a delivery partner that combines national reach with personalised support.”

Since its launch in 2012, the government-backed Start Up Loans programme has provided more than £1.1 billion across more than 125,000 loans. GC Business Finance remains one of the scheme’s most active and prominent delivery partners.