Business finance for the North

Your business is more than a set of numbers. That's why BEF takes a different approach to business finance. We're a not for profit Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) providing fair, relationship-led finance to businesses across the North.

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Befund
Befund

Finance with a different purpose

As a not for profit Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI), BEF exists to do more than provide finance. We lend to help businesses start, sustain and grow, creating jobs, opportunity and economic value across the  North.

Befund

Business finance with a personal approach

That purpose shapes how we lend. Our experienced teams use human judgement to consider your business, your circumstances and the wider context behind your application.

"A business is more than a set of numbers. We want to understand the people behind the business and what finance could make possible. That’s why we take a relationship-led approach to lending."

- Doug Heseltine, Director of Investments

What are you looking to achieve?

Start a business

Get your business off the ground with finance for start-up costs, equipment, stock, marketing and other early investments.

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Manage cash flow

Keep your business moving when money going out doesn't always match money coming in. Finance can help support working capital and day-to-day operations.

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Grow your business

Invest in your next stage of growth, whether you're hiring staff, increasing capacity, moving premises or reaching new customers.

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Refinance borrowing

Replace expensive short-term borrowing with finance that could better support your business and provide more manageable repayments.

Find your finance

Who we support

From start-ups to established businesses, find out who BEF supports and explore finance based on your business stage.

Explore who we support

Where we lend

BEF provides finance across Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and the North West. Explore your region to find out where we lend and the finance available in your area.

Explore where we lend

A different kind of business lender

Not for profit

We're here to support businesses and the communities they operate in, rather than maximise profit from lending.

Decisions made by people

We take the time to understand your business, your plans and your circumstances when considering your application.

Finance with a purpose

Our lending helps businesses start, sustain and grow, creating jobs, opportunity and economic value across the North.

Relationship-led

You'll deal with people who understand business and are there to support you throughout your funding journey.

Finance that makes an impact

£ 25.6m

Backed ambitious businesses

£ 102.4m

Added to the regional economy

4,626

Jobs created or protected

379

New UK founders backed

More than funding

Funding is never just about the money. It's about what that funding makes possible. See how businesses across the North have used BEF finance to achieve their goals.

    5 out of 5 stars

    "Sanni has been absolutely brilliant throughout my Start Up Loans application. The support, guidance and communication have been excellent from start to finish. She has been patient, approachable and always willing to help with any questions or concerns, making what can be a stressful process feel much more manageable. I genuinely appreciate the time and effort Sanni put into helping me progress my application and keeping things moving as quickly as possible. I would highly recommend her support to anyone going through the Start Up Loans process. Thank you again for all your help."

    Review by Brad Jay
    Brad Jay
    Google
    5 out of 5 stars

    "Worked with Julie and she made the whole process of applying for a Start Up Loan incredibly easy, what I imagined would be a headache was pretty straightforward thanks to her help! I would definitely recommend working with Befund, they're a great bunch of people who are genuinely invested in helping you."

    Review by Abby Cook
    Abby Cook
    Google
    5 out of 5 stars

    "I applied for the a start-up loan through BEF and work with Sanni Tait & Jane Cusse, who were brilliant throughout. They were efficient, supportive and extremely helpful all the way through the process. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend BEF to anyone who is looking to secure funding, especially if they are lucky enough to deal with Sanni & Jane."

    Review by Danny Harrison
    Danny Harrison
    Google
    5 out of 5 stars

    "Rowan was nothing short of phenomenal throughout this whole experience. With the expansion of my gym to a larger premises, I knew we would need funding to create the space I wanted. From the very beginning, Rowan did everything she could to support. It is a long-winded process at the beginning, but anything I was unsure of or did wrong, Rowan corrected and kept me on track. We successfully received the full 20k we applied for, and it has transformed the business and helped us grow amazingly! couldn't recommend more!"

    Review by Josh Hall
    Josh Hall
    Google
    5 out of 5 stars

    "I had an excellent experience working with Habib to secure my business loan. He was knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely invested in helping me succeed. He guided me through every step of the process, made everything clear and stress-free, and worked hard to find the best possible option for my needs. I truly appreciate the professionalism and dedication, and I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for business funding support."

    Review by Shane Farenando
    Shane Farenando
    Google
    5 out of 5 stars

    "Just completed a loan with BEF the whole experience was very professional and effective. I would not hesitate in recommending BEF to anyone. Emma was a pleasure to work with she helps and considers in depth the whole company situation with knowledge and decisions are made using real world experience."

    Review by Michael Dawes
    Michael Dawes
    Google
    5 out of 5 stars

    "Julie Micklethwaite has been amazing. She helped me access business start-up funding and made the whole process so much easier than I expected. She’s really supportive, easy to talk to, and explains everything clearly without making it feel complicated. I’m so grateful for her help and would definitely recommend her to anyone starting a business. Thank you Julie!"

    Review by Jenny Sharpe
    Jenny Sharpe
    Google
    5 out of 5 stars

    "I applied for a Government Start Up Loan Habib Karimi at the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) supported me to submit my application. Explaining everything simply and making the process run efficiently. He was professional and supportive. Fantastic experience and I received the funds quickly. He ensured he checked all the details and that I was lending an amount my business could afford. Highly recommend Thanks Laura from Organise Your Life With Laura"

    Review by Laura Royston
    Laura Royston
    Google
    5 out of 5 stars

    "Julie Micklethwaite at the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) has been absolutely fantastic to work with. She has now successfully secured two invaluable start-up loans for my business, and the difference this extra cash flow has made to our development is huge. Julie was efficient, professional, and guided me smoothly through the whole process, making everything straightforward and stress-free. We’re really happy with the service she provided through BEF and very grateful for her support – highly recommended!"

    Review by Daniel Harvey
    Daniel Harvey
    Google
    5 out of 5 stars

    "We had an excellent experience with the Business Enterprise Fund. Emma was incredibly helpful throughout the process—professional, efficient, and genuinely supportive. She managed to get our funding sorted within just a couple of days, which made a huge difference for our business. The entire process was straightforward and stress-free. We highly recommend the Business Enterprise Fund to any business looking for quick and reliable support. Thank you again, Emma and team"

    Review by Info Uyare
    Info Uyare
    Google

    Business finance FAQs

    Find answers to common questions about business finance, from how much you can borrow to what finance can be used for. As a not-for-profit CDFI, we take a different approach to lending, so you can also find out more about how we work.

    Have another question? Talk to our team
    Could BEF fund my business?
    How much can I borrow?
    Do you support start-ups?
    What can business finance be used for?
    Can I get finance for working capital?
    Can I get finance to refinance expensive borrowing?
    How do I know which finance option is right for me?

    Better outcomes through partnership

    We work with strategic partners across the public, private and third sectors to help businesses access finance and support and strengthen the communities we serve.