Finance for your AD:VENTURE supported business

AD:VENTURE provides ambitious new businesses with a tailored programme of support to help them grow and achieve their full potential. This fully funded business support is available to new businesses in West Yorkshire who are under 3 years old.

Business owners joining AD:VENTURE will be assigned a dedicated business manager, have access to informative webinars, interactive workshops, and grant funding to help them succeed.

Fund your growth with AD:VENTURE and BEF

As a strategic AD:VENTURE partner, we champion new businesses across West Yorkshire. We do this by offering businesses tailored financial solutions that fit hand in hand with support from AD:VENTURE.

Starting a business is an exciting and challenging experience full of barriers. AD:VENTURE and Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) are here to help you leap over the barriers. Like many new businesses across the county, you may be challenged by strict borrowing requirements of traditional lenders, regional disparities, sector bias, and systemic inequalities. We are here to help you hurdle those financial barriers.

What loans are available from BEF?

We provide three options for flexible finance that can support your current and future needs:

• Start-Up Loans (up to £25k): Kickstart your start-up business in West Yorkshire
• NPIF II Smaller Loans (£25k-100k): For growth and development projects in West Yorkshire.
• Small Business Loans (up to £250k): For businesses across West Yorkshire that require a little extra boost.

So, no matter your sector, the size of your business or how long you’ve been trading, we have a loan that can be tailored to fit your needs.

How can I use a BEF loan?

You can use our loans to support a wide range of business activities:

• Match funding: You can use a loan from BEF to support your grant application with AD:VENTURE.
• Start-up costs: Got a new business idea? Use the loan for starting out costs like getting licenses, permits, and buying your initial gear.
• Property stuff: Whether you’re buying a new place for your business, fixing up your current one, or giving it a makeover, there’s cash for that.
• Inventory: Need stuff to sell or materials to make your products? The loan can help buy all that.
• Working capital: This is for the everyday money needs like paying your team, covering bills, and other regular costs.
• Equipment and technology: If you need new machines, tools, or the latest tech to help your business grow, you can use the loan for that.
• Marketing and advertising: Get the word out about your business and attract more customers with some marketing and ads.
• Scaling up: Ready to make your business bigger or go into new areas? There’s money to support that move.

Client testimonial

Amity Brew Co was established in April 2020 by Russ Clarke, Rich Degnan, Tom Matthews and Verity Clarke with help from BEF who provided £75,000 in Start Up Loans. The initial BEF investment enabled the business to open the 25,000 sq ft brewery and taproom at Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley in December 2020. In was followed by a further investment of £40,000 to purchase equipment and provide working capital. Amity Brew Co also received support from AD:VENTURE.

“Purchasing canning and labelling equipment will allow us to get fresh beer into the hands of our customers faster and more efficiently plus expand into trade. It will cut costs and environmental impact and will also allow us to create jobs within the brewery in order to take more on under our own roof.”
- Russ Clarke, owner, Amity Brew Co.”

Why choose BEF?

We have built our loans to fit your business needs, and to tackle the unique problems you might face in the area. See how our different approach can your business take off:

• Fair rates for West Yorkshire: Our interest rates are set to match what's going on in West Yorkshire, making it easier for businesses to grow without getting weighed down by costs.
• Local help from local experts: We have people from the area who know all about the local business environment. They tailor our services to give you spot-on advice and solutions.
• Fast loan approval: We get your loan sorted quickly so you can jump on opportunities or sort out problems without delay.
• We get Yorkshire: Our loans are built to tackle the challenges businesses face right here, offering real help that makes a difference to local businesses and communities.

How do I get started?

To apply for a business loan, simply complete our online enquiry form. It takes a minute to complete.

After you've finished, a member of our investment team will get back to you within two working days. They'll guide you on what to do next, including how to fill out a full application.