A £140 million investment fund aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the East of England has been launched by the British Business Bank.

The East of England Investment Fund covers Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. It is designed to provide commercial loans ranging from £25,000 to £2 million, as well as equity investments reaching up to £5 million.

According to data cited at the launch, the region accounts for 15 per cent of the UK’s university spinout companies, yet secured only 9 per cent of total national equity investment by value over the past year.

David Hourican, incoming interim chief executive officer at the British Business Bank, said: “The East of England is home to some of the UK’s most innovative and enterprising businesses, from world leading life sciences to advanced manufacturing and agri-tech. The launch of the East of England Investment Fund will play a crucial role in stimulating growth throughout the region by ensuring its businesses have access to the finance they need and deserve.”

Chris McDonald, science, innovation and investment minister, added: “The East of England is home to small and medium sized businesses that are locally significant and internationally competitive. Many of these are in sectors such as life sciences, technology and clean energy that are growing quickly. These businesses need financial support to grow and take advantage of new market opportunities, but I know from my own experience that it isn’t easy if you are located outside of London. That’s why the British Business Bank is creating a new fund to support businesses in this region, sitting alongside targeted finance funds for every part of the UK.”

The initiative marks the latest expansion of the government-owned development bank’s regional funding network outside London. Earlier this month, the bank introduced a £120 million fund dedicated to the South East of England. Similar regional schemes are already operational across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Northern EnA £140 million investment fund aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the East of England has been launched by the British Business Bank.

The East of England Investment Fund covers Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. It is designed to provide commercial loans ranging from £25,000 to £2 million, as well as equity investments reaching up to £5 million.

According to data cited at the launch, the region accounts for 15 per cent of the UK’s university spinout companies, yet secured only 9 per cent of total national equity investment by value over the past year.

David Hourican, incoming interim chief executive officer at the British Business Bank, said:

“The East of England is home to some of the UK’s most innovative and enterprising businesses, from world leading life sciences to advanced manufacturing and agri-tech.

“The launch of the East of England Investment Fund will play a crucial role in stimulating growth throughout the region by ensuring its businesses have access to the finance they need and deserve.”

Chris McDonald, science, innovation and investment minister, added: “The East of England is home to small and medium sized businesses that are locally significant and internationally competitive. Many of these are in sectors such as life sciences, technology and clean energy that are growing quickly. These businesses need financial support to grow and take advantage of new market opportunities, but I know from my own experience that it isn’t easy if you are located outside of London. That’s why the British Business Bank is creating a new fund to support businesses in this region, sitting alongside targeted finance funds for every part of the UK.”

The initiative marks the latest expansion of the government-owned development bank’s regional funding network outside London. Earlier this month, the bank introduced a £120 million fund dedicated to the South East of England. Similar regional schemes are already operational across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Northern England, the Midlands and South West England.

The scheme follows the deployment of central government backing under the UK Government’s Nations and Regions Investment Funds strategy, which aims to address regional disparities in business access to growth capital. Official announcements regarding the structural setup of these regional funds confirm that capital reserve allocations are held centrally to respond to regional economic shifts and maintain long-term funding stability across all non-London territories.

Image source: Jon Cartwright (EEIF_British-Business-Bank_2026_credit_Jon-cartwright_R5mzhBZ9y)