Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) | Loans & Finance for Small Businesses

Business Enterprise Fund Drop-In Support with Emma Bashforth - Funding South Yorkshire Businesses Come along to The Bistro at The Business Village on Wednesday 8th January 2025 and meet Emma Bashforth, Investment manager for the Business Enterprise Fund. Small business owners and entrepreneurs are often shackled by the constraints of traditional finance; held back by geographical limitations, industry biases, and systemic inequalities. BEF helps businesses to push through these barriers. 📅 8th January 2025 ⏰ 9:30am-2:00pm 📍 The Bistro Simply drop by for a coffee and a chat with Emma if you require any support with your lending requirements or would like to talk anything through #BusinessSupport #Investment #SmallBusinessLoans

What started as a simple meetup with a group of local mums in Peterlee has blossomed into a national community of over 17,000 members, offering weekly Talks and Walks, Walks and Plays, and a hugely popular podcast. Mamma Social Co's incredible journey has made a profound impact on countless mothers, helping them feel more connected and supported during a challenging time in their lives. 🌸✨ The business was #BackedByBEF through a Start Up Loan, which will allow Mamma Social Co to: 📈 Expand its team and create new job opportunities 📈 Grow its membership base even further 📈 Strengthen brand partnerships and increase revenue 📈 Enhance the support it offers to mothers across the country Kayleigh’s story of turning her own feelings of isolation into a thriving business is truly inspiring. The investment will not only help Mamma Social Co scale, but also empower it to make an even greater impact in the lives of mothers nationwide. 👏 Huge congratulations to Kayleigh Laverick and the entire team at Mamma Social Co for their continued growth and success If you're looking to start or grow your business, we can support you to thrive with flexible funding up to £25k through a Start Up Loan Get in touch at info@befund.org #StartUpLoan #BusinessGrowth #Investment

Seasons Greetings from BEF! ❄️ Click below to read our roundup of the year and how you can get involved in making meaningful change this festive season ⬇️ Please note, Our offices will close at midday on Tuesday 24 December and reopen on Thursday 2 January 📅 We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

New Podcast Episode: How to run brilliant fundraising events and grow a social enterprise with Robert Cairns, Fund A Fest 🎙️ In 2019, Rob turned a challenging personal journey with Lyme disease into a mission to create impactful, community-focused events Fund A Fest was born, bringing together independent artists, musicians, re-enactors, and local businesses to deliver unforgettable events that raise vital funds for charities and organizations. 🎤🎨🎪 In this episode, Rob shares insights on: ✅ Why fundraising should focus on community, not just profits. ✅ His experience with BEF finance, including startup and growth through the Start-Up Loan scheme. ✅ The importance of event management for charities and community groups. ✅ Plans to expand with training, apprenticeships, and partnerships with larger businesses. 👉 Listen to the full episode below (available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and more) to hear Rob’s tips on running successful fundraising events and his vision for the future of Fund A Fest. #BusinessGrowth #Fundraising #CommunityImpact #CharityEvents #Entrepreneurship #StartUpJourney #Podcast #SupportLocal

Huge congratulations to Emma Bashforth - Funding South Yorkshire Businesses for being a finalist as the Ask Zoe Knees Award: Best Professional Services! 🎉 Emma's supports businesses in South Yorkshire and it's fantastic to see her efforts being recognised 🥳 Here's to many more opportunities in the future 👏 #smallbusinessloan #southyorkshire #finance #wetakeadifferentview

Thanks to the support from BEF and the British Business Bank North of England Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), Claro Hill Vets has been able to take their services to the next level! 🚀 Laura Keyser has been able to take the vets to new heights by expanding its operations, creating new jobs, and meeting the growing demand for high-quality veterinary care across North Yorkshire. 🐾 Check out this short clip to see how this investment is helping them on achieving their goals to care for animals across North Yorkshire. 🐶🐱 #NPIF #Investment #BusinessLoans #WeTakeADifferentView Mark Iley British Business Bank

New Podcast Episode: Unlocking Growth with the Right Finance 🚗 In the latest episode of FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs And Founders, we’re diving into the success story of Hyde Accessible Transport, a company that’s seen remarkable growth, expanding its fleet of fully accessible vehicles. However, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Founder Shaun shares how the business overcame significant financial obstacles, including the high cost and inflexibility of invoice finance. After being connected with BEF, things took a positive turn. In this episode we cover: 🔑 The Early Days & Growth – How a £125,000 loan helped Hyde purchase more vehicles, create jobs, and ultimately increase its contract portfolio. 📈 Rapid Expansion – Hyde now holds three times as many contracts as when it first sought finance. 🤝 Building Connections – Shaun’s meeting with the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, and the importance of fostering relationships with local authorities. 💡 The Right Equipment & Finance – How securing the right tools and financing at the right time led to sustained success. 💼 Public Sector Opportunities – Shaun shares his advice on how to secure contracts with local and public sector authorities. In addition, BEF’s Chris Conroy offers expert insights on how businesses can best position themselves for finance and the key steps to take. Listen to the full episode below ⬇️ If you're looking to start or grow your business with flexible finance, get in touch at info@befund.org #BusinessGrowth #Finance #FlexibleFinance #Podcast #AccessibleTransport #HydeTransport #BEF #LocalAuthorities #PublicSector #FinanceSolutions #BusinessSuccess

New Podcast Episode: A Wizard Who Turned Down a Dragon! 🧙♂️ In this week's episode of FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders, we chat with Ben Fry, Chief Enchantment Officer of The Potions Cauldron Group. Ben and his business partner, Phil Ponder, took a bold step by turning down TWO incredible offers on Dragon's Den. In this episode, Ben shares why they made that decision, their journey of building immersive experiences like The Potions Cauldron and The Hole In Wand mini golf courses, and how the pandemic pushed them to diversify. They discuss: ✨ The challenges and rewards of owning a retail and manufacturing business ✨ The importance of community and local media for growth ✨ Key insights on getting investment ✨ The “secret sauce” to standing out in experiential business 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or your favourite podcast app and discover how Ben and Phil built their magical empire! Click the link in the article below ⬇️ #entrepreneurship #podcast #investment #businessgrowth #startups #experientialbusiness #businessfinance #dragonsden

A huge congratulations to EMMANUELLE METZ and the team on the opening of their new cheese shop Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley ! 🧀👏 It's fantastic to see such an exciting venture take shape in the heart of the community. Best of luck as you embark on this new chapter—here’s to much success, growth, and, of course, delicious cheeses! Wishing you all the best as you continue to bring quality and flavour to Farsley. We're sure your shop will be a hit with locals and visitors alike! 🧀❤️ https://lnkd.in/ePnrxFmy British Business Bank British Business Bank North of England Start Up Loans Company Julie Micklethwaite HELPING BUSINESSES START and GROW #CheeseLovers #LocalBusiness #Farsley #SunnyBankMills #SupportLocal

We are thrilled to announce the launch of BEF's new podcast - FUNDED: Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Founders 🎙️ This podcast highlights the incredible people we help, the businesses we empower, and the significant impact we deliver. By sharing these stories, we're building understanding and trust with our stakeholders and potential clients In our first episode, we speak to Lyndsay Watterson from Neo Walk who sells handmade walking sticks worldwide from York In this episode, Lyndsay covers: 📌 Her journey from creating her first prototypes, to being stopped in the street by people wanting to get their own, to launching in 2013 as a one person business 📌A tipping point in 2020 which caused a spike in growth and led to Lyndsay taking on staff 📌 The community Neo Walk has created 📌 What makes the walking sticks so unique and bespoke 📌 How she funded the business initially and why she sought external finance 📌 The process of applying to and securing £60,000 from BEF 📌 Supporting MS (multiple sclerosis) charities in the US and UK 📌 The impact of winning awards including "Entrepreneur of Excellence" at the National Diversity Awards and one of Yorkshire's most exciting businesses 📌 Lyndsey's mission to see disability normalised and the importance of representation The first three episodes are now live at www.buzzsprout.com/2429809 and available on major podcast outlets including Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify. #Podcast #BusinessLoans #Finance Chris Conroy British Business Bank British Business Bank North of England Ceniarth Responsible Finance