Access to finance
How do I find and secure funding to develop my Sandwell business?
Getting finance to take your Sandwell business forward can feel like a daunting task. Complicated application processes for grants (funding you don’t pay back) and loans (funding you do pay back) leave many people feeling confused. Don’t stress! We’ve rounded up lots of ways to help you get access to finance and achieve your business plans. 
We’re from Sandwell Council’s Business Growth Team. Over the years we have helped huge number of Sandwell-based businesses get access to finance, with money that ranges from small grants to significant capital assistance from the European Regional Development Fund.
Our aim is to help businesses in Sandwell to thrive and grow, creating job security, training opportunities and wealth for our local economy. As everyone knows, most businesses need finance in order to succeed.
We work closely with private-sector organisations to signpost Sandwell businesses to the most appropriate funding sources. Our experienced business advisers offer free advice. They will help you assess your current position to determine what type of finance is appropriate for you. They can help you apply.
Contact us for accessing finance advice today.
Use these tools to look for available funding
Black Country Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Finance Finder from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce can help you discover the right funding solutions across loans, equity and grants.
Black Country Growth Hub
Black Country Growth Hub has a Business Finance Finder page, giving you easy access to a wide range of products and a comprehensive list of currently available finance. The Black Country Growth Hub also has dedicated Access to Finance team with whom you can get in touch.
Explore these other funding streams
BCRS Business Loans
Through BCRS Business Loans, loan finance is available for between £10,000 and £150,000 for new and established businesses, with loan repayments spread over a period of up to five years.
British Business Bank
British Business Bank is a government-owned ‘business development bank’ whose services come under three streams – ‘Start up’, ‘Scale up’ and ‘Stay ahead’ – to help you access finance that suits your needs.
Capify
Capify has over 20 years’ experience in offering business finance across the globe. In April 2021, it launched a Small Business Fund, specifically aimed at SMEs. Find out more about Capify.
Funding Circle
Funding Circle is a peer-to-peer lending facility where SMEs can access loan finance by borrowing directly from a community of investors. Loans are available from £5,000 up to £1m, repayable over up to five years.
Midlands Engine Investment Fund
MEIF is a collaboration between the British Business Bank and ten LEPs in the West Midlands and East and South East Midlands. It provides commercially focussed finance through Small Business Loans, Debt Finance, Proof of concept and Equity Finance funds to boost growth in SMEs.
Richardson
Offering individual investments of between £2m and £10m, the Richardson Enterprise Fund is a West Midlands-targeted programme is aimed at established businesses in all sectors requiring capital for growth. It offers a flexible approach, structuring each investment in a way that best suits the economic interests of all parties.
ThinCats
ThinCats is an online marketplace for secured business loans from individual and corporate investors, with loans ranging from £100,000 up to £3m, repayable over a period of six months to five years or more.
Attend finance related events
If you know of any relevant events, let us know so we can share the information.
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This page was last updated in November 2022.
