Small Business Loans South East England

The South East of England has a strong and varied array of industries in rural areas and towns, ranging from electronics and aerospace to healthcare, financial services and tourism. In addition to this, towns such as Brighton, Guildford, Maidstone and Chelmsford have all weathered recent economic uncertainty well, and continue to have thriving business ecosystems.

With key transport infrastructure – Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the Channel Tunnel and high-speed access to the Continent – SMEs are ideally located to attract local, national and international trade. Close to the UK's main business hub of London, they’re also positioned very attractively for potential investors. However, if you’re not planning on giving away equity in your business, there are other local funding options that can boost your SME while ensuring you retain total control.

South East Business Loans

Here's a list of alternative lenders that can provide funding to small and medium-sized businesses in the South East.

Fleximize

Limited companies, LLPs, and non-limited partnerships with four or more partners are eligible to apply for loans from £10,000 to £500,000, and sole traders or non-limited partnerships with less than four partners can apply for loans over £25,000. Whether you’re an early-stage or established business, Fleximize's relationship managers work closely with you to find the best possible business finance for you. Repayment terms span three month to 60 months, and you only need to be trading for a minimum of six months.

You can find out more about our products by visiting our services page, but here are the key features of our financing options for SMEs based in the South East:

• South East business loans of £10,000 – £500,000 over 3 – 60 months
• Approval and deposit in as little as 24 hours
• No hidden fees or early-repayment penalties
• Competitive interest rates starting from 0.9% per month
• Interest charged on a reducing balance, not the total loan amount
• Repayment holidays and top-ups available with all loans
• Exclusive discounts on industry-leading business services

Get started: Apply now

Let's Do Business

Business loans are available for SMEs in Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hampshire that have been trading for at least one year and are unable to access a traditional bank loan. Applicants can borrow between £3,000 and £50,000 over a maximum term of 60 months. The provider also offers startup loans and Enterprise Finance Guarantee loans.

East Sussex Business Loans

Brought to you by East Sussex Invest 5, this fund is an East Sussex County Council and Regional Growth Fund programme to create jobs and promote the local economy. Loans range from £10,000 to £200,000 and require minimum match funding of 50%. You'll also find that there is an arrangement fee of £500.

Thomas Arneway Trust

This charity lends to small businesses in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex. You need to be a startup or early-stage enterprise. Loans are made to you personally, and you'll need two guarantors who’ll be prepared to repay the loan if you default. Successful applicants can borrow up to £20,000, with repayment terms of up to three years and loans are offered at 1% above the base rate.

Thames Valley Berkshire Expansion Loan Scheme

Limited companies in Berkshire can apply for loans ranging from £50,000 to £300,000. Repayments terms go up to five years, and an additional 5% of the loan amount could be available to enable SMEs to secure support for investment.

Financing Start Up Enterprise

This startup loans provider can provide finance to businesses yet to launch or those that have been trading for up to 12 months. The scheme also provides free access to business mentoring advice. You can apply for a loan whether you are employed, unemployed or studying at the time of application. Loan terms can run for up to five years, and interest rates are typically 6% per annum (6.2%APR).

You can browse the full list of startup providers in the South East here. For more information on other funding options around the UK, take a look at our Startup Guide to Business Funding, or Guide to Alternative Finance.

How Fleximize's business loans can be used in practice

Owner of Newbury-based Montagne Sports, Alan Barrie, has borrowed from Fleximize on a number of occasions. Thanks to Fleximize’s speedy approval process, Alan was able to secure funding for new premises in 2016, followed by a quick injection of capital in 2018 to purchase discounted stock from a supplier. Watch the video below to hear how Fleximize were able to help Alan out or click here to read his story in full.

If you’re looking for alternative finance for a business based in the South East, call us on 020 7100 0110, and our friendly UK-based team will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

How to apply for a South East business loan

Our team has a wealth of experience working with businesses based in the South East of England and would be delighted to assist you in securing a loan. To get started, complete this short application form and a member of the team will be in touch if your business passes our initial checks.

If you're not quite ready to apply, learn more about our products by checking out our services page. You can also discover what our current customers think about our lending solutions by reading our latest Trustpilot reviews.