South West Investment Fund

 

What is SWIF?

A £200 million investment fund to support the growth of small and medium-sized businesses across the South West of England.

The South West Investment Fund is the first in a series of new Nations and Regions Investment Funds being launched by the British Business Bank which will deliver a £1.6 billion commitment of new funding to drive sustainable economic growth.

The South West Investment Fund will offer a range of commercial finance options with loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million. The new fund will cover the entire South West region including Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

It aims to tackle identified funding gaps across the South West and increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses.

FW Capital manages the £19 million SWIF - FW Capital Debt Finance fund.

We provide loans from £100,000 to £2 million to help businesses grow. The funding can be used for a variety of business needs, including:

  • Growth capital
  • Hiring staff
  • Expanding into new markets
  • Developing products and services
  • Purchasing equipment or machinery
  • Buying, upgrading or expanding premises
  • Transition to net zero

Loans are available between 1 - 5 years.

We can help businesses who have the potential to grow and who are based in the South West of England, with a focus on the following areas:

  • Bristol
  • Gloucestershire
  • North and North East Somerset
  • Wiltshire

If your business isn’t based in the right area, but is either willing to relocate or will have a material presence in the region as a result of the investment, then this should be sufficient – our local Investment Executives can provide further guidance on this.

Before you start your application, make sure your business meets the criteria of the fund.

Making a SWIF application

To apply for a loan, you’ll need to provide us with the following:

  • 3 months bank statements
  • 3 years annual accounts 
  • Latest management accounts, including P&L, Balance Sheet and Aged Debtors & Creditors 
  • Statement of personal assets and liabilities 

We may require further information as part of your application.

 

Need to know more first?

If you have a question on SWIF, just send us a message or try reading our FAQ section. Alternatively, if you are ready to apply, you can begin here.