10 Apr NNBN welcomes Government focus on growth and urges local businesses to share views on access to finance
NNBN, The Northamptonshire Business Network, is urging small businesses, lenders, and industry experts across Northamptonshire to respond to the UK Government’s latest Call for Evidence on access to debt finance. This initiative is part of a broader national mission to support growth, empower entrepreneurs, and shape a more inclusive and effective small business finance landscape.
With over 5.5 million small businesses in the UK forming the backbone of the economy, the Government has announced growth as its number one mission. Ahead of the upcoming Industrial Strategy in June and a dedicated Small Business Strategy later in 2025, Ministers are seeking insights from across the lending ecosystem to better understand the barriers to accessing external finance and to refine current support.
The Call for Evidence will explore a wide range of topics including the demand for finance, the lending process, access for under-served customer groups, and alternative finance models. The Government aims to use this evidence to assess how far existing policies support the small business community and what more can be done to boost SME growth.
Simon Cox, Managing Director of NNBN, welcomed the initiative and called on business leaders in the County to get involved:
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of local economies like ours in Northamptonshire, and access to finance is often the key to unlocking their growth potential. We welcome this call for evidence as a vital step in shaping a pro-business environment that is responsive to real-world challenges and opportunities.
We encourage our members and the wider business community to share their experiences—both good and bad—of accessing finance. This is your chance to influence policy at the highest level and ensure that future strategies reflect the needs of local entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a lender, a business owner, or someone supporting start-ups, your voice matters.”
The Government is looking to hear from small businesses, banks, alternative lenders, and industry professionals. Feedback will help determine how future strategies can better support SMEs and accelerate growth across the UK economy.
Responses to the Call for Evidence can be submitted online, and the deadline has been set to 8th May 2025. To respond email accesstofinance@businessandtrade.gov.uk
To read more on this call for evidence, visit here: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/small-business-access-to-finance/small-business-access-to-finance
