SWIG Finance

What SWIG Finance does

SWIG Finance is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) founded in 1990 and headquartered in Truro, Cornwall, that provides loans and business support to start-ups and SMEs across the South and West Country of England. The company operates two principal product lines: Start Up Loans (£500-£25,000), delivered as the British Business Bank's South West delivery partner, and Business Loans (£25,001-£250,000) priced at 12% Above Base Rate with a 5% arrangement fee and monthly repayment over up to 60 months. As the appointed fund manager for the smaller-loan portion of the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund, SWIG also intermediates loans of £25,000-£2m and equity of up to £5m, and participates in the Growth Guarantee Scheme.

Name

SWIG Finance

Legal name

SWIG Finance Limited

Website

https://swigfinance.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SWIG Finance is a UK Community Development Finance Institution, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Truro, that provides start-up and SME loans (£500-£250,000) across South West England as the British Business Bank's regional delivery partner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Finance / Small Business Lending

NAICS

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Merchant Cash Advance & Revenue-Based Financing Enablement (FSAGALAH)

Keywords

• Small business lending
• Startup loans
• Community development finance
• SME financing
• Responsible finance

Headquarters

HQ city

Truro

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: SWIG Finance generates revenue through interest charged on loans provided to start-ups and SMEs. They charge 12% Above Base Rate (ABR) on business loans and a 5% arrangement fee at outset. As a CDFI, all profits are reinvested into the business to support continued growth and community lending.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SWIG Finance is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) that provides business loans and start-up loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in the South and West Country of England. It offers personal loans of £500–£25,000 under the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans programme, unsecured business loans of £25,001–£250,000, and manages the smaller-loans portion of the South West Investment Fund (£25,000–£2 million). The institution lends on the basis of business potential rather than collateral and supports businesses underserved by mainstream banks.

Product overview

SWIG Finance is an award-winning Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) offering a comprehensive suite of lending products for startups and SMEs across the South and West Country of England. The core offerings consist of Start Up Loans (£500-£25,000) delivered in partnership with the British Business Bank, and Business Loans (£25,001-£250,000) for established SMEs. The company also manages the South West Investment Fund (SWIF) providing £25k-£2m loans and up to £5m equity, and participates in the Growth Guarantee Scheme. Specialized products include Net Zero Business Loans, Business Loans for Women, Growth Capital, Unsecured Business Loans, Business Equipment Loans, Loans to Buy a Business, and Commercial Business Loans. The company bases lending decisions on business potential rather than collateral, providing relationship-based support through dedicated business managers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Start Up Loans

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 506 businesses with £18.4m in 2025/26, creating/safeguarding 1,134 jobs and generating £95.2m social impact
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Responsible FinancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible Finance represents Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) in the UK. SWIG Finance is one of the UK's leading CDFIs and works with Responsible Finance to promote ethical lending and financial inclusion. SWIG uses the CDFI Economic Impact tool developed by Responsible Finance to measure social impact.
• Oxford Innovation CornwallsecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOxford Innovation Cornwall collaborates with SWIG Finance on events and webinars to support Cornish businesses, including business recovery discussions following COVID-19 and ongoing entrepreneurial support programs.
• Access to Finance CornwallsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccess to Finance helps businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly looking to raise investment by referring them to SWIG Finance for funding support. They serve as a key referral channel for SWIG's loan products.
• Business WestsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness West is a business support organization in the Bristol area that refers entrepreneurs to SWIG Finance for funding, helping connect local businesses with appropriate financing options.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Big Issue Invest: UK social investment arm of The Big Issue that provides loans and investment to enterprises tackling poverty and social exclusion. Directly comparable as a UK CDFI focused on underserved entrepreneurs and SMEs unable to access mainstream finance.
• Charity Bank: UK ethical bank providing loans to charities, social enterprises, and community organisations. Comparable to SWIG as an ethical, mission-driven lender focused on the social sector with similar loan sizing and relationship-based underwriting.
• Triodos Bank UK: UK arm of ethical Triodos Bank offering business banking and loans to sustainable SMEs. Both an actual capital partner of SWIG and a direct comparable operating in the ethical SME lending space across the UK.
• Unity Trust Bank: UK ethical bank focused on lending to organisations with positive social impact, including SMEs, charities, and social enterprises. Comparable to SWIG's mission-driven approach to SME and start-up lending.
• Funding Circle: UK SME lending platform providing business loans to small businesses. Comparable to SWIG's core SME loan product, though Funding Circle operates as an online marketplace lender rather than a relationship-based CDFI.
• iwoca: UK fintech providing flexible working capital and small business loans to SMEs. Comparable to SWIG's SME lending product range, particularly for businesses that may struggle to access traditional bank finance, though iwoca operates on an algorithmic model.

Broad incumbents

• British Business Bank: UK government-owned development bank that SWIG works with as a delivery partner. While primarily a wholesale funder rather than direct lender, BBB shapes the competitive landscape through regional fund programmes and Start Up Loans.

Regional players

• Maven Capital Partners: UK fund manager providing debt and equity finance to SMEs across UK regions, including regional fund management mandates. Comparable to SWIG's role as a regional fund manager for the South West Investment Fund.

Others

• Business West: Regional Chamber of Commerce and business support organisation in the South West that refers SMEs to SWIG. An ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, but comparable as a regional business support organisation serving SWIG's target market.
• Start Up Loans (British Business Bank programme): Government-backed loan programme for new businesses that SWIG delivers as a regional partner. Comparable as a UK-wide delivery network of similar loan products (£500-£25,000) to the same start-up segment SWIG serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SWIGFinanceLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swig-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/swigfinance
• Xx.com/swigfinance

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments23 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SWIG Finance