Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/small-business-access-to-finance

Change description : 2025-12-04 13:00:00: ‘Government response to access to finance call for evidence’ added. [Policy papers and consultations]

Showing diff : 2025-05-08 12:44:48.274210746 +00:00..2025-12-04 13:00:22.149953636 +00:00

OpenCall call for evidence outcome

Small business access to finance

From:
Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, EmmaBlair ReynoldsMcDougall MP and GarethLucy ThomasRigby KC MP
Published
13 March 2025
Last updated
84 MayDecember 2025 — See all updates
This call for evidence has closed

Read the full outcome

Government response to access to finance call for evidence

HTML

Detail of outcome

This call for evidence sought views on the barriers and opportunities in small business access to debt finance, including:

  • the demand for finance
  • lending market developments
  • alternative finance models
  • the experiences of underserved entrepreneurs

In total, the call for evidence received 96 responses from a wide range of interested parties. The government response summarises the issues raised by respondents and sets out the government’s position.

Original call for evidence

Summary

This call for evidence seeks views, evidence and experiences of applying for and accessing debt finance in the UK for small businesses.

This call for evidence closesran atfrom
to

Call for evidence description

This call for evidence seeks views, evidence and experiences of applying for and accessing debt finance in the UK. It sets out our interpretation of the evidence and our understanding of the debt finance landscape for small businesses.

It covers all aspects of:

  • the lending market
  • the demand for finance
  • the application and approval process
  • alternative models of finance
  • under-served customers

We are seeking your views and evidence to help us:

  • assess how far our existing policies meet the needs of business and the lending sector in overcoming barriers to finance
  • understand where we may be able to go further to create growth through our support for small businesses and the lending sector

We need the input of market participants to shape our understanding of the evidence on the main barriers to accessing debt finance.

We are looking for the experiences of:

  • small businesses
  • bank and non-bank lenders
  • industry experts

Documents

Small business access to finance

HTML

Small business access to finance: privacy notice

HTML

Ways to respond

Email to:

accesstofinance@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Updates to this page

Published 13 March 2025
Last updated 84 MayDecember 2025 + show all updates

  2. Call for evidence closing date updated to 22 May 2025.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Update history

2025-12-04 13:00
‘Government response to access to finance call for evidence’ added.

2025-05-08 13:44
Call for evidence closing date updated to 22 May 2025.

2025-03-31 10:07
The ‘Small business access to finance’ call for evidence has been updated under the ‘How to respond’ section to request additional information from small businesses responding.The ‘Small business access to finance: privacy notice’ has been updated under the ‘Information sharing’ section to clarify that data may be shared with third-party data processors as governed by contract.

2025-03-20 12:56
Privacy notice added to page.

2025-03-13 00:01
First published.