About this programme
The South West Investment Fund (SWIF) is a £200 million commitment from the British Business Bank, launched in July 2023 to put smaller loans, larger debt finance and equity investment into the hands of new and growing businesses across South West England. It sits alongside the Bank's other Nations and Regions Investment Funds and is designed to close the regional funding gap that has historically left South West businesses under-served compared with London and the South East.
The Fund covers the whole South West region: Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Capital is deployed through four appointed fund managers rather than directly by the British Business Bank itself, each responsible for a specific finance type and sub-region.
How it works
SWIF offers three separate commercial finance products, each run by a different fund manager: Smaller Loans from £25,000 to £100,000, Debt Finance from £100,000 to £2 million, and Equity Finance from £150,000 to £5 million.
SWIG Finance manages the Smaller Loans product across the whole South West region.
For Debt and Equity Finance, the region is split north/south: FW Capital manages Debt Finance and Maven Capital Partners manages Equity Finance for the north of the region; the FSE Group manages both Debt Finance and Equity Finance for the south of the region.
All finance is commercial: it is provided on market terms by the appointed fund managers, not as a grant, and is intended to sit alongside — not replace — a business's own funding plan.
Who can apply
A business must be based in, or trading from, the South West region covered by the Fund — Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset or Wiltshire.
For the Equity Finance product specifically, the Fund is aimed at established businesses with ambitious growth plans, or larger start-ups with high growth potential, that can demonstrate a viable business plan and show how the investment will help them meet their growth ambitions.
Beyond region and stage, SWIF takes what the British Business Bank describes as an inclusive approach, but specific eligibility criteria still apply and vary by product and by fund manager — the appointed fund manager for a business's sub-region and finance type is best placed to confirm suitability for an individual case.
How to apply
- Identify which finance product fits — Smaller Loans, Debt Finance or Equity Finance — and which fund manager covers that product for your part of the South West (SWIG Finance for Smaller Loans everywhere; FW Capital/Maven for Debt/Equity in the north; FSE Group for both in the south).
- Make an enquiry directly with that fund manager rather than the British Business Bank — applications for SWIF are not submitted centrally.
- The fund manager will make contact to discuss the funding requirement, business plan and financial projections in more detail before proceeding.
Frequently asked
Is the South West Investment Fund a grant?
No. SWIF is commercial finance — smaller loans, larger debt finance and equity investment — provided on market terms by the appointed fund managers, not grant funding.
Which areas does the Fund cover?
The whole of South West England: Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.
How much can a business raise through SWIF?
Three bands depending on the product: Smaller Loans from £25,000 to £100,000, Debt Finance from £100,000 to £2 million, and Equity Finance from £150,000 to £5 million.
Do I apply to the British Business Bank directly?
No. SWIF is delivered through four appointed fund managers — SWIG Finance, FW Capital, Maven Capital Partners and the FSE Group — and applications go directly to whichever manager covers your product and sub-region, not to the British Business Bank itself.
Which fund manager handles equity investment?
Maven Capital Partners manages Equity Finance for the north of the South West region, and the FSE Group manages Equity Finance for the south of the region.
Does SWIF only fund early-stage start-ups?
No. The Equity Finance product is aimed at established businesses with ambitious growth plans as well as larger start-ups with high growth potential — both need a viable business plan showing how the funding supports growth.
Is the Fund still open for new applications?
SWIF is an ongoing programme delivered through its four appointed fund managers — confirm current availability directly with the relevant fund manager for your product and sub-region before applying.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.