The British Business Bank newly supported 2,700 smaller businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber in 2025/26, with these businesses expected to create a forecast 2,100 new jobs and support a further 32,500 existing jobs, according to new figures.

In its third annual Impact Report published today, the Bank estimates the supported firms will generate £1.2bn in additional turnover which will deliver a forecast uplift in economic output of £500m to the region’s economy over the lifetime of the finance they have received.

Across the wider North of England, 7,200 businesses were newly supported by the Bank, making up almost a quarter (24%) of all UK businesses supported. This is expected to create 6,000 new jobs across the region, generating an additional £3.2bn in turnover for businesses over the lifetime of their finance.

The new figures come as the Bank continues to deliver dedicated programmes for businesses across the North. This includes the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), which recently celebrated its two-year anniversary having supported more than 400 ambitious businesses and facilitated almost £275m of investment.

For businesses within the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, the Bank has also recently announced ten Innovation Clusters across the UK, five of which are in the North. For Yorkshire and the Humber, this includes allocations for West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.

Cat Smith

We’re ensuring businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber have the finance they need to grow and drive regional prosperity. In the last year alone, we’ve newly supported 2,700 businesses that are expected to create 2,100 new jobs to ensure people all across the region can benefit from this growth.

Regionally focused support is crucial to this work. Through programmes like Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, Start Up Loans and Regional Angel Investor Syndicates, we’ve already supported thousands of local businesses. Our new Innovation Clusters are furthering this work by investing in regional strengths, unlocking growth through the Industrial Strategy and crowding in millions from the private sector.

The national picture

The report underlines the Bank's ongoing commitment to Yorkshire and the Humber as well as other UK Nations and regions. 87% of the businesses newly supported by the Bank in 2025/26 were based outside of London, helping to deliver more than a £100m boost to economic output in each and every UK Nation and region.
Nationally in 2025/26, the Bank supported a total of £9.4bn of finance for smaller businesses.
. The expected impacts over the life of this finance are:
• The creation of 39,000 additional jobs
• £19.7bn of additional business turnover, equivalent to £8.8bn of Gross Value Added
• More than £100m of GVA in each and every UK Nation and region