Lending giant Hitachi Capital has set up a 25 million GBP fund to provide asset-based loans to micro firms and sole traders.
Hitachi will offer loans of 2,500 GBP to 15,000 GBP to sole traders, including plumbers, builders, and independent cafes and bars looking to buy equipment, vehicles or tools.
Meanwhile, businesses have just nine days left to apply for funding of 350 million GBP through the country’s Regional Growth Fund.
The government is inviting bids from private companies looking to fund projects which will stimulate economic growth and lead to job creation.
The fund has allocated 2.4 billion GBP to firms in the medical, automotive and engineering sectors.