In yet another move to enhance financial access in 2026 for underserved small businesses in the UK, the British Business Bank has announced Midlands-based ART Business Loans as the fourth accredited delivery partner under its Community ENABLE Funding program. This latest development, revealed recently on January 12, 2026, aims to unlock up to £7 million in loans for businesses in the West Midlands, focusing on those often overlooked by mainstream lenders.
The Community ENABLE Funding program is designed to bolster Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) like ART, which specialize in providing debt finance and support to smaller enterprises in local communities.
By allocating funds to these social impact lenders, the initiative seeks to facilitate up to £150 million in lending over its first two years.
The program operates in two phases: the initial phase is fully funded by the Department for Business and Trade through the British Business Bank, while the second phase will incorporate private sector investments to amplify the available wholesale finance.
ART Business Loans, headquartered in Aston, will use the allocation to offer loans exceeding £25,000 to businesses across regions including Cheshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire.
This partnership is particularly geared toward underrepresented groups, such as female-led and ethnic minority-owned businesses, to foster diversity and strengthen local ecosystems.
ART’s track record is fairly solid; since its founding back in 1997 as the Aston Reinvestment Trust, it has disbursed over £37 million to more than 1,800 customers, creating or preserving over 8,500 jobs.
Notably, over 75% of its supported businesses hail from underserved areas, with 54% of lending since 2017 directed to England’s most deprived regions.
Blair McDougall, Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, emphasized the program’s role in economic vitality:
“Small businesses are the engine of our economy, but too often they lack the finance they need to reach their full potential. This is particularly the case for those in disadvantaged areas, which is why we’re supporting the growth of organisations like ART that lend to underserved smaller firms. This helps in creating jobs, opportunities, and growth for the local economies in areas like the West Midlands.”
Reinald de Monchy, Chief Banking Officer at the British Business Bank, welcomed the addition:
“Having a CDFI with the established heritage that ART have in the West Midlands on board is great news for the Bank and the CDFI sector. We look forward to seeing the impact they will have on smaller businesses across the region.”
Steve Walker, Chief Executive of ART Business Loans, expressed:
“ART is proud to be the fourth CDFI lender in the UK to be accredited under the Community ENABLE Funding program. This accreditation strengthens our ability to increase our levels of support to businesses, giving them access to the finance they need to grow, create jobs, and build resilience.”
The British Business Bank, established in 2014 as the UK government’s economic development bank, manages various programs supporting £23 billion in finance for nearly 64,000 smaller businesses.
Its mission aligns with driving sustainable growth and net-zero transitions by improving finance access. ART, as a CDFI and member of Responsible Finance, continues its ethos of “alleviating poverty through enterprise” by aiding viable propositions rejected by traditional banks.
This partnership underscores a commitment to inclusive economic development, potentially transforming the landscape for SMEs in the Midlands by removing barriers to capital and promoting job creation in deprived areas.
As the program expands, it could serve as a model for addressing financial inequalities across the UK, ensuring that growth opportunities are equitable and widespread.