Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank, has delivered more than £250 million in funding to over 25,000 entrepreneurs across London since the programme launched in 2012.

In 2025 so far, founders in the capital have taken out 1,500 loans worth £20m, showing strong demand for early-stage finance.

Hackney tops the table as London’s most entrepreneurial borough by volume of loans, ahead of Lambeth and Lewisham, while the City of London ranks last with just 19 loans worth £212,400.

The programme also continues to back underrepresented founders in the capital, with 42% of loans going to women and 44% to black, Asian and other ethnic minority founders, alongside strong take-up from both Gen Z and over-50 entrepreneurs.