BCRS Business Loans has delivered more than £2.1 million in funding to under-served SMEs across Wales, according to its latest year-end figures.
The not-for-profit community development finance institution, which focuses on supporting SMEs particularly in deprived areas and among underrepresented social groups, provided £2,140,000 in funding to 19 businesses during the 2025-26 financial year.
The community lending specialist safeguarded 158 jobs and created a further 59 new roles. Overall economic contribution rose significantly to more than £11 million across Wales.
Across the wider region of Wales, the West Midlands, and surrounding areas, BCRS has lent more than £10.2 million to 112 businesses, safeguarding 895 jobs and creating 260 new roles. Of the businesses supported, 25 per cent were female-led, 21 per cent were ethnic minority-led, and 40 per cent operated in the UK’s most disadvantaged areas.
Among those to benefit from funding was Welsh sauna business Hikitalo, which was supported with a £100,000 funding package from both the British Business Bank’s £130 million Investment Fund for Wales and the Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF). The funding enabled Hikitalo to expand into Cardiff.
Founder of Hikitalo, Will Jenkins, said:
“The business has grown quickly with sauna sites in the Vale of Glamorgan and our dream to open Wales’ first urban sauna in the capital, has quickly become a reality.
“Because the business is still relatively young, traditional lenders couldn’t support our growth plans, but the support from BCRS was fantastic and it was clear they believed in us and in the model, which made a huge difference.
“This funding has allowed us to expand in a measured way, invest in the right location, and build a strong team.”
BCRS Business Loans chief executive Stephen Deakin said:
“We are delighted with this year’s performance, which reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting businesses when they need it most. Over the past financial year, we have continued to strengthen our impact – safeguarding more jobs, delivering significant economic growth, and contributing more than £53 million to the wider regional economy – demonstrating the vital role we play in helping small and medium-sized enterprises to thrive.”
BCRS is an active member of Responsible Finance, the trade association for the responsible finance industry which provides finance and support to help enterprises and individuals develop and create wealth including support to disadvantaged communities.
In Wales, BCRS Business Loans manages smaller loans through the Investment Fund for Wales (IFW), also operated by the British Business Bank, in the lender’s first expansion into the Principality. IFW offers smaller loans from £25,000 to £100,000, debt finance up to £2 million, and equity investment up to £5 million to support Welsh businesses.
Additionally, BCRS Business Loans is an accredited lender under The British Business Bank’s Community ENABLE Funding (CEF) Programme and has been allocated £20 million to better support small and medium-sized enterprises, especially those in underserved communities, by increasing the availability of finance.
