Agreements for Start Up Loans' Business Support Partners
The contract covers Business Support Partner services for The Start-Up Loans Company (SUL), a wholly owned subsidiary of British Business Finance and part of the government-owned British Business Bank, which supports access to finance and mentoring for UK entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses. Suppliers will provide pre-loan support and act as credit brokers, assisting prospective applicants through pre-application and application-stage activities and helping them access the support required throughout the Start Up Loans journey. The procurement will replace existing contracts from 1 April 2027 and comprises 12 regional partners, up to four national partners, and two specialist national partners focused respectively on ex-military personnel and their families and young people. Services will be delivered across specific UK regions, the devolved Nations, or nationally depending on the lot. The estimated total value is £85.8 million excluding VAT (£102.96 million including VAT), although individual lot values may not all be realised; bidders must satisfy the requirements applicable to their chosen lot, including the capability to deliver the specified regional, national, or specialist pre-loan support.
Buyer: The Start-Up Loans Company. Source: Find a Tender. Updated 15 Oct 2026.
Key facts
- Estimated value: £104.3m
- Bids close: 17 Nov 2026
- Location: East Midlands (England), East of England, London, North East (England), North West (England), Northern Ireland, Scotland, South East (England), South West (England), Wales, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and The Humber, Sheffield
- Procedure: Competitive flexible procedure
- Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 to 31 Mar 2030
- Category: Loan brokerage services (66190000)
From the official notice
The Start-Up Loans Company (SUL) is part of the British Business Bank (the Bank), which is a government-owned economic development bank that makes finance markets for smaller businesses work more effectively. The Bank’s mission is to drive economic growth by helping smaller businesses get the finance they need to start, scale and stay in the UK. In doing so, the Bank helps capture the economic value of innovation for the UK and create jobs and prosperity for people across the country. The Bank designs, delivers, and manages a range of products through over 200 Delivery Partners, helping to increase both the supply and diversity of finance available to smaller businesses. Through our Banking business, the Bank increases the availability of debt finance for businesses right across the UK so promising businesses are much more likely to get the loan they need to start and grow. We do this by providing start up loans for entrepreneurs so people with great ideas have a better chance of getting started, no matter what their background is or where they are in the country. Alongside this, our Government-backed guarantees support banks and other finance providers to lend more to businesses who need debt finance to grow. The Start-Up Loans Company (SUL, the Contracting Authority) is a wholly owned subsidiary of British Business Finance Ltd, which is in turn wholly owned by the Bank. SUL delivers the government’s Start Up Loans Scheme, which provides personal fixed-interest loans and sup...
View the official notice
Questions about this tender
When is the deadline?
Bids close on 17 Nov 2026.
What is it worth?
The estimated value is £104.3m.
Who can apply?
The buyer has marked it as suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
How do I bid?
Open the official notice, register on the buyer's portal and submit your bid before the deadline.
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