23 June 2022

The South West experienced the UK’s highest growth of equity investment in smaller businesses last year, finds latest British Business Bank research.

–  Investment into South West based smaller businesses increased by 357%, the highest growth of all UK regions and devolved nations, with £821m invested
–  The number of equity deals also increased by 49%, reaching 130 deals in 2021
–  Technology and IP-based businesses received the greatest share of investment

Published this week, the British Business Bank’s annual Small Business Equity Tracker highlights that the South West experienced the highest increase of all English regions and devolved administrations of equity investment into smaller business in 2021.

£821m was invested in 2021, a 357% increase year on year. The number of deals in the South West also increased by 49% to reach 130 throughout the period, also the highest increase in all UK regions.

Increased equity investment in the South West outpaces increases seen in the broader national picture. A total of £18.1bn was invested in smaller business across the country over 2021, the highest yearly amount since the Beauhurst data series began in 2011. The strong momentum continued into Q1 2022, with £7.6bn of equity investment reaching smaller businesses, the highest amount invested in a single quarter at nearly double that of the £4.3bn in Q1 2021. £320m was invested in South West in Q1 2022.

Read the full press release here.