The Northern Ireland SME Access to Finance Report 2026 finds variation in financing use and expectations across the region

The British Business Bank’s 2026 Northern Ireland SME Access to Finance Report outlines how smaller firms across the region are engaging with external finance and highlights meaningful sub-regional differences in access, perceptions and future expectations. The research, undertaken with Enterprise Northern Ireland, seeks to understand how distinct local economies shape attitudes towards borrowing and investment among SMEs.

Across Northern Ireland more broadly, 56% of smaller businesses reported using some form of external finance, while 18% cited barriers to access. A majority, 69%, indicated positive cash flow and 42% anticipated requiring additional finance in the year ahead, of which 53% felt confident about securing it. This reflects a mixed but broadly engaged finance landscape across the devolved nation.

When viewed through a North West lens, two findings are particularly insightful. First, North West–based SMEs were the most likely to anticipate needing additional financing over the next year (60%), higher than the Northern Ireland average, suggesting active investment planning or perceived gaps in current working capital or growth financing. Second, the same group expected to grow at the highest rate (63%), a contrast to relatively lower external finance use elsewhere. These figures suggest a degree of optimism linked to growth ambitions but also potential pressure points in accessing the right finance at the right time.

However, the report also shows that Northern Ireland overall had the lowest proportion of smaller businesses using external finance compared with other UK devolved nations, pointing to broader structural constraints in liquidity and lending appetite. While cash flow positions are generally positive, barriers remain for a notable minority, and confidence in securing additional finance is not universal.

For North West business leaders, these insights underline the importance of robust finance planning and engagement with the evolving landscape of SME funding options. They reinforce that regional ambitions for growth must be supported by targeted efforts to improve access to finance, especially for firms that anticipate needing funding but are uncertain about their ability to secure it.

Key Takeaway

North West firms stand out for both their higher expectations of future finance needs and growth optimism, underscoring the strategic importance of improving awareness of, and access to, tailored financing avenues to support investment and scaling.

Read the full Northern Ireland SME Access to Finance Report 2026 here.