Over 300 small businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber have secured funding through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), which has channelled more than £180 million into the North of England since its launch.
The fund, managed by the British Business Bank, has directly invested £115 million, attracting an additional £68 million in private co-investment. In total, it has completed over 315 deals supporting sectors such as advanced manufacturing, digital technology, and the creative industries.
NPIF II, valued at £660 million, offers loans between £25,000 and £2 million and equity investments up to £5 million to help smaller firms start, scale, and strengthen their operations. The initiative aims to address persistent gaps in access to finance for businesses across the North.
Among the Yorkshire recipients are Sheffield-based bridge engineering specialist EKSPAN, which received £1.4 million to expand its infrastructure capabilities, and Hull’s hospitality recruitment platform Candid Hospitality, which secured £785,000 in equity finance to grow its team and partnerships. Sheffield’s education provider Make a Difference (MAD) also obtained a smaller loan to upgrade its facilities for therapeutic learning.
The investment milestone underscores the expanding role of targeted regional finance in stimulating business growth, innovation, and job creation across Yorkshire and the wider Northern economy.
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