The FSE Group launches £70M+ London growth fund to back underserved scaleups

The FSE Group has introduced the Future London Growth Fund, a £70 million+ debt fund aimed at supporting ambitious scale-up businesses across London's 32 boroughs and the City of London. The Fund, managed by GLIF Limited under FSE, has received significant commitments from the British Business Bank and the Mayor of London’s investment arm, Funding London. The Fund seeks to provide £70 million in lending to address gaps in growth finance for London's smaller businesses, which often face challenges in accessing capital.

Despite London being a major financial hub, many businesses within the city struggle to secure growth finance. According to a British Business Bank report, entrepreneurs in depressed urban areas face additional obstacles, even though they are close to established investment ecosystems. London ranks as one of the most challenging places to be an entrepreneur in the UK, with only 71% of business owners reporting profits compared to the UK average of 84%.

The Future London Growth Fund intends to bridge the financing gap between traditional bank loans and larger venture debt, supporting companies with strong commercial potential and clear plans for scaling. FSE has been managing FSE's stake in the £66 million debt portion of Funding London’s Greater London Investment Fund since 2019 and manages other funds like the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund, Investment Fund for Scotland, and Midlands Engine Investment Fund. Recently, FSE was appointed as the manager of the South East Investment Fund (Debt).

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan emphasized the importance of the Fund in providing support to businesses that are often overlooked by traditional finance providers. He stated that the Fund will enable businesses to innovate and expand, contributing to London's economic growth and prosperity. FSE CEO Julie Silvester highlighted that providing flexible, relationship-based capital empowers management teams to innovate and create jobs.

She added that the Future London Growth Fund embodies this ethos, offering tailored support to scaleups to execute their next phase of expansion.

Adam Kelly, Managing Director of Debt and Regional Funds at the British Business Bank, noted that while London is perceived as having ample access to finance, many ambitious founders still face difficulties. "Smaller businesses in underserved communities or lacking established investor networks struggle to obtain the growth capital they need to scale.

FSE's £20 million cornerstone commitment to the Future London Growth Fund will help address this gap and increase finance availability for businesses with strong growth potential, supporting economic opportunities across London's diverse communities."