SWIG had another record-breaking year in 2025/26, with more than £18.4 million delivered to small businesses throughout the South and West Country.
More than 500 businesses were supported with funding, helping to generate £95.2 million in social value. Within this, 36% of lending was delivered to female-led businesses and 19% to businesses led by ethnic minorities.
SWIG Finance is the South West’s dedicated Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) and is dedicated to supporting small businesses that might find it difficult to access funding elsewhere. The organisation is proud to report that 22% of its lending supported businesses in some of the most deprived areas of the region. 
This year’s report highlights some of the stand-out customers supported during the year, including some incredible success stories and stories on the small businesses that have scaled up thanks, in part, to loans and support from SWIG Finance.
The success comes as both lending teams smashed their records, with more than £10.4 million delivered via Business Loans, helping to create and safeguard 1,134 SME jobs. A further £8 million was delivered by the Start Up Loans team, helping to create 404 new start-ups.
As a CDFI, SWIG Finance works in collaboration with a diverse range of funders to support customers. The organisation is grateful for the ongoing support from its funders British Business Bank, Social Investment Scotland, Better Society Capital and Triodos.
2025/26 was a big year for the business, as long-standing Managing Director John Peters took a well-deserved retirement. Following in John’s footsteps, Matthew Wilde was welcomed as Managing Director.
Matt said: “2025/26 has been a significant year for SWIG Finance, both in the scale of our lending and the depth of our impact across the South West. I want to thank the SWIG Finance team for delivering a record year during change. I am proud of our progress and confident in the impactful journey ahead.”
SWIG Finance Chair, Rebecca Pritchard, added: “In 2025/26, SWIG’s work generated more than £95 million in social value – an achievement that would not be possible without the passion and dedication of SWIG colleagues.”
SWIG Finance is a not-for-profit distributing company, and the organisation is focused on the triple bottom line. All profits are reinvested so that it can continue growing and supporting more businesses each year.
Find out more about the social impact value generated by its lending in the 2025/26 impact report, download the report here.
Join Somerset Chamber of Commerce to give your business a stronger voice both locally, regionally and nationally. Combined with local town chambers, we represent over 2,000 businesses across Somerset with a direct line to policy-makers at all levels.
