SWIG Finance, founded in 1990, is a cornerstone finance provider to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the South and West Country of England. Over the years, the company has expanded its reach and influence, making a significant impact on local communities.
SWIG Finance is now excited to launch its Impact Report for 2023/24, showcasing its achievements and the broader social benefits of its lending activities.
As a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI), SWIG’s mission is to ensure that all small businesses have access to the financial backing and support they need to thrive. 
2023/24 has been another strong year of lending activity, with £14m delivered in over 500 loans to a wide range of local businesses across a broad range of sectors.
SWIG’s commitment to inclusive growth, social and environmental impact, and removing barriers to finance is at the heart of everything they do. Reflecting this, 21% of their lending goes into deprived areas, 43% to women-led businesses and 12% to ethnic minority-led businesses.
From offices in Bristol, Exeter, Poole and Truro, SWIG Finance provides a range of financial products tailored to meet the needs of new and growing businesses, backed by a committed lending team that provides support and guidance to their customers.
The social impact of SWIG Finance’s lending activities has nearly doubled in recent years, with 2023/24 generating a social impact value of £71.5 million. These values were generated through the CDFI Economic Impact tool, developed by Responsible Finance.
SWIG’s Managing Director, John Peters, said: “At SWIG Finance, we strive to maintain a focus on a triple bottom-line, recognising that Planet, People and Profit together build a stronger future. We are proud of our impact measures and seek to maintain focus on responsible lending to viable small businesses.”
He said SWIG Finance took a people-based approach to funding smaller businesses where that support benefited local communities.
Download the full report here. For more information, contact the team at info@swigfinance.co.uk or visit the website at www.swigfinance.co.uk.
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