Focusing exclusively on getting UK SMEs fast access to the finance they need, Funding Circle offers business finance that backs businesses and their people to succeed. Its solutions range from small business loans of up to £750,000 to a FlexiPay line of credit up to £250,000 for smoothing cash flow, as well as a cashback business credit card that gives up to £2,000 back for the first six months and then 1% uncapped afterwards. All of these business finance products have been designed with SMEs in mind. The dedication Funding Circle has to driving SME success can be seen in everything from the way its teams talk to each other to how quickly they say yes to a customer. For example, 73% of applicants get an instant decision when they request a business loan or a business credit card with the company, and they can find themselves funded in as little as 24 hours. What makes this success all the more rewarding is that the customers accessing this fast business funding are the SMEs that keep the UK’s economy moving. From restaurants and interior designers to delis and indoor rock-climbing centres, those who come to Funding Circle for support are often established businesses looking to enhance their growth through fast, straightforward finance, not complex, drawn-out application processes from banks. Its difference is seen through Funding Circle combining speed with human understanding, with its six-minute online application and usual 24-hour turnaround being underpinned by the option to have a real person at the other end when a business needs one. The other big differentiator that sets the company apart from traditional lenders is that it is not a single-product lender, with its variety of options making it a partner to businesses at every stage, one that grows alongside them as their needs progress. On an internal level, what makes Funding Circle stand out are its people, ‘Circlers’, who are central to everything it does. Commenting on this, Lisa explained: “We’re proud to have been named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2026, which reflects how hard we work to maintain a space where every Circler can thrive.” This extends across everything from its ‘People Pact’, a commitment to growing fast, belonging together, building better, and being different every day, to a culture where innovation and ‘squiggly careers’ are favoured. As AI reshapes both the financial services landscape and the threat landscape in equal measure, and the world economy remains uncertain, the teams behind Funding Circle are more committed than ever to seeing that UK businesses have access to the stable, accessible, and affordable finance they desperately need to thrive. With the last 18 months or so yielding record-breaking results for the company, which in the first half of 2026 alone grew its year-on-year revenue by 50%, it is able to support more small businesses than ever before. Beyond this, the aim for Funding Circle is to become an even more meaningful part of its customers’ lives and their businesses’ journeys, offering them financial support that goes beyond a single moment and is instead there whenever they need it. Lisa told us this means continuing to scale its FlexiPay and cashback card offerings, as well as expanding into further distribution channels, fostering new partnerships, and deepening its investment in AI (which Funding Circle already uses responsibly) to help decisions become smarter and faster. In closing, Lisa added: “We’re genuinely excited about the road ahead for UK SMEs, and about being the finance partner that helps them get there.” This lived sentiment, which is shared right across the company, has played a huge role in our decision to celebrate Funding Circle as the Leading SME Business Finance Platform 2026 in this year’s UK Finance Awards. More on its small business loans and fast business funding can be found below. Contact: jo.casley@fundingcircle.com Company: Funding Circle Web Address: https://www.fundingcircle.com/uk/ One of the biggest problems that small- to medium-sized companies face in today’s corporate landscape is securing the finance they need to grow. Putting an end to their struggles, Funding Circle is the UK’s leading finance platform for small businesses. Since 2010, it has helped more than 135,000 SMEs to borrow, spend, and pay later. Along the way it has extended £18 billion of credit, generating £7.9 billion in UK GDP contribution last year alone. Following its recognition in the UK Finance Awards 2026, we caught up with Lisa Jacobs, Funding Circle’s CEO, for more on its support. Leading SME Business Finance Platform 2026
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