among SMEs with employees that sought external finance in the last 12 months
Method of interview
Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI)
Supplementary notes
Survey was conducted among small and medium businesses with employees. Three categories were distinguished, based on employees numbers: micro businesses (1 to 9 employees), small businesses (10 to 49 employees) and medium businesses (50 to 250 employees).
In 2024, the most used type of external finance sought by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the United Kingdom (UK) were bank overdraft facilities, and loans building society or other financial institution.Ìý**percent of SMEs had applied for external finance from a bank overdraft facility in the previous 12 months. A further **Ìýpercent of SMEs had applied for a loan from a bank, building society or other financial institution.
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GOV.UK. (September 26, 2025). Types of external finance sought by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with employees in the United Kingdom (UK) in the last twelve months as of 2024 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 28, 2026, from /statistics/460373/sme-methods-of-finance-united-kindom/
GOV.UK. "Types of external finance sought by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with employees in the United Kingdom (UK) in the last twelve months as of 2024." Chart. September 26, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 28, 2026. /statistics/460373/sme-methods-of-finance-united-kindom/
GOV.UK. (2025). Types of external finance sought by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with employees in the United Kingdom (UK) in the last twelve months as of 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 28, 2026. /statistics/460373/sme-methods-of-finance-united-kindom/
GOV.UK. "Types of External Finance Sought by Small and Medium Enterprises (Smes) with Employees in The United Kingdom (Uk) in The Last Twelve Months as of 2024." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 26 Sep 2025, /statistics/460373/sme-methods-of-finance-united-kindom/
GOV.UK, Types of external finance sought by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with employees in the United Kingdom (UK) in the last twelve months as of 2024 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/460373/sme-methods-of-finance-united-kindom/ (last visited July 28, 2026)
Types of external finance sought by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with employees in the United Kingdom (UK) in the last twelve months as of 2024 [Graph], GOV.UK, September 26, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/460373/sme-methods-of-finance-united-kindom/
