Finance provider named finalist for business award
Responsible finance provider BCRS Business Loans has been named as finalist for a business award in recognition of its impact supporting SMEs across the Midlands and Wales.
Wolverhampton-based BCRS Business Loans is up for the small business of the year prize at the Express & Star Business Awards 2025, organised by the leading news brand to honour the business success stories of the Black Country and Staffordshire.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at The Halls Wolverhampton on Thursday 5 June.
The finalist placing comes on the back of the lender’s strong performance over the most recent financial year, which saw nearly £10 million in funding provided to businesses which were not able to access traditional finance.
Since its launch in 2002, BCRS Business Loans has provided loans worth more than £95 million to businesses.
The 2024-25 financial year was one of the most successful to date, with £9,900,502 provided to 124 businesses, representing a 68% increase in the number of SMEs supported compared to the previous year.
The funding for that year had a significant positive impact on the regional economy, safeguarding 889 jobs and creating 317 new roles while adding £51.2 million to the economy of the West Midlands, surrounding region and Wales.
In total, 34.6 per cent of the funding was directed to the UK's most disadvantaged areas.
Stephen Deakin, chief executive of BCRS Business Loans, said: "Being named as a finalist for the Express & Star Business Awards 2025 is a tremendous achievement that reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team.
“As a business with a strong Black Country heritage we are proud to be recognised by the leading news brand for our region. We have built on our progress to expand into new areas including Wales, while offering access to more funds than ever before, ensuring that we deliver on our aim of no viable business going unsupported.
“We look forward to being part of the awards ceremony, which promises to celebrate the very best of our region’s business community.”
BCRS Business Loans delivers the Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF), loans ranging from £25,000 to £250,000. BCRS Business Loans recently celebrated reaching £5 million in CIEF loans delivered to 62 businesses, creating 160 jobs and protecting a further 613 while generating £32.5 million in economic impact.
Funded by Lloyds, along with social impact investor Better Society Capital, and managed by responsible finance provider Social Investment Scotland, with contributions from the three participating Community Development Finance Institutions, BCRS Business Loans, Business Enterprise Fund and Finance for Enterprise, the £62m CIEF aims to invest in 800 small businesses nationally and support 10,500 jobs.
