British Design Fund secures 5m backing to boost UK-made product innovation

"The British Design Fund (BDF) has secured a £5 million commitment from the British Business Bank to support early-stage UK businesses designing and manufacturing physical products, strengthening access to equity finance for product-led innovation across the country. The investment, made through the British Business Bank's Regional Angels Programme, will support BDF's mission to back founders building scalable, UK-based product businesses in sectors such as health, sustainability and assistive technology."

"The programme was launched in 2019 to address regional imbalances in early-stage funding and focuses on angel networks and investors operating outside London. Managed by Sapphire Capital Partners LLP, the British Design Fund operates as both an early-stage fund and angel network, working closely with founders to help turn innovative product ideas into viable commercial businesses. Its existing portfolio spans the length of the UK, from the South West through to Scotland, reflecting a strong emphasis on regional innovation."

"Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said the commitment underlined the government's ambition to make the UK the best place to start and scale a business. She highlighted the role of scale-ups in job creation and said the funding would help give entrepreneurs the capital and confidence to grow. "Our message is clear - if you invest here, Britain will back you," she said."

British Design Fund secured a £5 million commitment from the British Business Bank via the Regional Angels Programme to expand equity finance for early-stage UK businesses designing and manufacturing physical products. The funding targets founders building scalable, UK-based product companies in health, sustainability and assistive technology and aims to address regional imbalances by focusing on angel networks and investors outside London. Managed by Sapphire Capital Partners, BDF operates as an early-stage fund and angel network, helping founders turn innovative product ideas into viable commercial businesses across the UK. The backing is intended to unlock engineering and manufacturing talent and support scale-up growth.

Read at Business Matters