Fund Managers for the South East Investment Fund and the East of England Investment Fund

The British Business Bank (the Bank) is a government-owned economic development bank that makes finance markets for smaller businesses work more effectively. Our mission is to drive economic growth by helping smaller businesses get the finance they need to start, scale and stay in the UK. In doing so, we help capture the economic value of innovation for the UK and create jobs and prosperity for people across the country. The Bank designs programmes that provide funds and guarantees to private sector partners, enabling them to finance a greater number of smaller businesses, either through debt or equity. It uses economic evidence so that its programmes address market failures affecting smaller businesses across the economy. It also works to improve smaller businesses’ awareness of the finance options available to them.

Nations and Regions Investments Limited (NRIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Business Bank that manages a number of investment schemes for the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), including the proposed South East Investment Fund (SEIF) and East of England Investment Fund (EEIF). NRIL is the Contracting Authority for this procurement.

In the 2025 Spending Review, the Government announced an extension of the Nations and Regions Investment Funds (NRIF) programme to include £350m to be made available for the South East and the East of England regions. The funds are to be allocated according to the following split:

• £210m for the South East Investment Fund (SEIF)
• £140m for the East of England Investment Fund (EEIF)

Within each region the funding will be split into two sub-funds: one for Equity (approximately 60% - offering early stage and later stage equity investments up to £5m); and one for Debt (approximately 40% - offering business loans of between £25,000 and £2m). A proportion of each fund will be held back (“Investor Reserve”) and may be added as additional funding (“Additional Allocation”) depending on circumstances and particular factors. Tenderers are expected to have some regional experience and a track record of funding viable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that are looking to grow. Tenderers should be aligned to the Programme Objectives, that the funds will:

• increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for UK smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and helping to reduce disparities in access to finance;
• be run in a commercially sustainable way to promote a shift away from an expectation of public sector grants towards a culture of borrowing and investing for growth;
• drive sustainable economic growth through supporting new and growing businesses across the UK with an inclusive approach to all eligible sectors;
• have a demonstrable presence across the relevant geographical area linking up the finance community to increase reach and create an impact beyond the funds, helping to boost productivity, innovation and jobs;
• align with the Bank’s commitments to net zero by 2050 and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the distribution of finance.

It is expected that NRIL will begin making investment commitments to the SEIF and EEIF Fund Managers in Summer 2026. The duration of the Contract Services will be:

• Investment Period: The first 5 years of the fund during which the Fund can make new investments. This period can be extended by up to two years at the sole discretion of NRIL.
• Realisation: the period beginning immediately after the Investment Period and ending on the date which is 5 years after the end of the Investment Period (which will include the ability of the SEIF and EEIF Fund Managers to make follow-on investments in portfolio businesses). This period can be extended by up to two years at the sole discretion of NRIL.