Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund

The Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund aims to support the development and growth of creative and cultural businesses across the North of England that deliver social impact. This fund provides flexible loans for capital or working capital to incorporated businesses operating within 11 Northern Local Enterprise Partnership areas including Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Humber, Lancashire, Leeds City Region, Liverpool City Region, Sheffield City Region, Tees Valley, and York, North Yorkshire and East Riding. The fund offers investments up to £150,000 with two loan types available. Working capital loans are repayable over up to 5 years at a flat 6.5% interest rate (though this may be higher for very short-term loans) with a 2% arrangement fee. Capital loans are repayable over up to 10 years with flexibility to extend up to 15 years, charged at 4.5% flat interest with a 2% arrangement fee. The program is funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and administered by Key Fund, a social investment organization that supports community and social enterprises traditionally excluded from mainstream banking. This initiative focuses specifically on creative and cultural businesses that can demonstrate social impact in Northern England.