Enterprise Capital Funds (ECF) programme

Enterprise Capital Funds (ECF) programme is a public investment programme in the UK. A British Business Bank programme that puts public money into privately managed venture capital funds (ECFs), which make equity investments in high-growth, early-stage UK small businesses. Founders apply to the individual ECF funds, not to the programme.

Services

• “Enterprise Capital Funds (ECFs) bring together private and public money to make investments in high growth, early stage, businesses.” - gov.uk
• “A budget of £1bn was provided to the programme in 2017 and on average investment is made into 3–4 funds a year with a total deployment of between £100m and £150m.” - web.archive.org
• “BBFL will commit to providing up to two thirds of the money in an ECF.” - web.archive.org
• “there is a cumulative limit within any 12-month period or within the investment period of a fund, of £5 million in any one company from any ECFs.” - web.archive.org

Who can apply

• “companies which receive investment from an ECF must meet the Companies Act 2006 definition of a SME” - web.archive.org
• “whose principal place of business is in the UK” - web.archive.org
• “no previous single direct or indirect fund raising round of the company has exceeded £5 million” - web.archive.org
• “Please note, we are unable to respond to enquiries from individual companies looking for funding.” - web.archive.org

Stages

Growth

How to apply

Apply or read the rules on the official site.

About this listing

TrustList compiled this listing from Enterprise Capital Funds (ECF) programme's official pages in September 2026. The quotes above are its own words. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility rules change, so check the official site before you rely on them.