According to the lender, online businesses in the North West are securing much larger advances than their southern counterparts, which it says reflects the region's growing digital economy and the impact of regional investment in tech hubs.

As of the end of May, the median advance approved for online businesses in the North West had increased by 483% year-on-year, to £175,000.

According to the lender, there has also been an uplift in the number of advances applied for by e-commerce business owners in the region, with the total advanced funding from 365 Finance having increased substantially.

The average monthly card sales of the companies funded by 365 Finance in this sector is currently £110,000.

•   B&C Awards 2025: The Video
•   365 Finance appoints new head of credit
•   365 Finance signs £150m facility with Pollen Street

Commenting on the insights, Jagriti Singh, head of credit at 365 Finance (pictured above), said: “The most rewarding thing for us as a responsible lender is to be able to truly facilitate the growth of SMEs across the country, and to support those businesses which are both entrepreneurial and reinventing themselves.

“We are finding that SMEs based up North are increasingly turning to revenue-based finance to bolster their businesses, to help with staffing costs, new equipment and systems, e-commerce platform development and digital infrastructure, along with the ongoing higher rent and rates.

“The North West's digital sector is currently experiencing unprecedented growth, with our data showing remarkable expansion in funding scale and frequency. The statistics show a real shift in the region's digital economy.”