The UK's SME confidence gap, by the numbers (2025)
Finance
We surveyed 250 UK SME founders in 2025 to understand why so many hesitate to borrow. The short version: the barrier is as much confidence as capital. Here are the numbers, each explored in full in our confidence-gap research.
Applications people walk away from
- 59% abandoned a loan application midway, citing complicated processes.
- 55% never started one, for fear of rejection.
- 23% signed loan agreements they didn't fully understand.
The confidence divide
- >50% associate borrowing with shame or failure.
- 50% describe their approach to debt as "cautious"; <1 in 10 feel fully comfortable with it.
- 57% feel nervous or overwhelmed during applications.
- 42% felt uncomfortable asking lenders basic questions.
- Only 27% see debt as a strategic tool to grow.
What founders are asking for
- 82% want loan terms explained in plain, jargon-free language.
- 60% would be more likely to seek finance with better educational resources.
The hardest terms to understand
- Collateral & guarantees 41% · Interest rates 36% · Application process 27% · Credit checks & criteria 25%.
The bigger picture
- >50% delayed or cancelled growth plans for lack of finance, rising to 64% among firms under 5 years old.
- The UK SME funding gap is estimated at £22 billion (Bank of England).
All figures from Juice's survey of 250 UK SME founders, October 2025, unless attributed. Full methodology and analysis in the report.
If any of these figures feel familiar, you're far from alone, and there are calmer ways through.
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