New Lloyds Funding Programme Positions the North East at the Heart of the UK’s Green Growth Strategy

New Lloyds Funding Programme Positions the North East at the Heart of the UK’s Green Growth Strategy

(IN BRIEF) Lloyds Banking Group has committed to making more than £1 billion of new finance available to businesses across the North East in 2026 as part of a wider £35 billion UK-wide funding programme. The announcement, to be made at the Invest North East: Energy & Innovation Summit in Newcastle, highlights Lloyds’ support for regional growth and the clean energy transition. New research shows strong demand for increased private investment among North East business leaders, who see it as key to job creation, productivity and innovation. The funding will support projects of all sizes and reinforce partnerships between Lloyds, regional authorities and government to accelerate investment in green industries.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 13-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Lloyds Banking Group has announced plans to make more than £35 billion of new finance available to businesses operating and investing in the UK in 2026, with over £1 billion earmarked to support companies across the North East of England. The commitment underlines Lloyds’ long-term support for regional growth and its confidence in the North East as a key driver of the UK’s clean energy and innovation agenda.

The announcement will be made at the Invest North East: Energy & Innovation Summit in Newcastle, where Lloyds Banking Group will join the North East Combined Authority and the Government’s Office for Investment to highlight opportunities for business expansion, infrastructure development and private sector investment in the region.

The North East allocation forms part of Lloyds Banking Group’s wider national financing programme and is intended to help businesses of all sizes invest, scale and compete. The funding will support a broad range of activity, from large-scale infrastructure and energy projects to local firms embedded in the region’s supply chains, as the North East positions itself at the forefront of the UK’s transition to clean power and advanced manufacturing.

New research published by Lloyds alongside the announcement points to strong demand for greater private sector investment in the region. A survey of 1,000 senior business leaders in the North East found that 70 percent believe increased private investment is essential to unlocking the area’s economic potential. Nearly three quarters of respondents said additional investment would strengthen supply chains, support job creation and boost productivity, while many also highlighted the potential to expand operations, grow their workforce, increase research and development activity and improve efficiency.

Lloyds Banking Group says its commitment is designed to accelerate growth across the regional economy, backing both high-profile developments and smaller businesses that underpin the North East’s industrial base. The Group is already supporting major projects at locations such as Newcastle Airport, the Port of Tyne and Dogger Bank, while also working with local companies that play a vital role in delivering long-term economic resilience.

The announcement has been welcomed by regional leaders, who see the funding as a strong signal of confidence in the North East’s green energy ambitions. Clean energy is expected to play a central role in the region’s future, with plans to significantly expand employment across offshore wind and related industries, creating new opportunities for local communities.

Further details on green growth and investment opportunities will be explored at the Invest North East: Energy & Innovation Summit, which will bring together leaders from business, finance and government. Building on a partnership announced last year between Lloyds Banking Group, the North East Mayor, the North East Combined Authority and the Office for Investment, the initiative aims to mobilise private capital, remove investment barriers and tailor financial solutions to meet the needs of businesses driving the region’s clean energy transition.

Notes to Editors
The research, which was commissioned by Censuswide, polled 1,000 senior decision makers in the North East of England between 24.12.2025 – 05.01.2026.

This year, Lloyds Banking Group will make over £35 billion of new finance available to companies operating and investing in the UK. This means over £1 billion will be available to support businesses in the North East, based on the latest ONS GVA figures, which find that the North East region equates to ~2.85% of UK-wide GVA.

About Lloyds Banking Group
• Lloyds Banking Group is a leading UK based financial services group providing a wide range of banking and financial services, focused on personal and commercial customers.
• As part of the Group, Lloyds provides expert financial support and guidance to the households, businesses and communities of Britain.
• We help businesses from all parts of the UK, and across all different sectors and sizes, giving them the funding and support they need to grow both at home and abroad.

Our support for businesses
• We’re proud to support almost one million UK businesses with leading digital and relationship banking services, as they start up, grow and thrive.
• In 2024 we helped 100,000 small businesses and charities with new banking.
• Through a network of relationship teams based across the UK, as well as internationally, we deliver a mix of local understanding and global expertise necessary to provide long-term support to our clients to help them fulfil their growth aspirations.
• We offer a broad range of finance beyond term lending, spanning import and export trade finance, structured and asset finance, securitisation facilities and capital market funding.
• Our product specialists provide bespoke financial services and solutions, including tailored cash management, international trade, treasury and risk management services.
• To see the latest factsheet setting out how we support UK businesses please visit: Supporting British businesses – Lloyds Banking Group plc
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Media contact:
Rosie Jones | rosie.jones@citypress.co.uk | 07412 698 430

SOURCE: Lloyds Bank plc