Gross lending to SMEs in the UK Q4 2018, by sector

This statistic illustrates the quarterly value of new bank loans, including overdraft approvals to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the United Kingdom (UK) during the fourth quarter of 2018, by sector. An enterprise is classed as an SME based on their staff headcount, and their turnover or balance sheet total. Small enterprises have less than 50 employees and less than ten million euros in turnover or balance sheet total, whereas medium-sized enterprises have less than 250 employees, less than 50 million euros in turnover, or less than 43 million euros in their balance sheet total.

SMEs often rely on external financing such as loans and overdrafts. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the real estate, professional services and support sector had approximately 1.8 billion British pounds worth of new loans approved. It was was also the sector with highest volume of loans approved. More in-depth information could be found in the Statista dossier on small and medium enterprise financing in the UK.