As we mark 20 years in business finance, one of the things we’ve learned is that the sectors attracting the most lender appetite and generating the most interesting funding conversations, shift over time. The businesses that thrive are often the ones that recognise where the momentum is building and position themselves to take advantage of it.
With the second half of 2026 now underway, here’s our view on the sectors we’re watching closely and what the funding landscape looks like for each of them.
Construction and housing
The UK’s housing shortfall isn’t going away. With a gap of over 300,000 homes needed annually and government targets consistently unmet, the pressure on the construction sector to deliver remains intense and with it, sustained demand for project finance, asset finance for plant and equipment and commercial lending.
The real opportunity in 2026 is in modern methods of construction e.g. modular builds, prefabricated housing and sustainable building practices. Government policy is pushing hard in this direction and lenders with appetite for construction are increasingly interested in businesses that can demonstrate expertise in low-carbon and efficiency-driven approaches. If you’re in construction and haven’t reviewed your finance arrangements recently, it’s worth a conversation.
Green energy and sustainability
Clean energy has moved from niche to mainstream in UK business finance. Whether it’s renewable energy installation, EV charging infrastructure, energy efficiency retrofitting or sustainability compliance services, lenders are increasingly active in this space and government support continues to underpin investment.
For SMEs operating in this sector, or those looking to decarbonise their own operations and needing funding to do so, 2026 presents genuine opportunity. Asset finance for specialist equipment is particularly well-suited here, given the capital requirements involved in many green energy projects.
Healthcare and life sciences
The UK’s healthcare sector continues to attract significant lender interest, driven by NHS procurement, digital health adoption and an ageing population creating sustained demand for care services and medical technology. For private healthcare providers, care homes, dental practices and specialist clinics, commercial finance and asset finance remain active markets.
The life sciences sector e.g. pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotech, has also seen continued investment appetite, with the UK’s research infrastructure and talent base supporting a pipeline of growing businesses with genuine funding needs.
Technology and digital services
AI, cybersecurity and managed IT services are among the fastest-growing areas of SME activity in the UK right now. Businesses providing technology solutions to other businesses, from data management to automation to compliance platforms, are in strong demand and lenders are paying attention.
For tech businesses, the funding considerations are often different from more traditional sectors: revenue-based finance, unsecured lending and growth capital structures can all be relevant depending on the stage and model of the business. It’s an area where the right broker relationship really earns its value.
Logistics and commercial transport
Commercial vehicle finance rose by approximately 10% in 2024 and remains active in 2026, driven by sustained demand in logistics, delivery and distribution. The transition to electric commercial vehicles is also creating new asset finance conversations. Businesses weighing up the timing and cost of fleet electrification are increasingly looking at structured finance solutions to manage the transition without disrupting cash flow.
If you operate vehicles as a core part of your business and haven’t explored your asset finance options recently, the current market is worth revisiting.
Professional services
Accountancy firms, law practices, consultancies, recruitment and other professional services businesses have historically been underserved by mainstream lenders, often because their assets are largely intangible. That’s changed. Invoice finance and unsecured lending products designed specifically for professional services businesses are now well-established and lender appetite in this area has grown considerably.
For professional services firms looking to fund growth whether through hiring, technology investment or acquisition, the options available today are meaningfully better than they were even five years ago.
Franchising
Franchising continues to be one of the most resilient and consistently funded sectors in UK business finance. The model offers lenders something they value highly, a proven brand, an established business system and a track record of performance, which makes franchise finance a more straightforward conversation than many other types of business borrowing. In 2026, franchisees across sectors from healthcare and childcare to food and professional services are continuing to attract strong lender appetite.
Franchise finance is a specialist area, and working with the right advisor makes a significant difference. Our sister company, NGI Franchise Funding, specialises exclusively in this space, with a 95% success rate on applications submitted with one of their business plans and a wide panel of lenders with genuine franchise appetite. Whether you’re funding an initial purchase or opening additional locations, they’re the team to speak to.
What this means in practice
Lender appetite shifts and sector trends matter when it comes to securing finance on the best possible terms. A business in a sector with strong lender interest is more likely to receive a favourable decision and to have access to a wider range of products, than one in a sector where appetite is more cautious.
That’s one of the things an experienced broker brings to the table, knowledge of where the market is moving, which lenders are active in which sectors right now and how to position a funding application to give it the best possible chance.
We’ve been watching these markets for twenty years. If you’d like to talk through what the current landscape means for your business, whatever sector you’re in, we’d love to hear from you. Call us on 01993 706403 or email enquiries@ngifinance.co.uk.
