Two in five (42%) brokers believe that loans above £100,000 will see the most growth in demand in the next 12 months, according to new research from iwoca.

The firm said its latest quarterly survey carried out among finance brokers revealed that big ticket loans are set to see increased interest from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as growth ambitions resurface.

Loans over £100,000 comprised over a third (36%) of brokers’ most requested loan amounts in Q1 2025, a level largely unchanged from the last two quarters (35% in Q4 2024 and 37% in Q3 2024), suggesting sustained SME interest in big ticket finance.

iwoca said its survey also suggests the sustained pivot to larger loans has coincided with a fall in recession worries among SMEs. Fewer than half (46%) of brokers are now saying their SME clients are concerned about the possibility of a recession, a 5% drop since Q4 2024, and the first fall in downturn anxieties since Q2 2024.

Meanwhile, the study also indicated that high street banks are losing their grip on SME lending. Over two thirds (67%) of finance brokers would now recommend alternative lenders to their small business clients for loan applications over £100,000 – compared to just 6% who recommend to high street banks.

Chief commercial officer at iwoca, Colin Goldstein, commented: “The sustained high demand for six-figure loans shows that SMEs are once again betting on their own growth – and they’re turning to alternative lenders to fuel that ambition. It’s a clear signal that SMEs need faster, more flexible capital – and traditional banks aren’t keeping up.”

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