Funding life sciences growth without draining working capital

Whether it’s a contract research organisation expanding capacity, a diagnostics firm upgrading equipment, or an equity-backed biotech moving from validation to scale, progress depends on specialist assets – often well before revenues fully catch up.

As long-term members of the Scottish Life Sciences Association, Close Brothers Asset Finance has the appetite and expertise to support the sector, delivering funding solutions that enable access to equipment and technology without compromising cash flow.

And momentum is gathering, with the UK Government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan setting out a clear ambition to accelerate health innovation and unlock economic growth with the aim of making the UK Europe’s leading life sciences economy by 2030, and top three globally by 2035. The plan also recognises that while the UK excels at discovery, scaling and commercialisation can be harder—making well-structured investment critical.

There’s renewed impetus too from the UK’s association with Horizon Europe, which has reopened access to collaborative R&D funding and cross-border innovation opportunities. In Scotland, the direction of travel is just as clear: a refreshed strategy aims to help Scotland’s life sciences sector become a £25 billion industry by 2035, with a focus on infrastructure, skills and enabling technologies such as AI.

The reality: growth is capital intensive

In life sciences, investment isn’t optional – it’s operational. Equipment lead times, compliance requirements, and commissioning schedules don’t always align neatly with cash flow.

Funding that ties up liquidity can slow hiring, delay milestones, or restrict the flexibility needed to respond to new contracts or trial timelines.

Where Close Brothers Asset Finance can help

We provide flexible facilities designed to match the way life sciences businesses invest and grow, including:

• Asset Finance (e.g., Hire Purchase / Leasing)
• Asset Refinance / capital release, unlocking value from assets you already own
• Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) loans where appropriate, supporting investment - particularly for non-standard assets (subject to eligibility)

Examples of assets we fund

• Benchtop and below-bench equipment: microscopes, spectrometers, molecule analysers, clinical refrigeration/freezers
• Clean rooms and associated supporting equipment
• From single assets through to full lab/cleanroom turnkey buildouts (with funding aligned to staged delivery)

The future is bright

With a clear UK roadmap for growth and innovation, renewed international collaboration through Horizon Europe, and strong regional ambition – particularly in Scotland – life sciences is on a trajectory of significant growth.

The availability of lending, products and services are subject to eligibility, status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved, terms and conditions apply.

Sources:

[gov.uk], [assets.pub...ice.gov.uk], [assets.pub...ice.gov.uk], [gov.uk], [gov.scot]