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2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for the UK's commercial real estate. Capital markets are shifting, occupier behaviour is evolving, and asset performance is under more scrutiny. Join us on Wednesday 28 January at 11am GMT for a webinar exploring what lies ahead for commercial real estate in 2026, and what this means for strategy, risk and opportunity. Moderated by Greg Manson, Debt Finance Director at OakNorth, the session brings together Oliver du Sautoy, Head of Research at Lambert Smith Hampton and Simon McCabe, Chief Executive of Scarborough Group International. Together, they'll explore: - the key market signals shaping commercial real estate in 2026 - how occupier demand and investment sentiment are evolving - what lenders are prioritising as capital conditions continue to shift Secure your spot now: https://lnkd.in/ea-nqW3K
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect – and to say thank you. This year marked 10 years of OakNorth supporting ambitious entrepreneurs. We’re grateful to every business that has trusted us along the way, and are equally excited about the conversations and partnerships still to come. Wishing everyone a fruitful 2026.
As we close out 2025, we’re reflecting on a year shaped by resilience, adaptability and ambition, not just from our team, but from the founders, operators and investors we’re proud to support. In our final newsletter of the year, we cover: 1. Hospitality outlook for 2026 — Why the sector is entering the new year with renewed confidence 2. Budget 2025 — Our blog series with Lord Philip Hammond on what the Budget means for the economy, as well as hospitality and real estate sectors 3. Funding momentum — Highlights from Care Santé, TeamSport Indoor Karting and McAvoy Thank you to our customers, partners and colleagues for your continued trust this year. Read the full update below.
Last night, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting a fundraiser with Behind Every Kick, in conversation with Frank Bruno MBE. Behind Every Kick is a charity that teaches young people how the skills they develop through sport can be applied to create opportunities beyond the playing field. Thank you to everyone who joined us to hear Frank’s incredible boxing journey and life lessons for younger generations – and to all who generously donated. With your support, we raised £25,000, all of which will go directly towards levelling the playing field for young people.
We’re honoured to have been named the UK’s 'Bank of the Year' at last night's Bank of the Year Awards, hosted by The Banker, a Financial Times publication. This recognition reflects something we’re incredibly proud of – a decade of disciplined lending, strong performance, and a continued focus on supporting the businesses that power the UK economy. As Rishi Khosla, our co-founder and CEO, said: “This award recognises our commitment to supporting lower mid-market businesses across a wide range of sectors, while maintaining performance metrics that place us among the top 1 per cent of commercial banks globally.” Thank you to our clients, partners and colleagues whose support and collaboration make achievements like this possible. And thank you to Mark Steele and Jules di Mambro for representing OakNorth on the night, and to The Banker for recognising our work.
We’re proud to be supporting this year’s Founders Conference: Scaling Up Scotland, hosted by The Hunter Foundation this Friday at the Gleneagles Hotel. Bringing together Scotland’s entrepreneurial community, the conference will explore how we can scale ambitious businesses, build diverse organisations, and drive sustainable economic growth. If you’re attending, reach out to Michael McGregor, Debt Finance Director, who works with high-growth SMEs to help them achieve their next stage of success, and will be happy to chat about how OakNorth can support your growth journey. hashtag#ScalingUpScotland
Performance marketing fuels growth. Brand marketing builds meaning. For scaling businesses, the real challenge is finding balance: knowing when to optimise for conversion, and when to invest in the story that drives long-term loyalty. We explored this at our recent breakfast panel alongside our partners at Active Partners, joined by: 🎙️ Anna Brook – CMO at Creature Comforts 🎙️ Simon Ellis – Founder of Clockwise Marketing 🎙️ anna creed – fractional CMO, former CMO of The Inkey List & REN Skincare Read the full recap for key insights below 👇 hashtag#OakNorth hashtag#ActivePartners hashtag#ScaleUps
In the latest Greenbackers Investment Capital podcast episode, Peter King, OakNorth Director of Business Banking, shares how we help scaling businesses overcome traditional onboarding challenges, streamlining banking for both ventures and investors, and adding value far beyond day-to-day transactions. This episode follows the most recent Greenbackers Showcase, held in partnership with Sustainable Ventures, bringing together founders, investors, and partners driving climate innovation and sustainable growth. Original video by Greenbackers, produced by Daysix.
Earlier this week, we co-hosted a breakfast discussion with the Adam Smith Institute, in conversation with Chris Curtis MP, The Labour Party MP for Milton Keynes North, exploring the role a new generation of Urban Development Corporations could play in solving the UK’s housing crisis. A huge thank you to Chris for sharing his perspective, to Maxwell Marlow for moderating the discussion, and to the ASI team for bringing their latest report, Dwharfing the City, authored by Rolf Merchant and Sam Bidwell, to life. And thanks to Greg Manson and Adam Hunt for hosting, and to everyone who joined us for this thought-provoking conversation.
❓️What happens when you mix a law firm with a bank? No, it’s not the start of a bad joke... it’s the recipe for a powerful day of purpose and impact! 🙏 OakNorth and Lawrence Stephens joined forces on a fantastic joint corporate volunteering day with Give Help Share, an incredible charity founded by two former teachers to GIVE children nutritious food, HELP families in crisis, and SHARE food knowledge with children.
