The partnership will allow British farmers and rural businesses banking with NatWest to access capital from UKAF.

Capital Connections helps SMEs access alternative sources of capital by signposting a range of innovative sources of finance to business customers.

UKAF will become the 10th lender to join Capital Connections, which also includes specialist lenders such as Together, Assetz Capital, Funding Circle, iwoca and MarketInvoice.

“We understand the pressure on British farmers to be globally competitive, innovative and eco-friendly is greater than ever,” said Robert Suss, co-CEO and co-founder of UKAF.

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“This will enable us to provide more rural businesses and farmers with vital access to capital to enable them to diversify, sustain, grow and improve their businesses.”

The specialist lender to the agricultural sector provides a range of non-regulated loans secured against agricultural land across the UK, with loans ranging from £100,000-£10m.

Ian Burrow, head of agriculture and energy at NatWest, said traditional funding options were not always the best option for businesses in the rural community.

“Now UK Agricultural Finance will be able to provide loans to help farmers diversify, acquire more land, build renewable energy projects, restructure, buy more livestock, help families with generational transfer and provide tenant farmers capital to purchase their farm.  

“They are an ideal partner for us and complement the impressive and innovative range of alternative lenders already on the Capital Connections panel.”