How do I find UK companies that have just raised funding?
Funding rounds show up in Companies House filings and public announcements. Lockley counted 11 this week against 3 the week before; here is how to find them and what to say.
Written from Lockley's index and the sources below, updated 10 October 2026.
To find UK companies that have just raised funding, combine two sources: Companies House filings, which show new shares being allotted and new charges being registered, and public announcements, which name the investor and the amount. Lockley counted 11 funding rounds in the week 28 September to 5 October 2026, against 3 the week before. Funding is a strong reason to call because money is about to be spent, but the window is short.
What counts as a funding signal
Equity funding often appears in Companies House as a return of allotment of shares and sometimes a change in people with significant control. Debt funding appears in the charges register, where a lender registers security over company assets. Announcements, whether a press release or a news item, add the detail the filings leave out: who invested and why.
The two kinds of signal mean different things. Equity usually points to growth spending, such as hiring, software, marketing and premises. A new charge can mean asset finance, a refinancing or a property purchase, and needs reading before you assume anything.
A manual method
Search Companies House for filings by date and look for allotments of shares in companies you could serve. Read the charges register for new entries and note the lender and the description of what is secured. Then check the company's website and any announcement for context. Both Companies House search and its API are free; the API needs an account and has a rate limit (see sources).
The difficulty is volume. In the week to 5 October 2026 there were 2,721 new charges registered, and most will not matter to you. Filtering to companies in your sector and size band is the real work.
Why speed matters
Money raised is usually committed within months. A seller who calls in the first few weeks, referring to the specific round, meets a buyer who is making decisions. Later, the budget is allocated and suppliers are chosen. The count of 11 rounds this week and 3 last week also shows why you should not plan around any single week: the number moves a great deal.
How Lockley approaches it
Lockley reads Companies House, Contracts Finder, Find a Tender, job postings, planning registers and company websites every night. Each finding links to the record behind it. The product is a short morning list of companies to call, with the reason, not a database of contacts. A free scan of your own website builds a private page of companies worth calling for you.
What to say on the call
Do not congratulate them in a generic way. Say what you noticed, for example that they registered a charge or announced a round, and ask whether the money is going into the area you help with. If they say yes, you have a conversation. If no, you have learned something and can move on.
Questions
Where do UK funding rounds get recorded?
Equity appears in Companies House filings such as share allotments. Debt appears in the charges register. Amounts and investors usually come from public announcements.
How many funding rounds did Lockley record this week?
Eleven, for 28 September to 5 October 2026, against three the week before.
Is Companies House data free?
Yes. Searching the register and using the API are free, though the API needs an account and has a rate limit.
Does a new charge always mean funding?
No. It means a lender has registered security. It can be asset finance, a refinancing or a property purchase.
How long after a round should I call?
Within weeks, before the budget has been allocated.
See which of these companies are worth calling for your business, with the source for each.
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