Bolton tooling startup AETD lands two five-figure loans to fund growth
What's the deal? Bolton-based Aerospace Engineering Tooling & Defence (AETD)Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has secured two five-figure loans backed by the British Business Bank and delivered by GC Business FinanceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The debt funding, announced in September 2026, is set to accelerate the precision tooling specialist's growth plans.
Who's involved? One loan comes from NPIF II-GC Business Finance & River Capital Smaller LoansDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, managed by the consortium as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment FundDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → II. The second is delivered through the Start Up Loans programme.
What's the endgame? Founded by engineer Thomas Durkin and incorporated in September 2025, AETD supplies precision tooling for the aerospace and defence sectors. The startup is barely a year old, and the new capital is aimed squarely at scaling its output.
The signal: Debt funding through regional programmes like NPIF II remains a key route for early-stage UK manufacturers that fall outside typical venture territory. For a startup in aerospace and defence tooling, it points to continued policy support for high-value engineering in the North West.
Read more: thebusinessdesk.com
Image credit: cnkangrui
