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Published 11 November 2022

A Guide to Government Business Loans in the UK

Government business loans can help you at various stages of your business’s development, from its start-up phase through the early days of expansion, to establishing and maintaining growth. Find out more about the various types of government business loans available below.

If you are looking to start, grow or expand your business, you may need to secure funding. One way to do this is through a government business loan.

New governments, new Budgets, and changing circumstances across the country can affect what government business loans are available at any one time. Many government lending schemes will also have deadlines attached, or specific eligibility requirements.

We take a look at what government business loans can be used for, the types of funding currently available, and how they differ from grants.

How do government business loans work?

In many ways, a government business loan is like any other type of business loan. You borrow a sum of money, and then pay it back in instalments, with interest on top.

In the UK, government business loans are usually offered by British Business Bank-accredited lenders. Sometimes, this will mean that the government, alongside other bodies, has provided a funding pot that the loans will be drawn from.

It may also mean that the government has provided a guarantee stating that if the borrower is unable to pay back the sum in full, then it will refund the lender a portion of the outstanding amount. The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is an example of such a guarantee in action.

Government business loans can range from specific small business loans to dedicated start up loans.

What can I use a government business loan for?

Typically government business loans allow you to take advantage of a number of opportunities, including:

Types of government small business loans

Below is a selection of the government business loans and funding opportunities currently available.

Recovery Loan Scheme

Originally introduced in the March 2021 Budget to help promote investment and growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) has been extended multiple times, most recently to 30 June 2024.

Under the latest rules introduced on 1 August 2022, businesses now longer need to prove they were negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in order to access the loan.

Eligible organisations can receive up to £2 million per business group through the scheme, or £1 million per group for businesses operating within the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Is my business eligible for the Recovery Loan Scheme?

In order to be eligible for a Recovery Loan, your business must:

» MORE: How to apply for the government Recovery Loan Scheme

Greater London Investment Fund

The Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF), which is supported by the Mayor of London, combines resources and funding from the European Investment Bank, ReLondon, The Local Enterprise Partnership for London (LEAP) and Funding London.

GLIF provides loans and equity finance for small and medium-sized enterprises based in the UK’s capital:

To apply for any of the above, you will need to contact the relevant GLIF fund manager. You can find more details on the GLIF website.

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) is a collaboration between the British Business Bank and 10 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), and combines funding from the UK government, the European Regional Development Fund, the British Business Bank and the European Investment Bank.

It is focused on the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the Tees Valley.

The funding options available are broken down into three categories:

To apply for any of the above, you would need to find a NPIF fund manager operating in your local area. You can do this on the NPIF website.

Midlands Engine Investment Fund

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) is a collaboration between the British Business Bank and 10 Local Enterprise Partnerships across the West Midlands, and East and South East Midlands.

It is supported by the UK government, the European Investment Bank, the British Business Bank and the European Regional Development Fund.

The funding available to businesses comes in four categories:

To secure funding, you will need to apply through one of the MEIF’s allocated fund managers. These can be found on the MEIF website.

Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund

The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF) is supported by the UK government and the European Regional Development Fund, working with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP.

The two forms of funding through the CIOSIF are:

This funding can be accessed through one of the CIOSIF’s allocated fund managers. These can be found on the CIOSIF website.

Scottish Growth Scheme

The Scottish Growth Scheme provides business finance to organisations in Scotland through a £500 million package backed by the Scottish government.

This funding can be accessed through the Scottish Growth Scheme’s dedicated fund managers. You can find out more information at MyGov Scotland.

Development Bank of Wales

The Development Bank of Wales was set up by the Welsh government to make it easier for businesses to get finance. The Development bank offers:

You can find out more about how to access funding through the Development Bank of Wales.

Northern Ireland Small Business Loan Fund

The Northern Ireland Small Business Loan Fund (NISBLF) is part of Invest NI’s Access to Finance Strategy. Invest NI is part of Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy, and is designed to help grow the local economy.

The NISBLF offers:

For more information on how to access these funds, you can visit the NISBLF website.

Other government business loans

You can find the full range of available government business loans, and other forms of government-backed funding, using the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s search tool.

What are government start up loans?

Aimed at entrepreneurs looking to start a business, or grow their new business, the government-backed Start Up Loans scheme can provide funding from £500 to £25,000, at a fixed interest rate of 6% per annum. All owners or partners in the business can individually apply for a Start Up Loan, up to a maximum of £100,000 per business.

It is structured as an unsecured personal loan. This means that you don’t need to put up any collateral to access the loan, and that you, not your business, is personally liable for paying it back.

Since its inception in 2012, the Start Up Loan scheme has offered 95,000 loans to UK start ups, at an average of just over £9,000 per loan.

Am I eligible for a Start Up Loan?

In order to be eligible for a government Start Up Loan, you will need to be:

You will also need to pass the lender’s credit checks.

Are government business loans the same as grants?

It is important to note that government business loans are not the same as grants.

A business grant will not need to be repaid. A business loan, on the other hand, will need to be repaid, with interest on top.

Therefore, before applying for a business loan – whether it is a government business loan, or one from a traditional lender – you should make sure you are confident in your ability to pay the loan back over the specified period.

» MORE: Top small business grants in the UK

How to apply for a government business loan

Since government business loans come in different shapes and sizes, so too do their application processes. However, it is a good idea to consider the following when looking to apply for a government business loan:

» MORE: How to write a business plan

Why have I been rejected for a government business loan?

As with applying for a traditional business loan, there might be a number of reasons why you are rejected for a government business loan. These could include one or more of the following:

» MORE: How to write a business plan

What if I can’t get a government business loan?

If you are unable to secure a government business loan, there are other forms of funding you may want to consider.

Apply for a traditional business loan

If you haven’t been able to get a government business loan, you might be able to apply for a business loan from a traditional lender.

To be successful, you will need to meet that provider’s eligibility criteria, including satisfying its credit checks.

Bank Referral Scheme

If you are unsuccessful in applying for a traditional business loan, then you may be referred to a designated online lending platform through the Bank Referral Scheme. You will need to have applied through a participating bank to be referred.

With your consent, these platforms will review your information, and potentially match you with a suitable funding solution if you are eligible.

Improve your business credit score

One way to help your chances of securing business funding is by improving your business credit score.

Much like your personal credit score does for your personal finances, your business credit score reflects your business’s financial health and creditworthiness.

Although there is no quick fix, there are a number of steps you can take to try to improve your business credit score. These include paying bills on time, filing full accounts at Companies House, and only applying for credit (such as business loans) when you absolutely need to.

Image source: Getty Images

About the Author

Connor Campbell

Connor is a writer and spokesperson for NerdWallet. Previously at Spreadex, his market commentary has been quoted in the likes of the BBC, The Guardian, Evening Standard, Reuters and The…

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