Your business can use the Growth Guarantee Scheme if it trades in the UK, has group turnover of £54 million or less, and has a proposal the lender considers viable. The lender makes the final decision.
The criteria
- UK trading: your business trades in the UK, with the core of its operations here.
- Mostly trading income: more than 50% of your turnover comes from trading activity.
- Turnover: £54 million or less, measured across your whole group if you're part of one.
- Viable: the lender judges the proposal viable and the borrowing affordable.
- Not in difficulty: your business isn't in difficulty or in insolvency proceedings.
- Within the subsidy limit: a GGS facility counts as a subsidy, and other public support in the last three years counts towards the same limit. That includes Start Up Loans and business rates relief.
Who's excluded
Banks, building societies, insurers and reinsurers (insurance brokers can apply), public-sector bodies and state-funded schools.
What doesn't stop you
- Having an existing Bounce Back Loan or other borrowing, though lenders count your existing debt.
- Banking with a different bank: you don't need to be an existing customer of the lender.
Your group's turnover
If your company is part of a group, the test uses the whole group's turnover, not just yours. A company turning over £12 million in a group turning over £50 million is judged on £50 million.
Last reviewed: 8 October 2026