Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS)
Available to new and existing customers
Businesses who have taken out previous Government-backed lending are eligible
Available for new purchases or refinancing debt
What is the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS)?
The successor scheme to the Recovery Loan Scheme, The Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) launched in July 2024 and is designed to support access to finance for UK small businesses as they look to invest and grow.
The Growth Guarantee Scheme aims to improve the terms on offer to borrowers. If we can offer a commercial loan on better terms, we will do so.
Growth Guarantee Scheme-backed facilities are provided at our discretion. We are required to undertake our standard credit and fraud checks for all applicants.
What does the Growth Guarantee Scheme offer?
- Up to £2m business group: The maximum amount of a facility provided under the scheme is generally £2m per business group for borrowers outside the scope of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and up to £1m (or such other sum as notified from time to time by us to the lender in accordance with the relevant legal agreement(s)) per business group for Northern Ireland Protocol borrowers. Our minimum facility size is £250,000;
- Owner-occupied mortgages: For buying a property a business will occupy. For example, a retail unit, a care home, or a warehouse;
- Term length: Term loans and asset finance facilities are available from three months up to six years, with overdrafts and invoice finance available from three months up to three years;
- Access to multiple schemes: Businesses that took out a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) or a Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) facility before 30 June 2024 are not prevented from accessing Growth Guarantee Scheme, but borrowing under these schemes may reduce the maximum amount the borrower is eligible for;
- Pricing: Interest rates and fees charged by us will vary and will depend on the specific lending proposal. Our pricing will take into account the benefit of the Government guarantee;
- Personal Guarantees: Personal guarantees can be taken at our discretion, in line with their normal commercial lending practices. Principal Private Residences cannot be taken as security within the Scheme;
- Guarantee is to Atom: The scheme provides us, the lender, with a 70% government-backed guarantee against the outstanding balance of the facility after it has completed its normal recovery process. The borrower always remains 100% liable for the debt;
- Decision-making delegated to Atom: Growth Guarantee Scheme-backed facilities are provided at the discretion of Atom. We are required to undertake our standard credit and fraud checks for all applicants.
The assistance provided through the Growth Guarantee Scheme, like many Government-backed business support activities, is regarded as a subsidy and is deemed to benefit the borrower. There is a limit to the amount of subsidy that may be received by a borrower, and its wider group, over any rolling three-year period. Any previous subsidy may reduce the amount a business can borrow. More information on subsidies is available here.
Who is eligible for the Growth Guarantee Scheme?
To be eligible for a GGS loan, your customer’s business must:
Be a smaller business, with a turnover or up to £45m (on a group basis, where part of a group);
Be carrying out trading activity in the UK and, for most businesses, generating more than 50% of its income from trading activity;
Have a borrowing proposal which Atom would consider viable in line with our commercial lending policy in place at time of application;
Not be a business in difficulty, including not being in any relevant insolvency proceedings;
Provide suitable security for a secured loan in line with our commercial lending policy;
Be able to provide written confirmation that receipt of the Growth Guarantee Scheme facility will not mean that the business exceeds the maximum amount of subsidy they are allowed to receive. All borrowers in receipt of a subsidy from a publicly funded programme should be provided with a written statement, confirming the level and type of aid received.
Who is not eligible to apply?
Banks, building societies, insurers or reinsurers (excluding insurance brokers)
Public sector bodies
State funded primary or secondary schools.
The Growth Guarantee Scheme is managed by the British Business Bank on behalf of, and with the financial backing of, the Secretary of State for Business & Trade. British Business Bank plc is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. It is not authorised or regulated by the PRA or the FCA. Visit www.british-business-bank.co.uk/finance-options/debt-finance/growth-guarantee-scheme