Growth Guarantee Scheme borrowing limits and terms

Minimums and maximums

Minimum facility sizes start at £1,000 for asset finance, invoice finance and asset-based lending, and at £25,001 for term loans and overdrafts. The maximum facility value per business group is £2 million for businesses outside the scope of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

For businesses in scope, the maximum is £285,000 in primary production agriculture, £170,000 in primary production aquaculture and fisheries, and £1 million in all other sectors. Accessing a facility counts as a subsidy, and previous subsidy may reduce the maximum you can borrow.

How long you can borrow

Term loans and asset finance are available for up to six years, and overdrafts and invoice finance for up to three years. A term extension to a maximum of 10 years for existing RLS facilities can be made in certain situations, linked to forbearance, at the lender's discretion.

On 12 July 2026 the Chancellor announced that GGS will offer facility terms of up to ten years for term loans and asset finance. The British Business Bank is working with lenders to bring this in, so check what your lender offers.

The business group

The maximum amount under GGS, including RLS since 1 August 2022, applies to the business group. A group means enterprises related by, for example, one holding a majority of the voting rights in another, or having the right to appoint or remove a majority of its board. The maximum across different facilities depends on the lender's assessment of affordability and scheme requirements.

Check an amount against the limits with the GGS loan calculator.

For the July 2026 changes, see GGS 2026 changes and dates.