How the Growth Guarantee Scheme works
The Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) is a UK government scheme, run by the British Business Bank, that helps smaller businesses get finance. Accredited lenders offer term loans, asset finance, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset-based lending, and the government guarantees 70% of each facility to the lender.
The guarantee protects the lender, not the borrower. The business must repay 100% of the debt, so this calculator never reduces your costs for it. The lender decides whether to lend and sets the interest rate and fees. Lenders may take personal guarantees, and the scheme is scheduled to run until 31 March 2030.
What the three results mean
Potentially within published scheme criteria means your answers do not show an obvious scheme-level restriction. It is not an approval.
Further assessment required means you may qualify, but the answer depends on something the scheme or your lender has to confirm, such as your subsidy history, an excluded-sector check or the announced turnover limit.
Outside one or more published criteria means an answer conflicts with a published rule, for example an amount above the limit. Each result lists the reasons, so you can see what to change or ask your lender about.
What it checks
The checker looks at whether the business operates in the UK, its legal form, annual turnover of the business group against the £45 million limit, the share of turnover from trading, whether it is a type of business the scheme excludes, businesses in difficulty, the amount against the minimum and the published limit, existing GGS and RLS borrowing, earlier subsidy and what the money is for.
It does not check your credit history, your ability to repay or a lender's own policies. Accredited lenders make those decisions.
Borrowing limits and recent changes
The published limit is generally £2 million per business group, counting GGS and Recovery Loan Scheme borrowing since 1 August 2022. Term loans and overdrafts start at £25,001, and asset finance, invoice finance and asset-based lending from £1,000. In Northern Ireland, borrowers within the scope of the Windsor Framework can borrow up to £1 million in most sectors, £285,000 in primary agriculture and £170,000 in fisheries and aquaculture. Being in Northern Ireland does not by itself set the limit, and your lender confirms which applies. England, Scotland and Wales follow the same UK-wide limits.
On 12 July 2026 the Chancellor announced that GGS will support facility terms of up to ten years for term loans and asset finance, that the annual turnover limit rises from £45 million to £54 million, and £6.5 billion more lending over four years. The British Business Bank is working with accredited lenders to bring these in and says the scheme remains fully operational under its existing terms, so not every lender offers them yet.
Businesses the scheme excludes
The British Business Bank says these are not eligible: public-sector bodies; state-funded primary and secondary schools; banks, building societies, insurers and reinsurers (insurance brokers are not excluded); and certain activities in mining and quarrying, including mining coal and lignite, extracting crude petroleum and natural gas, and some support activities for them.
A business must also be viable in the lender's view and must not be a business in difficulty, including being in relevant insolvency proceedings. More than 50% of turnover must come from trading activity in the UK, and charities and further education establishments are exempt from that test.
Start-ups are covered in GGS for start-ups.
Scheme dates and 2026 changes
GGS launched with accredited lenders on 1 July 2024. It was extended in the 2025 Spending Review and is scheduled to run until 31 March 2030.
On 12 July 2026 the Chancellor announced that GGS will support facility terms of up to ten years for term loans and asset finance, that the annual turnover limit rises from £45 million to £54 million, and £6.5 billion more lending over four years. The British Business Bank is working with accredited lenders to bring these in and says the scheme remains fully operational under its existing terms, so not every lender offers them yet.
Earlier subsidy can reduce what you can borrow. Check yours with the GGS subsidy allowance calculator.
How this calculator works
Each answer is compared with the published criteria. The overall result is the most serious finding: any outside result makes the overall result outside, otherwise any further-assessment result makes it further assessment.
Subsidy is not the same as borrowing: a £500,000 loan does not mean £500,000 of subsidy, and your lender works out the subsidy value. This is an independent tool, not run or endorsed by the British Business Bank or the UK government, and it does not tell you whether you will be approved. To find a lender, use the British Business Bank's official list of accredited lenders, which you can filter by region and type of finance.
Based in Northern Ireland? Use the Northern Ireland eligibility checker to see the limit for your borrower type.
Once you know the amount, work out the repayments with the GGS loan calculator.
For the full criteria, read GGS eligibility criteria.
Then see how to apply for a GGS loan.
Inputs for the GGS eligibility calculator
Does the business operate in the UK?
The scheme supports businesses carrying on activity in the UK.
Where is the business based?
England, Scotland and Wales share the same limits. Choose Northern Ireland to apply its separate limits.
Northern Ireland borrower type
Shown for Northern Ireland only. The limit depends on whether the borrower falls within the Windsor Framework rules and on its sector.
Existing GGS and RLS borrowing
GGS or Recovery Loan Scheme borrowing your business group already has. It counts towards the limit, so only the headroom is left.
Business type
Sole traders, companies, partnerships, co-operatives and other legal entities can apply, subject to the other criteria. Charities and further education establishments are exempt from the trading income test.
Annual turnover of the business group
Include linked and partner businesses. The published limit is £45 million, with £54 million announced in July 2026.
Share of turnover from trading
The scheme requires more than 50% of turnover from trading activity in the UK. Charities and further education establishments are exempt.
Is the business in an excluded sector?
Public-sector bodies, state-funded schools, banks, building societies, insurers and some mining and petroleum activities are not eligible.
Is the business in difficulty?
Subsidy rules restrict businesses in difficulty, for example businesses in insolvency proceedings.
Type of finance
Term loans and overdrafts start at £25,001. Asset finance, invoice finance and asset-based lending start from £1,000.
Finance you want
The facility amount before any fees.
Subsidy received in the last 3 years
Other government support can count towards the subsidy limit. Your lender checks this with you.
What is the money for?
Refinancing existing debt can be allowed, but it counts as a new application.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
GGS eligibility checker questions
What is the Growth Guarantee Scheme?
A UK government-backed scheme where the government guarantees 70% of a business facility to the lender. The British Business Bank runs it.
Do I repay the guaranteed part?
Yes. The business is liable for the whole debt. The guarantee protects the lender, so it does not reduce what you owe.
Can I refinance existing debt?
In some cases, yes. Refinancing is treated as a new application, and protections under the original and new scheme can differ. Your lender assesses it.
Is the Northern Ireland limit different?
It can be. Borrowers within the Windsor Framework rules face limits of £1 million in most sectors, £285,000 in primary agriculture and £170,000 in fisheries and aquaculture. Your lender confirms which applies.
Does the calculator tell me if I'll be approved?
No. It shows how an amount sits against the published scheme limits. Accredited lenders decide whether to lend.
How do I apply?
Through an accredited lender. The British Business Bank website lists them and lets you filter by region and type of finance.
Can a start-up use the scheme?
Start-ups are not excluded, but the lender must find the proposal viable. For businesses in their first three years of trading, the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans programme may also be suitable.