The scheme in Scotland
Scotland has the same limits and criteria as the rest of the UK outside Northern Ireland: facilities of up to £2 million per business group, with terms of up to six years for term loans and asset finance and up to three years for overdrafts and invoice finance.
In a press release of 2 June 2026, the British Business Bank reported that GGS had unlocked £200 million of debt finance for 1,283 Scottish businesses, delivered through 32 lenders operating throughout Scotland, including a number of independent Scottish lenders.
Where in Scotland
West Central Scotland was the most active region, with 367 loans worth £65.3 million. East Central Scotland followed with 259 loans (£42.2 million) and Southern Scotland with 225 loans (£32.2 million). Eastern Scotland had 192 loans (£26.3 million), North Eastern Scotland 120 (£18.5 million) and the Highlands and Islands 120 (£16 million).
Among areas, Glasgow City led with 171 loans worth £33.8 million, then the City of Edinburgh with 137 loans (£20.4 million), Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire with 120 (£18.5 million) and the Highlands and Islands with 120 (£16 million). Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire made up the fifth with 73 loans (£15.2 million).
Sectors and uses
The largest sector was wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motor vehicles (216 loans, £30.9 million), followed by administrative and support services (123 loans, £23.3 million), manufacturing (121 loans, £20.5 million), real estate (55 loans, £17.9 million) and construction (140 loans, £17.8 million).
The main uses were buying or hiring equipment and machinery (456 loans, £59.9 million), expanding an existing business in the UK (270 loans, £46.3 million) and general working capital (308 loans, £37.5 million). The release gives the example of a Perthshire construction business that used a GGS facility, provided through Simply Asset Finance, to buy equipment from dumpers to commercial vans.
UK-wide context and finding a lender
The British Business Bank's performance data as at 30 June 2026, which combines GGS with the third Recovery Loan Scheme, shows 1,387 facilities and £217.73 million drawn in Scotland, or 38.40 facilities per 10,000 SMEs. Across the UK the figure was 22,947 facilities and £3.96 billion.
To find a lender, open the accredited lenders list with the Scotland filter and choose the type of finance you need.
See the accredited lenders serving Scotland.
Equipment is the biggest use in Scotland. Work out the cost with the GGS asset finance calculator.
QUESTIONS
Growth Guarantee Scheme in Scotland: questions
Are the Scottish limits different?
No. Scotland follows the same UK-wide limits as England and Wales. Only Northern Ireland has separate limits for borrowers in scope of the Windsor Framework rules.
How many lenders serve Scotland?
The British Business Bank's press release counts 32 lenders operating throughout Scotland. Its accredited lenders list returns 37 lenders for the Scotland filter on 27 October 2026, because it also includes UK wide lenders.
Why do two sets of Scottish figures differ?
The 2 June 2026 release counts 1,283 businesses and £200 million. The performance data as at 30 June 2026 combines GGS with the third Recovery Loan Scheme and shows 1,387 facilities and £217.73 million drawn in Scotland. They cover different bases and dates.