Subsidised and Guaranteed Loans

5. United Kingdom

5.1 You can borrow substantial amounts of money from Finance Wales, Scottish Enterprise and the Enterprise Northern Ireland Small Business Loan Fund.

• Businesses wanting to expand its operations in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland may be eligible for the appropriate scheme. A range of eligibility criteria apply in the different areas. Check with the appropriate business support organisation.
• You are unlikely to qualify unless you can show the business has the potential for growth and to create employment.
• In some cases a mixture of loan and equity finance may be available.

5.2 There are a range of other loan schemes available from Finance Wales.

• The Community Loans scheme for Wales provides loans that support community regeneration. It supports social enterprises that create and retain jobs and deliver new and improved local services.
• Funding of between £1,000 and £100,000 is available over a maximum of five years.
• The Wales Spinout Programme offers interest-free loans of up to £25,000 for academics to take an idea and develop it into a commercial activity.

5.3 The Enterprise Northern Ireland Small Business Loan Fund is distributed by local enterprise agencies in the region.

• The £4 million fund offers loans from £500 to £25,000 to small businesses in the first instance, with secondary loans possible after repayment of the first.