New government micro business loans scheme ‘gives hope to thousands’

The Chancellor has announced that small businesses will benefit from a new fast-track finance scheme providing loans with a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the new Bounce Back Loans scheme, which will provide loans of up to £50,000, would help bolster the existing package of support available to the smallest businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The scheme has been designed to ensure that small firms who need vital cash injections to keep operating can get finance in a matter of days, and comes alongside the £6 billion awarded in business grants, supporting 4 million jobs through the job retention scheme and generous tax deferrals supporting hundreds of thousands of firms.

The government, which has been consulting extensively with business representatives about the design of the new scheme, will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee for the loan and pay any fees and interest for the first 12 months. No repayments will be due during the first 12 months.

The loans will be easy to apply for through a short, standardised online application. The loan should reach businesses within days- providing immediate support to those that need it as easily as possible.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said “Our smallest businesses are the backbone of our economy and play a vital role in their communities. This new rapid loan scheme will help ensure they get the finance they need quickly to help survive this crisis. This is in addition to business grants, tax deferrals, and the job retention scheme, which are already helping to support hundreds of thousands of small businesses.”

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said “Our small businesses are vital in ensuring our communities thrive and will be crucial in creating jobs and securing economic growth as we recover. This rapid loan scheme offers additional protection so small companies across the country can get access to the finance they need immediately, as part of the unprecedented package of support we have put in place.”

“The scheme will launch for applications on Monday 4th May. Firms will be able to access these loans through a network of accredited lenders.”

“The government will work with lenders to ensure loans delivered through this scheme are advanced as quickly as possible and agree a low standardised level of interest for the remaining period of the loan.”

Responding to the announcement  Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chairman Mike Cherry said “To date, the existing interruption loan scheme has not been working for the small firms that make-up 99% of our business community. The decision by the Chancellor to listen to our recommendation for a 100% guarantee on smaller loans, alongside the creation of a new fast-track system for those applying for them, will give hope to thousands.”

“The headline terms will be hugely welcomed by the sole traders and micro-businesses that make-up 95% of the small businesses community. Removing the need to provide forecasts marks an important step forward – small firms cannot be expected to predict the future in this climate.”

“From here, we need the right delivery. The new fast-track system must be established by next Monday with money delivered 24 hours after a successful application as promised. All those who have been declined a small coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS) facility should now be written to with the offer to re-apply via this new system. Those mid-way through a standard CBILS application should also be given the option to change tack.”

“Many small businesses have had to pay March and April’s payroll, on top of other overheads, with no revenue coming in at all. The CBILS initiative was their only lifeline until job retention scheme payments kicked in. It has so far proved to be extremely difficult to access for the vast majority. Today’s announcement promises to change that fundamental lack of access to working capital.”

“In the long-term, we need to protect the competition achieved in the small business lending market that so many have fought so hard to secure. At the end of this crisis, non-bank lenders are going to be key to economic recovery as part of a thriving small business finance market that does not just rely on the big five banks. We look forward to working with the Government to ensure alternative lenders can play that vital role.”

“Equally, the big banks must ensure they’re in a position to facilitate a large a number of small business loans. Some of their systems are already creaking under the strain, before this new system is brought in on top. Some lenders have been unable to facilitate such lending because they have not got their backroom operations in order. This issue requires urgent attention.”

Stephen Jones, Chief Executive of UK Finance, said “Finance providers are committed to helping small and medium sized businesses through these tough times and the new Bounce Back Loans scheme (BBLS) announced by the Chancellor today will make it simpler and faster for smaller businesses to apply through an online form and get the loans they need.”

“The terms of this new scheme and the changes being made by the authorities to existing lending rules to support its launch will enable lenders approved by the British Business Bank to process these loan applications based on a short, simple online application form and for lenders to assess the applications at pace without the need for forward looking financial plans.”

“The BBLS will sit alongside a broad package of support that lenders are providing SMEs including through the government’s CBIL scheme, the CLBIL scheme, as well as capital repayment holidays, extended overdrafts and asset-based finance.”

“Lenders approved by the British Business Bank are now working non-stop to get the new scheme up and running from Monday. Further details will be provided for those businesses who wish to apply for a bounce back loan from the end of this week.”