Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS)

Supporting your business through the recovery

The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) launched on 6 April 2021 and supports access to finance for UK businesses¹ (subject to eligibility and certain restrictions²) as they recover and grow following the Covid-19 pandemic.

RLS aims to help businesses affected by Covid-19 and can be used for business purposes, including managing cashflow, investment and growth. It is designed to support businesses that can afford to take out additional finance for these purposes.

Businesses who have taken out a CBILS, CLBILS or BBLS facility are able to access the new scheme. 

A key aim of the Recovery Loan Scheme is to improve the terms on offer to businesses, but if a lender can offer a business the choice of a commercial loan on better terms, without requiring the guarantee provided by the RLS, they should do so.

At Autumn Budget 2021, the government announced that the Recovery Loan Scheme will be extended by six months to 30 June 2022, with changes applying to all offers made from the 1 January 2022.

How the Recovery Loan Scheme can support your business

• Facility size: up to £2m facility per business. The maximum amount of a facility provided under the scheme is £2m per business (maximum £6m per group). Minimum facility sizes vary, starting at £1,000 for asset and invoice finance, and £25,001 for term loans and overdrafts
  
• Flexible terms: Term loans are available from twelve months, for up to six years
• Interest and fees to be paid by the borrower from the outset: Businesses are required to meet the costs of interest payments and any fees associated with the RLS facility
• Access to multiple Covid-19 schemes: Businesses that have taken out a CBILS, CLBILS or BBLS facility are able to access the new scheme although the amount they have borrowed under a previous scheme may in certain circumstances limit the amount they may borrow under RLS
• Personal Guarantees are not permitted for facilities of £250,000 or less. Above £250,000 the maximum amount that can be covered under RLS is capped at a maximum of 20% of the outstanding balance of the RLS facility after the proceeds of business assets have been applied. No personal guarantees can be held over Principal Private Residences
• Guarantee to the Lender: The scheme provides the lender (Barclays) with a government-backed guarantee against the outstanding balance of the facility. The borrower always remains 100% liable for the debt.

RLS eligibility

• Covid-19 impact: The borrower must confirm to the lender that it has been impacted by Covid-19
• UK-based: The borrower must be carrying out trading activity in the UK
• Viability test: Barclays will consider that the borrower has a viable business proposition but may disregard any concerns over its short-to-medium term business performance due to the uncertainty and impact of Covid-19. Barclays can request forward looking forecasts to support our decision on viability
• Credit and fraud checks for all applicants: Barclays will be required to undertake credit and fraud checks for all applicants
• Turnover limit: Businesses with a turnover not exceeding £45m per annum.

Applying for the Recovery Loan Scheme

Our relationship teams are here to support you, so please do not hesitate to get in touch with your relationship contact for assistance as needed. They will be able to discuss whether an RLS is right for your business, and help you with your application.

You will need to provide certain documents when you apply for an RLS-backed facility. These are likely to include:

• Management accounts
• A business plan
• Historic accounts
• Forward looking financial forecasts
• Details of assets
• Confirmation of eligibility.

Important information

¹The Recovery Loan Scheme is managed by the British Business Bank on behalf of, and with the financial backing of, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. British Business Bank plc is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. It is not authorised or regulated by the PRA or the FCA. Visit www.british-business-bank.co.uk/recovery-loan-scheme^

²The following are not eligible under RLS: Banks, Building Societies, Insurers and Reinsurers (excluding Insurance Brokers), public sector bodies, state funded primary and secondary schools.

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