What is a "business group" under the Growth Guarantee Scheme?

The Growth Guarantee Scheme does not look at one limited company in isolation. Facility maximum, turnover test and subsidy cap all run at business group level, defined by control relationships — not just ownership percentage.

BBB's FAQ: a group is all enterprises that have at least one of these relationships:

1. One has a majority of the other's voting rights.
2. One can appoint or remove a majority of the other's board (or equivalent).
3. One has a dominant influence under a contract or the articles.
4. A shareholder, by agreement with other shareholders, controls a majority of votes.
5. One can control or materially influence the policy of the other on the market — even with no controlling stake. Private equity and venture holdings are in.

An enterprise is any person or entity carrying on an economic activity, in any legal form.

So two companies with the same director and a shareholders' agreement, or a trading Ltd plus a property LLP the director steers, often sit in one group even if neither owns 51% of the other. Leave one out of the subsidy inventory and the attestation is wrong.

The lender is the referee. Map Companies House, PSCs, articles and any side agreements before the pack goes to a CEF or other GGS lender.

Official text: British Business Bank GGS FAQs — "Am I eligible if I am part of a group that has accessed RLS?"