GGS subsidy cap rules — not the same as the £2m facility limit

A Growth Guarantee Scheme facility has two ceilings. Mix them up and the file is packed wrong: a facility maximum of generally £2m per group (outside NI Protocol scope), and a subsidy maximum for most of those same GB borrowers of £315,000 of Minimal Financial Assistance over three fiscal years (1 April–31 March: this year and the two before).

The subsidy is the value of the government-guarantee advantage. It is not the loan principal. The lender calculates it. Do not tell a director they can only borrow £315,000.

Community ENABLE term loans wear these GGS rules.

NI Protocol changes both the cap and the clock. Most NI-scope sectors: £255,000 / €300,000 de minimis. Primary fishery/aquaculture and agriculture sit far lower. Risk-finance aid above €14.8m (EIS/VCT/SEIS and similar) can lock a NI-scope group out.

What usually eats headroom

GGS from 1 July 2024; RLS from 1 August 2022; some Bounce Back Loans (especially if "business in difficulty" was ticked — then the subsidy can be principal plus the interruption payment); Start Up Loans; some regional funds; rates relief; many non-Temporary-Framework local grants.

What usually does not

CBILS, CLBILS, early RLS (6 April 2021–30 June 2022), most Temporary Framework Covid grants, UKEF-supported facilities.

Caps and facility max both run at group level. Collect subsidy letters in week one. Official page: British Business Bank GGS Subsidies.