Analysis of the UK Smaller Business Growth Loans Market

Growth loans are bespoke debt-based finance that goes beyond senior debt in terms of its risk appetite and is used to support business growth and development. This research paper examines the finance market for growth loans to UK smaller businesses to answer the following questions:

• What are growth loans and what type of businesses are most suitable for this type of finance?
• How many businesses have characteristics that make them suitable for growth loans and is there actual demand from smaller businesses?
• What is the current supply of growth loans and how is the market structured?
• Is there a funding gap and does the British Business Bank need to intervene in this market?

Alongside Budget 2015, British Business Bank published a Request for Proposals for a Growth Loans pilot initiative to support ambitious, smaller businesses looking for Growth Finance.