The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) has welcomed the British Business Bank’s announcement of a package of new measures to support smaller businesses, including a £6.5 billion uplift to the Growth Guarantee Scheme designed to unlock further lending over the next four years.
Responding to the British Business Bank’s announcement of further support for SMEs, Shanika Amarasekara, Chief Executive of the Finance & Leasing Association, said:
“This is exactly the kind of practical intervention smaller businesses need.
“The FLA has been clear that if the UK is serious about growth, it must back the lenders that back SMEs. Government-backed guarantees give lenders the confidence to support viable businesses that want to invest, scale up and create jobs. The expansion of the Growth Guarantee Scheme, longer facility terms and broader eligibility are therefore important and welcome steps.
“FLA members are already delivering finance into the real economy at significant scale. Our Impact Report, The Hidden Engine Behind UK Growth, shows members provided £163 billion of new lending to businesses and households last year, including £8.8 billion to SMEs in the first four months of 2026 alone.
“That finance pays for the vehicles, equipment, technology and investment that keep firms trading, growing and employing people. Today’s announcement should help our members do even more to support businesses in every part of the UK.
“The priority now must be delivery. We look forward to working with government, the British Business Bank and our members to ensure this support reaches SMEs quickly and has maximum impact.”
Notes to Editors
- In 2025, FLA members provided £163 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households, £122 billion was in the form of consumer credit, accounting for almost a third of all new consumer credit written in the UK. £55 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 85% of private new car registrations
- For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.
