Guidance

Apply for the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme

The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) provides financial support to larger businesses affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).

From:
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Published
3 April 2020
Last updated
18 December 2020 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on

The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2021.

The scheme helps medium and large sized businesses to access loans and other kinds of finance up to £200 million.

The government guarantees 80% of the finance to the lender.

The scheme is open to applications until 31 March 2021.

If you’re a smaller business, you may be entitled to other government support.

Eligibility

You can apply for a loan if your business:

You need to show that:

  • your business would be viable were it not for the pandemic
  • your business has been affected by coronavirus
  • the loan will enable you to trade out of any short-term to medium-term difficulty resulting from coronavirus

If you’re borrowing more than £50 million you must agree to restrictions on dividend payments, senior pay and share buy-backs during the period of the loan. Check the eligibility requirements.

Who cannot apply

Businesses from any sector can apply, except:

  • banks, insurers and reinsurers (but not insurance brokers)
  • building societies
  • public-sector bodies
  • state-funded primary and secondary schools

What you can get

You can apply for:

  • loans
  • revolving credit facilities (including overdrafts)
  • invoice finance
  • asset finance

A lender can provide up to 25% of your annual turnover. The maximum amount you can borrow is £200 million.

How long the loan is for

Finance is available from 3 months to 3 years.

How to apply

There are 27 lenders taking part in the scheme including all the main retail banks. You should approach a suitable lender yourself via the lender’s website.

You’ll need to tell the lender:

  • the amount you’d like to borrow
  • what the money is for
  • how long you’d like to pay it back

Supporting documents

You’ll need to provide documents that show you can afford to repay the loan.

These may include:

  • management accounts
  • cash flow forecast
  • business plan
  • historic accounts
  • details of assets

The documents you need will depend on the lender. A loan could still be an option even if you do not have everything listed here.

The lender will check that the loan is:

  • for a suitable business purpose
  • affordable for you
  • the right type of finance for your needs

The lender will decide whether to offer you a loan or another type of finance. Your business will be responsible for repaying 100% of the amount you borrow.

Find a lender

If the lender turns you down

If one lender turns you down, you can apply to other lenders in the scheme.

You may want to consider using a broker to find the right type of finance for your needs, or do your own research using the British Business Bank’s Finance Guide.

Updates to this page

Published 3 April 2020
Last updated 18 December 2020 + show all updates

  1. Application deadline extended to 31 March 2021.

  2. 27 lenders now signed up to scheme.

  3. The application deadline has been extended to January 31 2021.

  4. The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan scheme is open to applications until 30 November 2020.

  5. Businesses can now borrow up to a maximum of £200 million.

  6. From 26 May, larger businesses will be able to borrow up to a maximum of £200 million.

  7. Further education establishments are now eligible for the scheme.

  8. The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme is now open for applications.

  9. We have updated details on turnover and loan thresholds.

  10. First published.

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