Data Sources:
- British Business Bank via Freedom of Information request (FOI 25-002)
- HM Treasury published data
- HMRC COVID support scheme statistics
- Sector Classification: SIC 96020 (Hairdressing and other beauty treatment)
Data as at: 31 March 2025
Last Updated: October 2025
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Total Loans Advanced
£1.04bn
BBLS: £989.4m
CBILS: £46.3m
Outstanding Balance
£213.6m
79% resolved
As at 31 March 2025
Claims Settled
£266.1m
25.6% of total lending
Failed businesses
In Arrears
£27.3m
2.6% of original lending
As at 31 March 2025
Key Data Points
Loan Support Received:
- Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS): £989.4 million
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS): £46.3 million
- Combined total: £1.035 billion
- Data source: British Business Bank FOI 25-002 (31 March 2025)
Repayment Status (March 2025):
- Outstanding balance: £213.6 million (20.6% of original lending)
- Repaid or settled: 79.4% of loans
- Claims settled: £266.1 million (businesses that failed)
- In arrears: £27.3 million (2.6% of original lending)
Additional Support Programs:
- Furlough scheme (CJRS): Wage support during closures
- Business rates relief: 100% relief April 2020 - June 2021
- Grants: Multiple grant programs for closed businesses
- VAT deferrals: Temporary cash flow relief
1. BOUNCE BACK LOAN SCHEME (BBLS)
Program Overview
Launch: May 2020
Close: March 2021
Purpose: Emergency working capital during COVID-19
Key Features:
- Loans of £2,000 to £50,000 (up to 25% of turnover)
- 100% government guarantee
- No repayments for first 12 months
- 2.5% annual interest rate
- 6-year repayment term (extendable to 10 years)
- No personal guarantees for loans under £50,000
Sector BBLS Data (SIC 96020)
Source: British Business Bank FOI 25-002, Table 1 (as at 31 March 2025)
| Turnover Band | Loan Amount (£) | Outstanding Balance (£) | Amount in Arrears (£) | Claims Settled (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than £50k | 128,920,604 | 30,672,784 | 3,877,326 | 23,336,359 |
| £50,001 to £100k | 268,428,959 | 67,813,448 | 7,661,866 | 49,234,342 |
| £100,001 to £250k | 454,492,961 | 105,332,978 | 13,304,798 | 159,421,322 |
| £250,001 to £500k | 99,918,923 | 23,884,862 | 1,701,980 | 25,324,561 |
| £500,001 to £1m | 24,003,566 | 5,895,452 | 208,906 | 3,820,987 |
| £1m to £5m | 9,017,060 | 1,954,297 | 103,468 | 1,683,034 |
| £5m to £25m | 2,694,653 | 742,785 | 67,325 | 436,109 |
| £25m to £50m | 1,470,350 | 367,103 | 2,999 | 192,529 |
| £50m to £200m | 399,800 | 78,384 | 0 | 69,802 |
| >£200m | 85,000 | 33,002 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL BBLS | 989,431,876 | 206,774,096 | 26,928,668 | 263,519,044 |
Loan Distribution
- Highest borrowing band: £100k-£250k turnover (£454.5m, 46% of total)
- Micro businesses (<£50k turnover): £128.9m (13% of total)
- Businesses £500k+ turnover: £37.7m (4% of total)
Repayment Status
- Outstanding: £206.8m (20.9% of original)
- In arrears: £26.9m (2.7% of original lending)
- Claims settled: £263.5m (26.6%)
Repayment Timeline
Standard Schedule (6-Year Term):
- 12-month payment holiday: May 2020 - May 2021
- Repayments began: June 2021
- Monthly payments over 72 months (6 years)
- Final payments due: May 2027
Pay As You Grow Flexibility (Introduced September 2021):
- 10-year extension option available
- Up to 6 months additional payment holidays available
- Up to 6 months interest-only payments option
Current Position (March 2025):
- 4 years into standard 6-year term
- 21% of original balance remaining
- 26 months remaining for standard 6-year loans
- 74 months remaining for 10-year extended loans
⚠️ Data Limitation
The British Business Bank FOI response does not provide:
- Number of businesses that extended to 10-year terms
- Number of businesses that used payment holidays
- Number of businesses that used interest-only periods
- Breakdown of outstanding balance by repayment term length
Impact: Final repayment dates range from May 2027 (6-year) to May 2031 (10-year). Additional FOI request submitted to obtain Pay As You Grow uptake data.
Claims Settled
Definition:
When a business with a BBLS loan fails (enters insolvency), the lender claims the outstanding balance from the government guarantee. "Claims settled" represents loans where:
- The business has closed/entered insolvency
- The lender has claimed the outstanding balance from government
- The government has paid the claim (100% guarantee)
Claims by Turnover Band:
- £100k-£250k band: £159.4m (60% of total claims)
- £50k-£100k band: £49.2m (19% of total claims)
- Overall claims rate: 26.6% of total BBLS lending
2. CORONAVIRUS BUSINESS INTERRUPTION LOAN SCHEME (CBILS)
Program Overview
Launch: March 2020
Close: March 2021
Purpose: Larger loans for established businesses
Key Features:
- Loans from £50,001 to £5 million
- 80% government guarantee
- Interest-free for first 12 months
- Terms up to 6 years
- Required business viability assessment
Sector CBILS Data (SIC 96020)
Source: British Business Bank FOI 25-002, Table 2 (as at 31 March 2025)
| Turnover Band | Loan Amount (£) | Outstanding Balance (£) | Amount in Arrears (£) | Claims Settled (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than £50k | 267,401 | 20,664 | 16,983 | 7,707 |
| £50,001 to £100k | 2,021,604 | 419,441 | 1,250 | 177,583 |
| £100,001 to £250k | 3,332,563 | 139,434 | 41,950 | 289,112 |
| £250,001 to £500k | 7,066,142 | 1,255,868 | 0 | 514,185 |
| £500,001 to £1m | 10,396,307 | 1,669,740 | 237,528 | 786,457 |
| £1m to £5m | 18,807,146 | 3,214,125 | 92,222 | 1,287,094 |
| £5m to £25m | 4,458,024 | 1,172,246 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL CBILS | 46,349,187 | 6,891,518 | 389,933 | 3,062,138 |
Loan Distribution
- Highest borrowing band: £1m-£5m turnover (£18.8m, 41% of total)
- Businesses with £500k+ turnover: 71% of total CBILS lending
- Lower uptake than BBLS: £46.3m vs £989.4m (21:1 ratio)
Repayment Status
- Outstanding: £6.9m (14.9% of original)
- In arrears: £0.4m (0.8% of original lending)
- Claims settled: £3.1m (6.6%)
3. ADDITIONAL COVID SUPPORT
Furlough Scheme (CJRS)
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Program Details:
- Covered 80% of wages (up to £2,500/month per employee)
- Period: March 2020 - September 2021
- Available to all employers
Note: Sector-specific furlough figures were not published by HMRC. Scheme was available to all businesses during lockdown periods.
Business Rates Relief
100% Business Rates Holiday:
- Period: April 2020 - June 2021 (15 months)
- Coverage: Retail, hospitality, and leisure properties
- Eligible businesses: Salon premises with rateable value
66% Discount:
- Period: July 2021 - March 2022 (9 months)
- Coverage: Same sectors as above
VAT Deferral
VAT Payment Deferral:
- March-June 2020 VAT payments deferred
- Could be repaid over 11 installments (interest-free)
- Temporary cash flow relief
Note: Hair & beauty sector continued to pay standard 20% VAT rate throughout COVID (no temporary rate reduction).
Grants
Grant Programs Available:
- Small Business Grant Fund: £10,000 for businesses with small business rates relief
- Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant: Up to £25,000 based on rateable value
- Restart Grants: Up to £18,000 when reopening (April 2021)
- Local Authority Discretionary Grants: Various amounts
Note: Grant amounts varied by local authority. Sector-specific totals were not published centrally.
4. TOTAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Verified Loan Data
| Support Type | Amount (£m) | Repayable? | Data Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bounce Back Loans (BBLS) | 989.4 | Yes | ✓ Verified (FOI) |
| CBILS | 46.3 | Yes | ✓ Verified (FOI) |
| TOTAL LOANS | 1,035.7 | To be repaid | ✓ Verified |
Additional support programs: Furlough scheme (CJRS), business rates relief, grants, and VAT deferrals were also available. Sector-specific totals for these programs were not published by government.
5. CURRENT REPAYMENT STATUS (MARCH 2025)
Outstanding Balances
| Scheme | Original Lending (£m) | Outstanding (£m) | % Remaining | Claims Settled (£m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBLS | 989.4 | 206.8 | 20.9% | 263.5 |
| CBILS | 46.3 | 6.9 | 14.9% | 3.1 |
| TOTAL | 1,035.7 | 213.7 | 20.6% | 266.6 |
Repayment Progress Summary
- Total borrowed: £1,035.7 million
- Currently outstanding: £213.7 million (operating businesses)
- Claims settled: £266.6 million (failed businesses)
- Repaid to date: £555.4 million (53.6% of original lending)
- Overall resolution: 79.4% (repaid or settled)
Repayment Timeline
- BBLS standard term: Final payments due May 2027
- BBLS extended term: Final payments due May 2031
- CBILS: Final payments due 2027-2028
- Current position: 4 years into standard 6-year BBLS term
Arrears Status
| Scheme | In Arrears (£m) | % of Original | % of Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBLS | 26.9 | 2.7% | 13.0% |
| CBILS | 0.4 | 0.8% | 5.7% |
| TOTAL | 27.3 | 2.6% | 12.8% |
6. INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON
COVID Business Support - UK vs Europe
| Country | Loan Programs | Grants | Furlough Coverage | Business Rates/Tax Relief |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | BBLS, CBILS, RLS | Yes | 80% wages | 100% relief (15 months) |
| Germany | KfW loans | Yes | 60-87% wages | Variable relief |
| France | PGE loans | Yes | 84-100% wages | Exemptions available |
| Italy | Guarantee Fund | Yes | CIGS scheme | Reductions |
| Spain | ICO credit lines | Yes | ERTE scheme | Moratorium |
Program Features
UK Programs:
- BBLS: 100% government guarantee, no personal guarantees
- Furlough: 80% wage coverage, 18-month duration
- Business rates: 100% relief for 15 months
- Multiple grant programs available
European Equivalents:
- Germany: KfW loans with 80-90% guarantee
- France: PGE loans with 70-90% guarantee
- All major economies provided furlough/wage support
- Various grant and tax relief programs
7. METHODOLOGY & DATA QUALITY
Data Sources
Verified Data (High Confidence):
- BBLS & CBILS figures: British Business Bank FOI 25-002
- FOI date: 23 May 2025
- Data as at: 31 March 2025
- All loan amounts, outstanding balances, arrears, and claims settled: Official government data
- Verification: FOI response publicly available
Additional Support Programs:
- Furlough scheme: Program details from HMRC, sector-specific totals not published
- Business rates relief: Program details from government, sector totals not published
- Grants: Program details from government, sector totals not published centrally
Calculation Methods
Repayment Progress:
Formula: (Original lending - Outstanding - Claims settled) = Amount repaid
£1,035.7m - £213.7m - £266.6m = £555.4m repaid (53.6%)
Resolution Rate:
Formula: (Repaid + Claims settled) ÷ Original lending
(£555.4m + £266.6m) ÷ £1,035.7m = 79.4% resolved
Data Limitations
What We Know with Certainty:
- Total BBLS lending to sector: £989.4m
- Total CBILS lending to sector: £46.3m
- Outstanding balances as at 31 March 2025
- Claims settled by government
- Arrears status
What Remains Uncertain:
- Number of businesses that borrowed
- Distribution of loans among businesses
- Proportion of BBLS borrowers who extended to 10-year terms
- Uptake of Pay As You Grow flexibility options
- Precise furlough scheme sector allocation
- Precise grant scheme sector allocation
- Business rates relief by individual business
Data Quality Ratings:
| Metric | Source | Confidence Level |
|---|---|---|
| BBLS/CBILS amounts | British Business Bank FOI | Very High ✓✓✓ |
| Outstanding balances | British Business Bank FOI | Very High ✓✓✓ |
| Claims settled | British Business Bank FOI | Very High ✓✓✓ |
| Arrears status | British Business Bank FOI | Very High ✓✓✓ |
Pending FOI Requests
- Pay As You Grow Data: Request for breakdown of BBLS loans by term length (6-year vs 10-year) and use of flexibility options for SIC 96020
Document Updates
This document will be updated when:
- British Business Bank publishes updated figures (typically quarterly)
- Pay As You Grow uptake data obtained
- Final loan repayment data becomes available (post-2027/2031)
- Additional FOI responses received
8. DATA SUMMARY
COVID Loan Support (Verified)
Total Advanced:
- BBLS: £989.4 million
- CBILS: £46.3 million
- Combined: £1,035.7 million
Current Status (31 March 2025):
- Outstanding: £213.7 million (20.6%)
- Claims settled: £266.6 million (25.7%)
- Repaid: £555.4 million (53.6%)
- In arrears: £27.3 million (2.6%)
By Scheme:
- BBLS: £989.4m advanced, £206.8m outstanding, £263.5m claims settled
- CBILS: £46.3m advanced, £6.9m outstanding, £3.1m claims settled
Repayment Timeline:
- BBLS (6-year): Final payments May 2027
- BBLS (10-year): Final payments May 2031
- CBILS: Final payments 2027-2028
Additional Support Available
- Furlough scheme (CJRS): March 2020 - September 2021
- Business rates relief: April 2020 - March 2022
- Multiple grant programs: 2020-2021
- VAT deferrals: March-June 2020
Note: Sector-specific totals for non-loan support were not published by government.