Lloyds banking group supports businesses with £18bn lending commitment
Lloyds Banking Group has pledged to further support UK businesses in 2019 with a commitment to lend £18bn to UK businesses.
As part of the group’s continued commitment to help Britain prosper, today’s announcement underlines to existing and new businesses across the country that the group is committed to supporting UK businesses through 2019 and beyond. The lending commitment is backed by an advertising campaign highlighting that Lloyds Banking Group is by the side of British business whatever the future brings.
This £18bn will support entrepreneurs looking to start a new business, micro-businesses seeking to scale up and small businesses considering trading internationally for the first time. It will also support established mid-sized businesses and large, multinational corporations seeking further growth.
Throughout 2018, the group demonstrated its ongoing commitment to supporting British businesses, launching initiatives such as the creation of the £500m growth fund to help firms invest in equipment which improves their productivity, backing the Lloyds Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre with an additional £5m to help train 3,500 manufacturing apprenticeships, and also the swift creation of a £50m fund to support small businesses within the Carillion supply chain.
In addition, the group reinforced its support to the UK housing sector by launching a £500m fund for housing associations last year, supporting the Government’s pledge to deliver 300,000 houses each year by the middle of the next decade. It also committed £750m in 2018 for social housing projects, contributing to the group’s commitment to enable more people in Britain to get a home.
António Horta Osório, chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group said: “In 2019, we will lend up to £18bn to businesses across the UK. During these uncertain times, it is important that our customers have financial support and expert guidance to navigate the challenges they may face. Whatever the future brings, we will continue to support UK businesses as part of our commitment to help Britain prosper.”