UK Export Finance General Export Facility
UK Export Finance, the government's export credit agency, partly guarantees your bank's finance so exporters can get working capital and trade finance facilities more easily.
- Secured on assets
- Personal guarantee likely
How it works
The General Export Facility (GEF) gives partial guarantees to banks, which helps UK exporters get trade finance facilities.
- You apply through your bank or one of the participating lenders, not to UK Export Finance (UKEF) directly.
- It supports facilities of up to around £25 million. Participating banks can approve up to £10 million per exporter without referring to UKEF.
- Repayment terms can be up to 5 years.
- The bank pays UKEF a guarantee fee, which is a share of the interest margin you pay.
Upsides and downsides
Upsides
- Helps exporters get bank finance they might not otherwise get
- Covers general working capital, not just single contracts
- Applied for through your own bank
Downsides
- Only for businesses that already export enough to meet the thresholds
- Still a bank facility with normal credit checks, fees and security
Risks
- The usual risks of borrowing, including losing assets given as security
- Overseas customers paying late or not at all
What it costs
- How it is priced
- Interest and fees set by the bank. The bank passes part of its margin to UKEF as a guarantee fee
- Costs that are easy to miss
- Usual bank arrangement fees and security requirements
Facilities up to around £25 million. Banks can approve up to £10 million per exporter themselves.
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Does it fit?
Could fit when
- You are an established UK exporter
- You need more working capital to grow export sales
Unlikely to fit when
- You have not yet made export sales (other UKEF products may fit better)
Who can use it
- Business types: Sole trader, Partnership, Private limited company, LLP, Public limited company
- Needs sales (revenue)
- UK-based exporter with UK premises and employees, paying relevant UK taxes
- Export sales made up at least 20% of annual turnover in one of the last three years, or at least 5% in each of the last three years
Am I ready?
What a provider is likely to ask for. Tick what you have. Your ticks stay in this browser and nothing is stored. Checklist for all government-backed and community lending
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- Export sales history
- Accounts and forecasts
- Conversation with a participating lender
Regulation and protections
UK Export Finance guarantees the bank, not you. Your relationship is with the bank, under its own terms and complaints process.
Types of provider: Banks and lenders participating in the General Export Facility.
Also consider
Sources
- GOV.UK: General Export Facility · checked 7 October 2026