- White Oak UK joins UK Export Finance as a new non-bank lending partner.
- General Export Facility provides up to £25 million in short-term finance.
- Over £771 million in loans have been issued via the GEF since 2020.
- GEF is UK Export Finance’s most used financial product.
- GEF-backed loans mostly support small and medium-sized enterprises.
- UKEF provided £14.5 billion in new financing last financial year.
- Over 667 UK companies benefited from UKEF support in 2024-25.
- The initiative supports up to 70,000 jobs across the UK.
White Oak Joins UKEF’s Network to Support Export Growth
UK Export Finance has widened its network of lending partners by naming White Oak UK as the latest provider for its General Export Facility. This move is designed to make export finance more accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises across the UK.
Boost for SMEs Under New Finance Partnership
White Oak UK, a non-bank lender, will help deliver flexible funding solutions under the General Export Facility (GEF). The GEF provides loans of up to £25 million to support exporters in fulfilling international orders or scaling up their export volumes.
GEF: A Key Driver for Export Finance
Launched in 2020, the GEF has become the most widely used product under UK Export Finance. To date, it has enabled more than £771 million in loans, with most of the benefits going to SMEs. The government-backed guarantees help financial partners provide loans to export-focused companies.
Industry Leaders Welcome Wider Access
According to Tim Reid, Chief Executive Officer of UK Export Finance, bringing multiple lenders on board enhances choice and accessibility, particularly for businesses that have not previously explored export finance. He highlighted the importance of expanding support networks to spark growth across all regions.
Jean-Marc Torre, CEO of White Oak UK, stressed the role of flexible finance in business resilience. He expressed confidence that partnering under UKEF’s framework will enable more SMEs to tap into global markets.
Vital Support for UK’s Export Ambition
Steven Lynch MBE from the British Chambers of Commerce remarked on the high potential among domestic SMEs for international growth. He acknowledged the risk barriers these businesses face when expanding overseas and underlined the need for dependable and affordable finance.
Eligibility Requirements and Strategic Alignment
To qualify for GEF support, UK businesses must demonstrate a minimum level of export activity based on annual turnover in the past three years. This is aligned with the government’s broader Small Business Strategy and ongoing efforts to encourage international trade.
Record Support in 2024–25
UK Export Finance’s recent annual report highlights a record £14.5 billion in expansion-focused financing during the last financial year. This support reached over 667 companies and helped secure up to 70,000 UK jobs. The news comes during International Trade Week and adds momentum to the government’s trade and industrial recovery strategy.