The Minister for Health, Care and Business, GemmaArias-Vasquez, has announced that applications to the Gibraltar Enterprise Scheme (GES) will now be accepted on a year-round basis. 

A statement from the Government follows below:

In a further step towards transparency and accessibility, the Government has also published the assessment criteria used to evaluate applications for the scheme. 

The GES is a government-backed soft loan initiative aimed at supporting start-ups and small businesses operating for less than three years. Under the scheme, successful applicants can access loans of between £10,000 and £25,000, guaranteed by the Government and provided through Trusted Novus Bank and Gibraltar International Bank. 

A panel, including representatives from the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce and the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses, reviews applications and assesses them against a defined scoring framework. 

To further streamline the process, the application portal is now available via the OFT’s dedicated webpage, where applicants can access full information and begin their digital submissions. 

Minister Arias-Vasquez said: “We have seen a wide range in the quality of applications received so far, which highlights the need to support entrepreneurs in presenting their business ideas clearly and effectively. By launching an online application portal, we hope to improve the quality of submissions. 

Moving to a year-round application window is also a significant step forward.It gives businesses the freedom to apply when the time is right for them. Our aim is to make this scheme more accessible, more transparent, and ultimately more effective in supporting viable new ventures in Gibraltar.” 

For full details or to apply, visit: https://oft.gov.gi/enterprise-scheme 

For further information, please contact the Gibraltar Enterprise Scheme on 20071700 or email [email protected].