UK scheme could offset Brexit borrowing worries for universities

Expanding the remit of the UK Guarantees Scheme, which supports private investment in infrastructure projects, could help universities counteract a fall in lending from the European Investment Bank, a university director has said.

Since 2006, the EIB has lent more than £1.84 billion to UK universities for building and maintaining research and teaching facilities, but post-Brexit access is not guaranteed. As total EIB financing to the UK fell from €6.9bn (£6bn) in 2016 to just €1.8bn in 2017, universities are looking for alternative sources of capital.