Start Up Loans Ambassadors 2024/2025

Introduction to the 24/25 Ambassadors from Richard Bearman, Managing Director, Small Business Lending

It’s not hard to see in the news constant reminders about how tough conditions are for smaller businesses just now. Starting up a business at any time requires resilience and hard work, but especially so in the current environment. Smaller businesses though are vital to our communities and our economy, and so it’s fantastic when you see people rising to the challenge of getting a business off the ground.

Our new Start Up Loans Ambassadors are as inspiring as ever, combining 14 unique personal stories and, as always, they come from all across the Nations and regions of the UK. We will have the chance at today’s event to hear more about them and what has motivated them to start a business. They are following their dream and we wish them all the best.

Diversity remains one of our core values and it’s great to see such representative business owners from across the whole UK here. This year’s Ambassadors for the first time include a Gen Z Ambassador category and an Armed Forces Veteran Ambassador category. This year as we approach £150m of financing to businesses started by entrepreneurs aged 50 and over, we’re delighted that no fewer than five of our incoming Ambassadors fit into this age group. We also have Ambassadors in their twenties and thirties, which we hope inspires a broad range of people who may want to start up or grow a business.