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Success stories

We've already helped tens of thousands of individuals to start and grow their business. Learn how with our library of success stories.

We've already helped tens of thousands of individuals to start and grow their business. Read on for the full story on some of our most inspiring loan recipients: why they became their own boss, the challenges they faced and overcame along the way and how a Start Up Loan helped them to achieve their dreams.

 

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Start Up Loans

London Sock Company

Ryan Palmer took out a loan of £25,000 in 2014 to launch the London Sock Company, a premium sock brand founded with the mission “to inspire everyone to Walk Brighter, embracing that uplifting moment when you pull your socks up each and every morning”.

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Ocushield

Dhruvin Patel took out a Start Up Loan of £500 through business support partner Virgin StartUp in 2015 to start his business Ocushield, an innovative line of products designed to protect eyes from the harmful blue light emitted by screens.

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JimJams

A day in the life…running a health-conscious jams and spreads business. It’s often said that great business ideas solve a problem. I completely stand by this.

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Dalton’s Soda Co

Founded by Duncan O’Brien, Dalston Cola was established in response to a request from an organisation to make a cola that was not Coca Cola. With most of the market saturated by the big two players or cheap imitations, Duncan noticed a serious gap in the market and created Dalston Cola to fill it. Duncan had previously worked in the hospitality industry, including in the Caribbean and with the Orient Express Company, before moving on to the food and drink industry.

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Altum Designs

Altum Designs is a London based company, run by Mr. Daniel Varney. He designed, manufactured and now markets a unique and pioneering bike tool, which won a Tapei Cycle Design & Innovation award in 2017, and the business is now starting to really get off the ground.

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Zeal Creative

Stewart Hilton and his partner Rob White set up Zeal Creative, a promotional marketing company, after becoming frustrated with opportunities while working as part of a larger marketing agency.

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Pencil & Fork

David Sanchez is the founder and owner of Pencil & Fork, a business which provides an innovative approach to learning using food. Pencil & Fork was set up in 2013 and is situated in Worcester Park in Sutton, South London.

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Bilingual Beats

Almudena and Claudia, two childhood friends from Southern Spain, set up Bilingual Beats in October 2013. Bilingual Beats provides music language classes to children in London schools and nurseries, as well as hosting parties and family classes.

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Black Cowboy Coffee

John Otagburuagu founded Black Cowboy Coffee in August 2015. As the name might suggest, the street cafe serves coffee and waffles (as well as smoothies and other foods). As for the black cowboy, well that’s John.

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Miles & Mia

Michaela is truly the definition of an ambitious and hard-working woman. As a single mother with two children she has managed to maintain a part-time job and also start up her own business, Miles & Mia.

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MBJ London

Julian and his business partner, Toni, started their web design company after receiving funding from the Start Up Loans Company. MBJ London offers clients an affordable monthly subscription which provides them with a team of experts to guide them through the preliminary stages of branding, design and beyond.

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Poptata

The Poptata story began in May 2015 with a temporary gazebo set up at London’s Portobello Road market over the weekend. Marco and Luca wanted to share their passion for Fries with Londoners, they knew they would love them.

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Farah Qureshi

Farah Qureshi designs and makes jewellery in precious metals, ethical silver and gold. Jewellery had long been a hobby of hers and she had been taught jewellery design while she was at art college where she learnt 3D design and metal work. With the number of collections a year currently at two Farah sources her materials from Hatton Gardens and all of her products are ethical.

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Chilli Tuk Tuk

Discover Chilli Tuk Tuk, an Indian takeaway and delivery service based in North London with a difference.

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CorkYogis

Lara Sengupta is the founder and owner of CorkYogis, a right corker of a social enterprise. Situated just off the renowned Lordship Lane in East Dulwich, they make and sell as the name would suggest – yoga mats made out of cork.

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Gabby’s World

Kerry-Ann Graham decided to set up her business, Gabby’s World; a business whose founding principle is encouraging diversity and equality through play; where values, social norms are learnt and reinforced.

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Cornerstone

Oliver Bridge is a remarkable man who started off working for an innovation consultancy company and managed to have his own business at the age of 15.

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Ellie Stickland Jewellery

Ellie Stickland studied Jewellery design at Central Saint Martins, and worked in the industry for a number of years as well as a stint in the finance industry which then propelled her to setting up on her own in January 2013.