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

Rose & Mary Cosmetics

Learn more about Rose & Mary Cosmetics a vegan, sustainable and holistic line of products, which are all handmade.

Start Up Loans

Bar Buoy

Learn more about Bar Buoy a cocktail manufacturer in Exmouth that received £50k from Start Up Loan funding to scale up their business.

Start Up Loans

Red Phoenix Rewilding

A Somerset environmental entrepreneur has received a £20k Start Up Loan to scale-up their burgeoning rewilding business.



Start Up Loans

Toddle Born Wild

Hannah Saunders took out a £14,700 loan in 2020 to launch Toddle Born Wild, a natural vegan children skincare brand.

Start Up Loans

Bijimini Spices

Luke took out a loan of £21,000 Start Up Loan in January 2021 to launch Bijimini Spices, a company selling high protein spices made from crickets.

Start Up Loans

Scoopy Doo’s Ice Cream Parlour

Helen Langton, a secondary-school teacher for 12 years, and her partner Matthew Altham, an emergency care assistant for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust, were seeking a better work-life balance. They specifically wanted to own a business that would let them apply their skills creatively.

Start Up Loans

Tide Climbing Centre

Sophie had visited, built, and worked in climbing facilities and centres all over the world and distilled their favourite parts from each to create the Tide Climbing Centre.

Start Up Loans

Essence of Hartland

Previously working in marketing technology in London, but always having had a side-interest in naturally sourced products, when Joe left his London job in 2019 he decided it was the perfect time to pursue his dream of being his own boss.

Start Up Loans

Solo Coffee

Former baristas Theo Garcia, 24, and Alex Foss Sims, 29, met while working in a coffee shop in Gloucestershire. They started producing bottled, chilled coffee after noticing a growing demand for cold brew amongst coffee lovers.

Start Up Loans

Bilbo's Pet Spa

Bilbo’s Pet Spa is based in Lydney, Gloucestershire and is run by Marion Aylott. Marion received a Start Up Loan of £22,000 in October 2016 and opened in December of the same year.

Start Up Loans

ADi Access

Spencer Hassel, Steve Holyer and Helen Holyer are the proud founders and owners of ADi Access. The business, founded in 2015 in Truro, Cornwall, designs and makes audio equipment which allows blind and visually impaired people to use public equipment.

Start Up Loans

Mayim Mermaid Academy

Michelle Forsbrey is a keen surfer, skier and swimmer. When she’s not working as a flight attendant she is drawn to the ocean, beach and water; a true Mermaid at heart.

Start Up Loans

Keel Over Marketing

Thomas Coppen, a Bristol-based entrepreneur, borrowed £5,000 to get his company ‘Keel Over Ltd’ off the ground.

Start Up Loans

Unbxd

William Ferrieira and his business partner, William Niven started up their independent creative agency, Unbxd in September 2015.

Start Up Loans

North 55 Gallery

Inga Irvine opened her art gallery, North 55 Falmouth, with the help of a £6,500 Start up Loan.

Start Up Loans

Utta Nutta

Palm tree plantations have a big environmental impact and this is one of the main reasons Katie decided to develop her own recipe, one which didn’t use this ingredient.