Success stories

Laura Burlison from Northumberland received her Start Up Loan 18 months ago and used it to start 'The Paddock – Fresh Food Delivered from the Land to your Hand.'

Office Pantry deliver snack packs and fresh fruit to offices right across the UK, with an optional honesty box for school staff rooms and companies on tight budgets.

Gail Brown started her natural food business, Thornleys, in May 2013 with the help of a Start Up Loan.

With Kupkase it’s personal. They’re not just a pretty cake.

Pip Howeson is dedicated to the rejuvenation of the British textile industry, offering a bespoke tailoring service of handcrafted coats and jackets.

Tony Singh was unemployed before starting his own business, Caffe Venecia, in the centre of Huddersfield in November 2013.

Decorator’s Notebook is an online shop selling design-led home accessories made by social enterprises, fair trade groups and artisanal co-operatives around the world. Their aim is to show that beautiful design and ethical production can go hand-in-hand.

Meet the co-founder of our Start Up of the Year 2015, Paul Harwood!

Mike Turner and his partner Krisi started their Brighton-based tea mixology company, Bird & Blend Tea Co., with the help of a Start Up Loan.

Start Up Loan recipient Andrew McAlpine took out a loan to help develop his flower kiosk, Rockflower.

Peter Chulu received a Start Up Loan in 2013 to help develop his global market research service company, Field Scope International Ltd. Peter provides healthcare research for pharmaceutical companies in the big 5 EU markets (Germany, Spain, England, France and Italy).

The Cornwall Camper Company, founded by Start Up Loan recipient Jess Ratty, is a VW Camper van hire business aimed at being part of a new wave of tourism in the South West.

Father of two David O’Neal opened his children’s hair salon Shortcuts with the help of a Start Up Loan.

Katie Henry received a Start Up Loan to help develop her business Art in Offices,providing contemporary art at affordable prices to fill empty office walls.

Neomi Bennett received a £9,900 Start Up Loan to help develop her anti embolism stocking aid, Neo-Slip.

Lucy & Meriel both received a Start Up Loan of £7,000 for their frozen yoghurt ice lolly business Claudi & Fin.

After winning the ‘PitchUp to Sainsbury’s’ competition in 2013, the lollies are now stocked in over 700 stores across the UK and Ireland. We spoke to co-founder Lucy Woodhouse about her startup experience of finding workspace and how it has changed as the business has developed.

With a government report in 2015 suggesting that Britain was a brewing powerhouse, it’s no wonder there are so many Start Up Loans backed brewers.

Sharon Shearer launched her business Superior Bathrooms when she was made redundant, using her career expertise to get her started.