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| Region/Nation | West Midlands - Stafford |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Monk & Smuggler |
| Owner | Natasha Duncan |
| Partner | First Enterprise |
| Social Media |
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| Website | monkandsmuggler.co.uk |
A Stafford café founder determined to create a ‘safe space’ for her local community has been named the British Business Bank’s 2026 Start Up Loans Ambassador for the West Midlands. In 2024, Natasha secured an initial £12,280 Start Up Loan and a second loan of £2,720.
Natasha Duncan launched Monk & Smuggler with her partner Nathan after redundancy prompted her to take the leap from corporate hospitality into entrepreneurship, and has since grown it into a community hub hosting an oversubscribed book club, craft events, and initiatives supporting local charities and organisations.
Start Up Loans helped turn her business idea into reality. She put the funding towards essential equipment including fridges, furniture, and kitchen equipment. Two years on, the investment has helped her grow the Stafford café into a thriving community hub, employing eight people and supporting local organisations including Stafford Women’s Aid, food banks, and homeless shelters. Natasha also supports members of her team to pursue further education, extending the impact of the business beyond its day-to-day operations.
£12,280
initially and a second loan of £2,720 putting funding towards essential equipment including fridges, furniture, and kitchen equipment.
First Enterprise
Support for new and early stage businesses
My advice would be to go for it. Starting a business is challenging but it’s also incredibly rewarding. It’s completely normal to have doubts about whether everything will work out as planned but you learn so much along the way. You’ve just got to give it everything you’ve got from day one, keep learning, and keep going, because I can say from experience that the rewards are definitely worth it.
- Natasha Duncan Founder of Monk & Smuggler
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