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| Ambassador Category | Armed Forces veterans - York |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Salt Pig Sandwiches |
| Owner | Tim Jervis |
| Partner | X-Forces Enterprise |
| Social Media |
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| Website | saltpigsandwiches.com |
An ex-Army surveyor who has launched a lunchtime-only sandwich shop has been named the 2026 Start Up Loans Ambassador for Armed Forces veterans, less than a year after opening his business.
Tim Jervis, founder of Italian-inspired Salt Pig Sandwiches, is one of 14 entrepreneurs recognised through this year’s Ambassadors programme. Now in its second decade, the programme recognises top entrepreneurial talent from all 12 UK Devolved Nations and regions, alongside specialist Ambassadors representing Gen Z and the Armed Forces community.
Tim, who served from the age of 18 in the Royal Engineers and subsequently had a career in international construction, launched Salt Pig Sandwiches in October 2025 after securing a £25,000 Start Up Loan with support from X-Forces Enterprise. The loan enabled him to secure and fit out his Fossgate premises.
Salt Pig Sandwiches grew from Tim's passion for food and his ambition to bring something distinctive to York's established food scene. Serving Italian-inspired fillings with bread baked fresh in-house, it became the city's first lunchtime-only sandwich shop when it opened.
The response quickly exceeded expectations. Less than a year after opening, Salt Pig Sandwiches employs nine local people, regularly operates at full capacity, and has generated revenues well beyond Tim's original forecasts.
£25K
The loan enabled him to secure and fit out his Fossgate premises.
X-Forces (XFE)
Supporting armed forces communities to start up businesses across the UK with Start Up Loans, mentoring and support.
Starting Salt Pig Sandwiches was a new type of challenge for me, but the growth we’ve had has made it all worthwhile. The Start Up Loan was instrumental in the success of the business as it allowed me to open a premises in the city.
I’m especially proud of the team we’ve built. My advice to aspiring founders is to back the skills you already have and learn as you go – waiting for the perfect moment only holds you back.
- Tim Jervis Founder of Salt Pig Sandwiches
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