Start up Loans Ambassadors 2021/2022
The annual Start Up Loans Ambassadors programme, now in its sixth consecutive year, celebrates exceptional business owners who have followed the ambition of becoming their own boss after receiving support from the Government-backed Start Up Loans programme. To date the programme has delivered over 87,000 loans providing more than £779m of funding.
The 2021/2022 Ambassadors feature a social enterprise creating unique furniture from whisky barrels in Scotland, a Nottingham van-based phone repair service and a new alternative dairy company that uses camel milk! This year’s ambassadors are from a range of backgrounds and show that despite living in challenging times innovation and entrepreneurship are strong in the UK.
This years ambassadors:
Aoife Doherty – Floris
Cardiff, Wales
After noticing a gap in the market for eco-friendly stationery, she decided to take out a Start Up Loan of £9,000 to launch Floris – her own zero waste stationery company based in Cardiff. She used the funding to help support the manufacturing of her products and design tools.
Rory MacDonald – The Whisky Chairmen
Inverclyde, Scotland
Proud Inverclyde local, Rory MacDonald, received a Start Up Loan of £13,000 through British Business Bank delivery partner Transmit in August 2018. This provided the essential tooling, materials, rent and insurances for Rory to open The Whisky Chairmen. The Whisky Chairmen is a social enterprise making bespoke furniture from obsolete whisky barrels.
Jeremy May – NICE
London
Jeremy May secured funding through Virgin Start Ups in February 2020. He worked in the food and drink industry and came up with the idea for NICE after discovering an American brand of canned wine on Instagram. He wanted to make wine more approachable and fun, and less intimidating.
Will Smith – Ballywilliam Barn
Comber, Northern Ireland
The Comber-based entrepreneur set up his business, Ballywilliam Barn, in January 2020 to follow an ambition of making his bespoke creations available for others to buy.
The support Will received from the British Business Bank has enabled Ballywilliam Barn to increase its capacity and take on larger projects earlier than expected.
Sophie Rearden – Tide Climbing Centre
Wadebridge, South West
Sophie Rearden visited, built, and worked in climbing facilities and centres all over the world and distilled her favourite parts from each to create the Tide Climbing Centre.
After Sophie and her partner Sam secured loans of £20,000 each through delivery partner SWIG, they put all they had into creating a space that Cornwall would love.
Rahma Ahmed Ali and Nura Nur – Tribal Milk
Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber
Rahma Ahmed Ali and Nura Nur secured a loan of £10,000 in July 2021 through delivery partner Financing Sharia Enterprise to start alternative dairy brand Tribal Milk.
Tribal Milk drinks use camel milk, which is a staple product in Africa and has many health benefits including less lactose, higher protein and less saturated fat compared to cow’s milk.
Matthew and Corina Martin – Cod of Duty
Stafford, West Midlands
Having both worked in hospitality and been made redundant the previous month, Corina and Matthew decided to make their dream of owning a food business together a reality. After dedicating a lot of time to coming up with a name for the business, the name they landed on sprang to mind while playing video games!
Kayleigh Cooper – POP Pressed
Manchester, North West
Kayleigh Cooper took out a £15,000 Start Up Loan in December 2020 to launch POP Pressed – an organic and plant-based cold-pressed juice brand.
Before launching her own business, Kayleigh split her time between teaching yoga and working in a local health food café. However, when the pandemic hit she was placed on furlough so couldn’t do either job.
Eleanor Howie – Valiant Lingerie
Kings Lynn, East of England
Eleanor Howie took secured finance of £6,500 through Start Up Loans delivery partner Virgin Start Ups in Spring 2020. Her business Valiant Lingerie provides empowering lingerie for women who have been impacted by breast cancer or risk-reducing mastectomies.
Caroline Potts – Ellison Gray Bridal
Durham, North East
Caroline Potts took out a Start Up Loan in May 2020 to realise her dream of opening a luxury bridal boutique. Ellison Gray Bridal was born after Caroline took the decision to leave her well-paid job in communications and engagement after becoming disillusioned with corporate life.
