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Glasgow entrepreneurs enjoy £10 million boost from Start Up Loans programme

Press release 20 May 2026

Entrepreneurs in Glasgow have received over £10 million in funding since the launch of the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme in 2012, with 1,086 loans delivered to smaller businesses in the city.

Business founders received an average of £9,223 to help them get started as their own boss, alongside additional support from the programme in areas such as marketing, business development, and business plan writing.

Of the loans awarded to Glasgow entrepreneurs, 38% have gone to female founders, 11% to under 25s and a further 24% to those aged between 25 and 30, highlighting the programme’s role in widening access to enterprise opportunities across the city. Additionally, of those under 25s who received finance to start a business, 38% had previously been not in employment, education or training (NEET).

Glasgow business owner benefitting from a Start Up Loan

One recent beneficiary of the Start Up Loans programme is Natalie Bennett, founder of Aira Pilates, a boutique Reformer Pilates studio based in the Axiom building near Anderston, offering on-demand, virtual instructor-led sessions via individual video screens. Natalie secured funding through the programme to purchase specialist reformer beds and personal screens for the studio.

With a background in marketing, Natalie recently moved back to Scotland from Australia, where she was inspired by the country’s vibrant wellness culture. Unsure about her next career move, she decided to channel that inspiration into launching Aira Pilates.

The studio is a women-only space, designed with flexibility in mind, offering a calm, focused environment. Customers can choose from more than 1,000 guided classes, and each reformer is equipped with a personal video screen so they can follow step-by-step guidance at their own pace, without the pressure of a packed studio environment.

Looking ahead, Natalie hopes to expand Aira Pilates to include additional wellness features such as red-light therapy, with ambitions to create a one-stop destination for health and wellbeing.

Natalie said:

The Start Up Loans funding made it possible to bring Aira Pilates to life and create a space that really works for my client’s schedules. I wanted somewhere people can fit a workout in when it suits them and follow classes at their own pace. Having the right equipment and technology from the start has made all the difference, and I’m excited to see how the studio grows and evolves in the months ahead.

Small Business Minister, Blair McDougall, said: 

The government is determined to unlock the UK’s immense growth potential and that means ensuring entrepreneurs can access the finance they need including through the Start Up Loans programme.

This is an impressive milestone for the programme which has supported entrepreneurs and businesses in Glasgow, boosting the local economy and raising living standards.

Louise McCoy, Managing Director, Start Up Loans Products, British Business Bank, said:

Supporting Glasgow’s entrepreneurs with more than £10 million in funding is a huge achievement for the Start Up Loans programme. The city is bursting with energy and creativity, and it’s inspiring to watch local founders take the first leap and grow their businesses.

Further Information

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Notes to editors

About the Start Up Loans programme

The Start Up Loans programme provides personal loans for business purposes of up to £25,000 at a fixed interest rate per annum and offers free dedicated mentoring and support to each business. Eligibility for a first Start Up Loan has been extended to businesses that have been trading for up to 60 months.

The primary aim of the Start Up Loans programme is to ensure that viable start-ups and early-stage businesses have access to the finance and support they need in order to thrive. A network of Business Support Partner organisations supports applicants in all regions and industries throughout the UK. The Start Up Loans programme is not designed to generate a commercial profit. Capital payments together with the interest are recycled to help meet increasing demands for finance.

Free guides on a range of subjects related to starting a business are available on the Start Up Loans website. You can find recent media press releases here.

The funding for the Start Up Loans programme is provided by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The Start Up Loans programme is operated by The Start-Up Loans Company, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, registration number 08117656, registered office at Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 2GQ.  The Start-Up Loans Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of British Business Bank plc which is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. British Business Bank plc and its subsidiaries are not banking institutions and do not operate as such. With the exception of BBB Investment Services Limited they are not authorised or regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority. BBB Investment Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A complete legal structure chart for the group can be found at british-business-bank.co.uk.

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