Success Stories

Success Stories

We've already helped tens of thousands of individuals to start and grow their business. Read on for the full story on some of our most inspiring loan recipients: why they became their own boss, the challenges they faced and overcame along the way and how a Start Up Loan helped them to achieve their dreams.

Northern Cure

Food and drink

After years of working as a chef, Alex McKay wanted to channel his strong passion for food into an idea for a business. Spotting a gap in the market...

Food and drink

Former baristas Theo Garcia, 24, and Alex Foss Sims, 29, met while working in a coffee shop in Gloucestershire. They started producing bottled,...

Technology and IT

Falling victim to bike theft led former Royal Marine Commando and Doctor of Medicine, Dr Matthew James Leach (33), to develop an innovative smart...

Mumpreneurs

At just 31, Suzy Olivier has been at the helm of not one but four businesses. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, where her father was in the...

Retail

After the loss of her brother in 2011 Tracy McAllister began to question if she was living life to the full. Losing her job in 2013 gave her the...

Food and drink

Brothers Sam, Tom and Patrick Quilliam have combined to create Quilliam Brothers. Located in the heart of Newcastle Quilliam Brothers is a tea house...

Food and drink

Baked In was started by Joe who was later joined in the business by his brother Patrick. Their mission is to bring baking to the masses with an...

Technology and IT

Adrian Ryan co-runs creative agency Chips & Gravy Studios with Kevin Shannon from their base in Staffordshire. Founded in 2013, Chips &...

Food and drink

Entrepreneur, Laura Lautrete, is bringing a new culinary concept to Chester with the launch of her grilled cheese café, Meltdown, thanks to a Start...

Art and design

Elphius Flux is an upcycling business, specialising in industrial and modern furniture. Based in Chesterfield, Jason and Gwen Hopkinson create...

Leisure and entertainment

Joanne Boulton worked for five years as a photographer for a training company, before deciding to go it alone and start her own photography...

Retail

Brett’s Pets is a family-run pet shop, based in Chorley, Lancashire. It provides customers with a range of pet foods and products along with...

Food and drink

Robert D’Orville received a Start Up Loan of £25,000 in March 2015, enabling him to take ownership of Berry’s Bakery in Preston, Lancashire. When...

Health and fitness

Bilbo’s Pet Spa is based in Lydney, Gloucestershire and is run by Marion Aylott. Marion received a Start Up Loan of £22,000 in October 2016 and...

Health and fitness

HelenMarie provides personal training and pilates through her company HMW Personal Training, which she started in October 2014. HMW Personal...

Food and drink

Katerina Pavlakis had a background in both running her own business and working in London. When she and her husband, Colin Bass, moved to rural...

Education

Father and son team, Trevor and Peter Jones, run the Eden Education Centre, the largest innovation education studio in Europe. As the first and only...