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.

Solo Coffee

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 &...

Technology and IT

EMA Training Ltd are a specialist Accountancy training provider based in Heanor on the border of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. They also run other...

Food and drink

Lorraine Phillips started her café in April 2016 after working as a nurse in the NHS for 25 years. She decided that it was time for a change and had...

Click2Recruit

Graham Ford started his business, Click2Recruit, with the help of a £10,000 Start Up Loan. Click2Recruit are a recruitment agency based in Tamworth....

Art and design

Hamish Dobbie produces a wide range of fine silversmith and acrylic products that range from costing between £5-£11,000 and anywhere in-between....

Mumpreneurs

When Aimee began sewing clothes for her first born child, she didn’t envisage that it would turn into the company which Mommamakes is. She had...

Farah Qureshi

Farah Qureshi designs and makes jewellery in precious metals, ethical silver and gold. Jewellery had long been a hobby of hers and she had been...

Technology and IT

Thomas Coppen, a Bristol-based entrepreneur, borrowed £5,000 to get his company ‘Keel Over Ltd’ off the ground. The company is an online marketing...

Fashion

Heuritshi Pitra received a loan of £7000 from Start Up Loans to help fund her clothing business, Pure L’amour. The company first launched in August...