Allen started his property management company Eclipse Property Cornwall, with the help of a £10,000 Start Up Loan, to become our 10,000th business backed.
Prior to starting his own business, Allen has been serving in The Royal Navy, which he joined in 1991. He worked as an engineer and mechanic on helicopters, search and rescue, and commando forces, and rose through the ranks to become a Petty Officer. However, Allen left after being medically discharged following an accident whilst re-fuelling an aircraft, leaving him with an inability to deal with fuels and oils. He served for 22 years in total, across Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Allen always knew that he wanted to work for himself, and so took the plunge. He applied for a Start Up Loan to set up his business Eclipse Property Cornwall. Setting up this business would allow him to maintain a good quality of life, whilst being able to spend more time with his family.
Eclipse Property Cornwall manages properties on behalf of landlords in order to rent them out, offering part or full-time management, with potential to take on properties to sell. The idea for the business came from Allen’s wife who has a passion for property, having worked in this industry. Allen wanted to set up a sustainable business that they both had an avid interest in.
Currently the company started in Allen’s home, with the intention of keeping overheads down while the business establishes itself. With a lot of interest in terms of clients, Allen started by setting up the website and social network in advance of launching the business.
“To have been given the opportunity to start a new life running my own business is an amazing feeling. I am extremely happy with the help and fast time it took for me to receive a business loan from Start Up Loans. This money will prove invaluable with my business during its first year to fulfil my ambitions of being my own boss after leaving the armed forces.”
Allen was the Start Up Loans 10,000th loan recipient to be backed by the scheme, having been awarded the accolade by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
