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.

The Women’s Sat Nav to Success Ltd

Education

Diana Parkes is the founder of social enterprise The Women’s Sat Nav to Success Ltd. Set up in July 2015 the business’s aim is to enable women...

Food and drink

Deborah and Elena Melkis used a Start Up Loan to open their Meze Greek Restaurant in Ellesmere, North Shropshire, and work at the business...

Starting up

Christian Wilse launched Seniors Helping Seniors, and started trading officially in January 2014. He received funding from Start Up Loans to start...

Art and design

William Ferrieira and his business partner, William Niven started up their independent creative agency, Unbxd in September 2015. They focus on web...

Health and fitness

Lara Sengupta is the founder and owner of CorkYogis, a right corker of a social enterprise. Situated just off the renowned Lordship Lane in East...

Art and design

Inga Irvine opened her art gallery, North 55 Falmouth, with the help of a £6,500 Start up Loan. North 55 Falmouth brings together the original work...

Health and fitness

Providing two state of the art i-sopods, a therapy room, quiet room and space for yoga and pilates, Floating Point Float Centre is Berkshire’s only...

Mimi’s Organics

Rumbi Serima-Fowler started her business Mimi’s Organics in 2014 after struggling to find products to suit the skin of her son, who suffers...

Leisure and entertainment

Emma Evelyn Stone worked as a Transport Secretary before deciding to return to university and study a science degree. Horses had been a huge part of...

E-commerce

Kerry-Ann Graham decided to set up her business, Gabby’s World; a business whose founding principle is encouraging diversity and equality through...

Present Purrfections

Julie Martin-Davy had gained several years’ experience in retail while her husband was serving in the Army, which came in handy when setting up her...

Hair and beauty

Goji Hair is an exclusive, organic hair salon in the Pontcanna suburb of Cardiff, started by Victoria Griffin. Victoria had been a business director...