Success stories

We've already helped tens of thousands of individuals to start and grow their business. Learn how with our library of 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.

 
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Start Up Loans

Panther M*lk

Panther M*lk – an oat milk alcoholic cocktail brand based in Glasgow. The drinks business recently secured its first major retail listing, with bottles of the cocktail now stocked in 40 of Asda’s supermarkets across Scotland. Following an appearance on Dragon’s Den in 2022, Paul Crawford received a £17,500 loan through the Start Up Loans scheme to support his ambitious growth plans.

Start Up Loans

Feral Pigs Wine

Feral Pigs Wine is a wine shop in Newport, Pembrokeshire and established by trained sommelier and former restaurant manager at Llys Meddyg, Dave Cushley.

Start Up Loans

ink

An artist from Llandudno Junction is opening a contemporary gallery in Colwyn Bay aimed at breaking down barriers in the art world and reinvigorating North Wales’s cultural scene by incorporating the world of NFTs and the Metaverse.

Start Up Loans

Rose & Mary Cosmetics

Learn more about Rose & Mary Cosmetics a vegan, sustainable and holistic line of products, which are all handmade.

Start Up Loans

Bar Buoy

Learn more about Bar Buoy a cocktail manufacturer in Exmouth that received £50k from Start Up Loan funding to scale up their business.

Start Up Loans

Ramen Electra

Learn more about how James Fraser, owner and chef of Ramen Electra turn his newfound skill into a business opportunity.

Start Up Loans

Kindhaus

Learn more about Kindhaus Family Club, a “home away from home” for modern families that combines indoor play for the kids with coworking space for busy parents.

Start Up Loans

Clip Knix

Funmi Lalwal, 55, London originally came to Start Up Loans back in 2013 to help her set up a business teaching the elderly learn Microsoft skills. She created Clip Knix, a brand offering adapted fastening underwear for women in 2018 to solve a problem that she had noticed after suffering from ill health.

Start Up Loans

Alchemist

Learn more about Alchemist, a specialty coffee shop in Northern Ireland.

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Red Phoenix Rewilding

A Somerset environmental entrepreneur has received a £20k Start Up Loan to scale-up their burgeoning rewilding business.



Start Up Loans

Caru Spirits

A landscape architect turned liqueur maker from Skewen has established an artisanal liqueur business inspired by the slow food movement, linking the pleasure of using traditional methods, sustainable ingredients and slow consumption for maximum taste.

Start Up Loans

Dryad

Matt, a triathlete, outdoors-enthusiast, and Joby, a designer with a passion for running, took out a loan of £25,000 in April 2021 to launch Dryad, an outdoor sportswear company for women based in Wales.

Start Up Loans

DamGoodDrams

Glasgow-based DamGoodDrams, an ecommerce platform specialising in independent spirits, is gearing up to launch its own line of whisky and take its business overseas, following a successful first year.

Start Up Loans

Collected

Emma Hamlett took out a £25,000 loan to open Collected, an independent bookshop specialising in work written by women.

Start Up Loans

Chloe Bruce Academy

Chloe Bruce took out a loan of £12,500 to launch the Chloe Bruce Academy in 2020, a business offering virtual martial arts classes and tutorials.

Start Up Loans

Aberffraw Biscuits

James Shepherd started his business, Aberffraw Biscuits, with the help of a £5,000 Start Up Loan.

Start Up Loans

Thatch and Stone

Nirmla Warwood took out a loan of £25,000 in 2020 to set-up and operate interior accessories company Thatch & Stone.

Start Up Loans

Naturawell

Joezy and his business partner Amy, took out funding from Start Up Loans to set up Naturawell in 2021, a plant-based bar and restaurant serving healthy and delicious food and drinks.