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

Chappuccino

Chappuccino is a café in the heart of Chapeltown, Sheffield, run by Olivia Fisher and her mum, Claire.

Start Up Loans

Waterfall Ways

Having been made redundant after working with the Princes Trust for many years Christopher Evans decided to go it alone and start his own business venture.

Start Up Loans

Can You Escape?

Alastair Watson opened his Edinburgh tourist attraction, Can You Escape, with the help of a £6,500 Start Up Loan. Prior to starting his business Alastair worked in the construction industry and for volunteering agencies at the Scottish Council.

Start Up Loans

Meame

Meame is design performance fashion for both fashion conscious and discerning cyclists. Founders Megan Aylott and husband Stephen Azancot wanted to create clothing that was both functional and fashionable for the wearer.

Start Up Loans

Plant & Play Wildlife Garden

Vikki Bustard had always wanted to be a teacher but had dreamt of teaching outside rather than in a traditional classroom situation. While working as a Horticultural Training Officer Vikki had the idea for Plant & Play Wildlife Garden and by chance she came across the perfect site to locate the business.

Start Up Loans

Bow Wows at No. 7

After 14 years working at House of Fraser and 10 years at the Body Shop, Karen Hassan was made redundant in 2014. She was a dog lover and owned two but found herself struggling when searching for treats and accessories for them, which gave her the idea for her own business.

Start Up Loans

Utta Nutta

Palm tree plantations have a big environmental impact and this is one of the main reasons Katie decided to develop her own recipe, one which didn’t use this ingredient.

Start Up Loans

Cherry Tree Nursery

Roger and Angela Jennett have fulfilled their ambition of opening a friendly family-run day nursery in the heart of Lincoln.

Start Up Loans

FittaMamma

FittaMamma is an online retail company selling a range of maternity fitness wear. It was set up by Start Up Loans recipient and business woman Alexandra McCabe.

Start Up Loans

Smartzer

Karoline Gross always wanted to do her own thing and Start Up Loans helped her do just that.

Start Up Loans

hiSbe

Brighton sisters, Amy and Ruth Anslow, founded their independent supermarket, hiSbe, with the help of Start Up Loans.

Start Up Loans

Just Eat for Business

Stuart Sunderland started his business Just Eat for Business with a friend, a service delivering street food to businesses, with the help of a £10,000 Start Up Loan.

Start Up Loans

YorTours

The company provides bespoke driver guided tours of Yorkshire. We caught up with him to find out what the first year of trading has been like.

Start Up Loans

B-Tempted

Sarah Hilleary has always been motivated by the personal rewards of being her own boss, and this lead her to start gluten free snack company Birubi Ltd.

Start Up Loans

Pip and Nut

Standing out from the competition can be hard for a small business, especially when the number of competitors is constantly increasing.

Start Up Loans

Powerful Organic

Nisa Mendez used her Start Up Loan to develop her website design business Mendez Moment.

Start Up Loans

Atomica Gallery

Orla Bennett along with her co-founder Holly Lander, launched Atomica Gallery in 2012 as a pop-up in Shoreditch, East London.