Search Start Up Loans
Popular Search placeholder

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.

 

Do you want to be featured?

Have you received finance from Start Up Loans? Do you want to have a chance of being featured as a success story on our website? Please complete our application form to register your interest.

Success story request
Filter success stories
Filter Close filters
Filter success stories
Start Up Loans

Hippy Hut Pottery

Cally James, founder of Hippy Hut Pottery, a ceramics business that offers classes and commissions. Hippy Hut Pottery hosts intimate workshops and hands-on classes for up to eight people, at bespoke studio in Bury St Edmonds.

Start Up Loans

Cambridge Hydrotherapy Centre

Aimee Plumb, founder of Cambridge Hydrotherapy Centre, is a Start Up Loans recipient. In October 2021, Aimee took out a loan of £2,500 via Norfolk & Waveney Enterprise Services when she was 19 years old. The company, based in Great Abington in Cambridge, offers hydrotherapy for dogs, to help them through the rehabilitation process by building muscle and easing pain.

Start Up Loans

Finnegan's Whiskers

Shelley Smith, founder of Finnegan’s Whiskers, has opened Suffolk’s only cat café and feline foster home based in Sudbury. Shelley has partnered with local cat rescue centre, Mel’s Rescue, to home cats at the café and alleviate pressure on animal rescue centres. Visitors to the café will also have the option to adopt cats they interact with and participate in animal therapy sessions. These will be arranged at the café on an ongoing basis, along with events such as crafting and a book club.

Start Up Loans

Coffeesmiths

Learn more about Coffeesmiths, a locally sourced coffee shop in Norfolk, Norwich.

Start Up Loans

Lassad Care Services

Juliet Chibasa borrowed £3,000 in June 2023 to grow Lassad Care Services. Lassad Care Services, based in Chelmsford, is a domiciliary care business that offers a range of services for the elderly, children, and young adults, including personal care, light cleaning, attending appointments and day centres, walks, holidays, meals, and family support.

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

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.

Start Up Loans

Peace and Pure

Alice Wu, founder of Peace and Pure, took out her loan of £19,000 in 2020 to start the business.

Start Up Loans

Roundwood Gin

Leaving her role as a software engineer in bustling London and moving to rural Cambridgeshire to launch a gin distillery didn’t faze Emily Robertson, co-founder of Roundwood Gin.

Start Up Loans

Valiant Lingerie

Eleanor Howie took secured finance of £6,500 through Start Up Loans delivery partner Virgin Start Ups in Spring 2020. Her business Valiant Lingerie provides empowering lingerie for women who have been impacted by breast cancer or risk-reducing mastectomies.

Start Up Loans

Trapped Animal Records

Joel Clayton from Cambridge received a loan through delivery partner Transmit Start-Ups in 2019, which he used to establish a record label, Trapped Animal Records, with two other musicians.

Start Up Loans

BOXD Health

Double act, Jamal Ramsay and Jamal Ayton-Brown, took out two loans of £24,988 each in June 2020 to launch BOXD Health, a business selling sustainable protein and wellness shakes specifically designed for women.

Start Up Loans

Silverbirch Woodcraft

Peter Rogers took out a loan of £10,000 in 2021 to launch Silverbirch Woodcraft, an online store selling bespoke and restored handmade furniture.

Start Up Loans

Geotekk

Falling victim to bike theft led former Royal Marine Commando and Doctor of Medicine, Dr Matthew James Leach (33), to develop an innovative smart alarm for bikes and motorbikes.

Start Up Loans

Lifeline 24

Lifeline24 is a national telecare provider based in Norwich which supplies personal alarms to frail, elderly and disabled people living across the United Kingdom. The business was founded by Simon and his wife Treena after they noticed a gap in the market for an affordable personal alarm service which can be relied upon for excellent customer service. This arose from Simon’s position in a charity which he worked for after leaving the City of London. During his time there he had become frustrated at the amount of red tape and inflexibility of the organization.

Start Up Loans

Shortcuts Children’s Salon

Father of two David O’Neal opened his children’s hair salon Shortcuts with the help of a Start Up Loan.