Success Stories

Learn how other UK businesses have used external finance to reach their ambition

Here’s just some of the tens of thousands of smaller businesses funded through our partners, with the support of British Business Bank’s programmes.

Growth Guarantee Scheme

Câr-y-Môr

Câr-y-Môr is the first community-owned regenerative ocean farm in Wales. With a diverse membership of over 300 individuals from various backgrounds, Câr-y-Môr has become a shining example of community-driven sustainability and innovation.

Read the success story about Câr-y-Môr
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Start Up Loans

Light Rave Studios

Light Rave Studio’s Founder, Aitanna, set up her business in 2022 and took out a Start Up Loan that year to fund expansion. Aitanna received two Start Up Loans, totalling £14,500. 

Start Up Loans

Hand-i-Craft

Leo Winstanley founded Hand-i-Craft, based in Formby, after losing the ability to use his dominant hand and arm in a car accident. Now, it is a successful woodworking shop, stocking handmade items, finishes and accessories that are sold online.

Start Up Loans

Lemon Tree Softplay Café

Lemon Tree Soft Play Café took out a Start up Loan and is a growing business founded by three mothers and entrepreneurs, creating a haven for children and families in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Start Up Loans

Tribal Milk

Rahma Ahmed Ali and Nura Nur secured a loan of £10,000 in July 2021 through delivery partner Financing Sharia Enterprise to start alternative dairy brand Tribal Milk.

Start Up Loans

Pop Pressed

Kayleigh Cooper took out a £15,000 Start Up Loan in December 2020 to launch POP Pressed – an organic and plant-based cold-pressed juice brand.

Start Up Loans

40 St Pauls

Learn how 40 St Pauls used funding from a British Business Bank programme. Read more about how the funding helped them.

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

JC Social Media

Learn how JC Social Media used funding from a British Business Bank programme. Read more about how the funding helped them.

Start Up Loans

Bird & Blend Tea Co.

Mike Turner and his partner Krisi started their Brighton-based tea mixology company, Bird & Blend Tea Co., with the help of a Start Up Loan.

Start Up Loans

Health & Food

Katerina Pavlakis had a background in both running her own business and working in London. When she and her husband, Colin Bass, moved to rural north Wales, they were keen to start something more local to save them from a long commute.

Start Up Loans

Farah Qureshi

Learn how Farah Qureshi used funding from a British Business Bank programme. Read more about how the funding helped them.

Start Up Loans

Field Scope International

Peter Chulu received a Start Up Loan in 2013 to help develop his global market research service company, Field Scope International Ltd.

Start Up Loans

PocketHighStreet

Alex Schlagman is on a mission to revive not just one high street, but all of them. With initial backing from Start Up Loans, his tech business PocketHighStreet seeks to use an app and website to support local, independent retail by helping customers find what’s out there.

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

Gabby’s World

Kerry-Ann Graham decided to set up her business, Gabby’s World; a business whose founding principle is encouraging diversity and equality through play; where values, social norms are learnt and reinforced.

Start Up Loans

Powderkeg Beer

With a government report in 2015 suggesting that Britain was a brewing powerhouse, it’s no wonder there are so many Start Up Loans backed brewers.

Start Up Loans

Grace Gordon

Grace Gordon is the founder of her eponymous label, an independent women’s leather goods brand designed and made in Britain.

Start Up Loans

Goji Hair

Learn how Goji Hair used funding from a British Business Bank programme. Read more about how the funding helped them.