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.

Have you received finance from one of our partners using one of our programmes? Do you want to have a chance of being featured as a success story on our website? Please email our Communications team to register your interest.

Enterprise Capital Funds

NQ64

NQ64 are a chain of unique bars across the country offering a range of specialist beers and cocktails which can be enjoyed by customers while playing a range of retro arcade games and consoles.

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Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Shropshire Festivals

When Beth Heath used a Bounce Back Loan to protect her business in Shropshire, the loan not only boosted the cashflow of her award-winning festival company, but also gave her an opportunity to support her local community during lockdown.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Diversity Business Incubator (DBI)

Based in Plymouth, DBI is a business hub for minority ethnic entrepreneurs that assists with advice and provides support to help businesses grow. DBI took out a Bounce Back Loan to help support his local community during the pandemic.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Mobility 2 You

Specialising both as a wholesaler and retailer of mobility and independent living aids, Mobility 2 You found many of the retailers which it supplies affected by COVID-19, affecting its supply chain. The business benefitted from a Bounce Back Loan Scheme to invest in technology to help it pivot to keep it’s products going to market.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Eco Move

Aiming to provide its customers with greener, more economical transport options, this electric vehicle retailer found itself in urgent need of financial support as lockdowns and travel restrictions reduced the need for transport.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

2 Faced Aesthetics Ltd

Specialising in anti-ageing skin treatments, 2 Faced Aesthetics worried it may not have been able to cover its direct debits when COVID-19 struck.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Leaf Clothing

Based in the heart of Newcastle, this clothing retailer turned to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) as the city locked down and trading stopped.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

The Holt Limited

Training and corporate events company The Holt Limited saw its customer base disappear overnight when COVID-19 struck. Unable to apply for grants or take advantage of the furlough scheme, the business applied to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) to help it weather the storm ahead.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Bare Kind

The COVID-19 lockdowns drove this one-woman business to shut down altogether. With her income completely dried up, the owner, Lucy, sought help via the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) so she could move the operation fully online and market her products more widely.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

GMJ Fire Prevention

Unable to service its existing customers or win new business because of COVID-19 restrictions, this fire safety company’s future was under threat unless it could secure funding. Declined a loan from its bank, the company turned to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) for a vital lifeline.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Josh’s Chocolate

Having launched in summer 2019 and experienced an encouraging start to life as a new business, this Cornish chocolate company had strong plans for the future. But once the COVID-19 pandemic asserted itself, the business had no option but to seek financial support in order to find new ways of working.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Pearson Quality Homes

Forced by the COVID-19 pandemic to cease work on its first new development, this housebuilding company decided to seek support via the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) so it could resume construction as soon as restrictions allowed.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Osmology

Used to running her business as a one-woman operation, Osmology founder Elizabeth Drew was looking to take on her first employee when COVID-19 hit.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Made Bare

As a self-employed, one-woman band whose company was still new, chemistry teacher Lisa Hogg didn’t qualify for any grants that would help her weather the coronavirus pandemic. Seeing her sales decline, and needing to sustain the business, she applied to the <a href='https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-schemes/bounce-back-loans/'>Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) </a>for support.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Make Up Or Break Up

Having grown from little more than a market stall in 2014 to an almost £1m-a-year business in 2020, the future was looking bright for this eco-friendly glitter supplier. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the business faced sudden financial trouble, having spent much of its working capital on stock it now couldn’t sell. Furloughing staff and depending solely on its dwindling overdraft, the business applied to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) for support.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

St Leonards Equitation Centre

Having already struggled through a challenging winter of bad weather, the arrival of COVID-19 and the associated lockdown meant this Cornwall riding centre had to shut down.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Room97 Creative Hairdressing

Forced to close a new £350,000 salon that opened only four days before the first government lockdown, this business then had to contend with a prolonged period of closure and no revenue from its usual hairdressing services.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Little Critters Brewing Company

Like the rest of the hospitality industry, this microbrewery had no option but to close its doors once the government lockdowns began. With its income massively depleted, and serious concerns over its ability to survive the pandemic, the business sought financial support via the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS).

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Spread Eagle Inn

Having taken on the business in 2018, the owners of this coaching inn, bar and restaurant were finally ready to see a profit for their endeavour. But when COVID-19 caused them to close, all their income disappeared and they were forced to make staff redundant.