Success Stories

Having experienced two years of huge growth and with a current valuation of $1 billion, artificial intelligence company Tractable is the UK’s 100th unicorn business and the world’s first AI unicorn for financial services.

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.

Unily is an award-winning employee experience platform that empowers modern businesses with the best tools to communicate, collaborate and innovate.

Facing difficulties with raising finance, and caution from investors, this property developer decided to seek support via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to continue with its house-building projects and protect the jobs of its employees.

Early government restrictions around the operation of construction sites and the pause on house moves created severe cashflow issues for this speculative property developer.

As soon as governments across the world enforced their bans on international travel to tackle COVID-19, agents such as Meon Valley Travel saw their income promptly disappear. Consequently, it applied to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) for funding that would allow it to continue trading during the pandemic.

As a start-up that produces advanced materials for solar panels, being locked out of its laboratories because of the global coronavirus pandemic wasn’t part of the plan, and cast severe doubt over the company’s ability to reach its next technology milestone. With jobs potentially at risk, the business navigated these challenging issues with financial support via the Future Fund.

Maintaining funding and consolidating its position in a key UK industry of alloys development was going to be difficult for OxMet, particularly once the aerospace sector began to feel the impact of COVID-19.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Acorn Early Years Foundation had to close a number of its nurseries, with attendance falling to around 10% of its usual level.

Marwell Wildlife was forced to close its zoo when the Government implemented the shutdown to fight COVID-19. With no visitors paying to enter the zoo, but ongoing costs to meet for the animals’ upkeep, the company sought financial support via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) before its cashflow dried up.

Before COVID-19 struck, this Oxford University spin-out was aiming to secure seed funding so it could further its work to provide the world’s cheapest on-demand solar power.

Uncertain what trading would look like once its stores reopened after the COVID-19 shutdown, and having invested heavily in a new point of sale system, Starbucks franchise GK Coffee Group Limited applied to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) for a loan that would provide vital financial security.

With bricks-and-mortar stores making up a large percentage of Stone Marketing’s sales, the closure of such outlets due to COVID-19 caused significant disruption to this Kent-based stationery company’s income. Receiving funding via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) enabled the business to alleviate the impact of the pandemic on its cashflow and balance sheet.

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

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.

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.

Baked In was started by Joe who was later joined in the business by his brother Patrick. Their mission is to bring baking to the masses with an innovative range of Home Baking Kits and Mug Brownies.

Learn how Bow Wows at No. 7 used funding from a British Business Bank programme. Read more about how the funding helped them.