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.

Read the success story about NQ64
Filter success stories
Filter Close filters
Filter success stories
Finance type
Sector
Nation/Region
Programme
Partner
British Business Investments

Unily

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

British Business Investments

Transcend Packaging

Wales-based Transcend Packaging manufactures food and beverage packaging aimed at reducing use of single-use plastic. It is the leading manufacturer of paper straws and sustainable packaging for the food service industry in the UK.

British Business Investments

Shawbrook Bank

London-based Shawbrook Bank is a specialist savings and lending bank founded in 2011 to offer small and medium-sized businesses and consumer customers in the UK a range of lending and saving products.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Ashurst Homes

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.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Prescient Limited

As the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak began to grow, this market research company quickly realised its clients were beginning to become more cautious about going ahead with their projects. With these decisions affecting the company’s revenue significantly, it had to seek financial support.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Fleur Homes

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

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Artisan (Contracting) Limited

Before the coronavirus outbreak, this property developer had agreements with lenders for funding to invest in some new planned developments.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

All Truck Commercial Vehicle Repairs

For this commercial vehicle company, COVID-19 outbreak had a severe impact on cashflow, with revenue dropping suddenly by 90% and most staff having to go on furlough.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Monks Contractors

With the coronavirus pandemic harming this contracting firm’s revenue significantly, the business needed access to more cash that would enable it to operate during such an uncertain time. As a result, the company turned to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to boost its cashflow.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Pitts Wilson

As they did with many businesses, the government shutdowns in 2020 left this electrical and mechanical contractor with no sites on which to work and nowhere to deploy its 40-plus staff.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

WNW Digital

Facing serious financial issues as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, digital marketing agency WNW Digital sought support via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) so its plans for growing the business over the coming months and years wouldn’t be scuppered.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Like Minders

For this childcare provider, COVID-19 took away almost 90% of our business overnight. Needing funds to cover monthly overheads for premises, salaries and other general running costs, the company turned to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) for financial support.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

Leeds Community Bakery (Leeds Bread Co-op)

When this bakery and workers’ co-operative paused its trading to protect staff and the local community during the pandemic, it used the downtime that closure afforded to reassess its priorities. However, knowing that its diminished revenue couldn’t cover its ongoing overheads, the business applied for funding via the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) to provide some much-needed cashflow.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies

With the COVID-19 shutdown causing the customers of this family-run company to fall short with payments or have to cease trading temporarily, the business was forced into rethinking its financial strategy. Deciding to buy new stock that it could sell as essential items throughout the pandemic, the company boosted its working capital with help via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Ember Bus

Coach company Ember was waiting to take delivery of its first fully electric vehicle when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Delays in the supply chain interrupted the business’ operations, while its financing fell through at the same time.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Hustyns Hotel & Spa

As with all hotels across the country, the emergence of COVID-19 meant Hustyns Hotel & Spa had to shut down for a number of months to comply with government guidelines.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

Chigwell Construction

The coronavirus pandemic caused this Essex construction company to postpone plans to buy a rural site on which it planned to build a number of new homes. Unable to complete its other construction projects, and facing a significant lack of funds, the business needed investment from elsewhere.

Future Fund

MachineLabs

In the world of e-commerce, speed is essential. But when COVID-19 hit, this IT company saw potential investors cancel upcoming investor meetings and was forced to put back its plans by a year as a result. With all these challenges, how was the business able to move forward?