Success Stories

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.

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.

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?

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.

Read what it had to say in this Future Fund case study.

Concerned that the COVID-19 shutdown would severely harm its business, Coventry’s Mercia Hardware turned to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) for financial support. Granted a loan, the company was able to continue to supply its products and even diversify its range.

James Shepherd started his business, Aberffraw Biscuits, with the help of a £5,000 Start Up Loan.

COVID-19 created a number of issues for Hanson Springs. Staff taking leave to self-isolate reduced overall productivity, while a fall in demand hampered cashflow.

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.

Back in March 2020, Dronfield housebuilders Linell Homes were set to close a deal to begin construction on some new properties when the nationwide lockdown was announced. Left with an empty building site and uncertainty around its cashflow, the business chose to support itself with funding via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

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.

Businesses that rely on face-to-face interaction with customers have truly felt the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown. With its revenue falling to zero overnight, weight loss therapy provider Silverlink Clinics had to stop all of its treatment and furlough its employees to stay afloat.

As a provider of school meals to millions of childr

What do you do when nearly three-quarters of your customers close overnight? How do you maintain operations in those conditions?

As a young company, Bockatech needed cash to develop its technology and grow its business but worried that COVID-19 would hamper its ability to raise finance through private investors.

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.

Closing all of its department stores as part of the COVID-19 lockdown and facing a long period of no revenue meant things were looking bleak for Northern Ireland retailer SD Kells.