The annual Start Up Loans Ambassadors programme, now in its 10th year, celebrates inspiring UK business owners who have launched their company using funding from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme. The Ambassadors have been selected for demonstrating the determination, motivation, forward-thinking and resilience needed to make entrepreneurship a success, providing inspiration for aspiring business owners across the UK.
2025 marks the second year that specialist Ambassadors have been selected from the armed forces veteran community and the Gen Z age group - two important groups supported by the Start Up Loans programme who may face challenges in accessing finance elsewhere.
Since its inception in 2012, the Start Up Loan programme has delivered more than 125,000 loans to business owners across the UK, amounting to more than £1.2bn funding.
Previous Start Up Loans Ambassadors have gone on to secure considerable growth, such as Dash Water, NICE Drinks and UK Connect. One of the most successful scale-up businesses, in terms of valuation, that has been supported by a Start Up Loan so far is sportswear brand Castore, which has a valuation of approximately £1bn.
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Case study requestMeet this years ambassadors
ADHD Focus
Rosie Elvin is the founder of ADHD Focus, a specialist training and coaching provider for individuals with ADHD and businesses. Rosie set up the business after she was diagnosed with ADHD and wanted to support others with adult diagnoses to thrive in their work with coaching and support
Meet the ambassador ADHD Focus
Awesome Franks
Alex Walker is the founder of Newcastle-based Awesome Franks, a gourmet sandwich and deli concept. Alex founded Awesome Franks after exiting from her first business Scream for Pizza following the birth of her first child, with the aim of creating an inclusive hub for families in the local community
Meet the ambassador Awesome Franks
Beer Hatch
Saul Press is the founder of Beer Hatch, a craft beer shop in Norwich. Since 2020, Saul has used two Start Up Loans of £1,500 and £6,000. During the pandemic, Saul found himself out of work and decided to take out his first loan to set up a beer delivery company.
Meet the ambassador Beer Hatch
Bwblin
Anna Lloyd is the founder of Bwblin, a vegan, organic and carbon-neutral fermented food brand specialising in small-batch sauerkraut, kimchi and miso. The round-the-world sailing instructor-turned entrepreneur developed thriving artisan food brand with finance from the Start Up Loans programme.
Meet the ambassador Bwblin
Craft + Common
Lauren Rowland and Hannah Muir are the founders of Craft + Common, a unique all-in-one craft studio and bar. The long-time friends set up the first Craft + Common studio in 2023, with a mission to create a vibrant community space where people can socialise and have fun and have grown rapidly since then.
Meet the ambassador Craft + Common
Clear For Men
Louis Watkins is the founder of Clear for Men, a Newport-based skincare and men’s mental health awareness brand. The entrepreneur turned personal experience of anxiety into a business tackling men’s mental health stigma.
Meet the ambassador Clear For Men
Dot Dot Tea
Dot Dot Tea was founded in 2023 by Yandis and a friend, who sought to bring a low-sugar, ready-to-drink beverage from South Asia to the UK market. Dot Dot Tea is the first UK-made bubble tea in a bottle.
Meet the ambassador Dot Dot Tea
Growing Wild Outdoor Nursery
Janet Packer and Lindsey Bielby are the founders of Growing Wild Outdoor Nursery, a unique outdoor learning nursery. Janet and Lindsey founded Growing Wild Outdoor Nursery to share their passion for outdoor learning and give children the chance to play and learn in nature every day.
Meet the ambassador Growing Wild
Mama Bobo
Hammed ‘Hammy’ Obikoya is the founder of Mama Bobo, a Nigerian restaurant and grocery store in Belfast. Returning home to be with family over lockdown, Hammy and his mother decided to open a restaurant and grocery store to give the growing Nigerian community a taste of home.
Meet the ambassador Mama Bobo
Nuoceans
Terence Chung is the 30-year-old founder of Nuoceans, which makes sustainable, upcycled footwear out of discarded flip flops. Founded straight out of university, Terence’s company upcycles discarded flip flops to create sustainable sandals
Meet the ambassador Nuoceans
Pica Rico
Francis Pipe and Jennifer Herrera, who describe themselves as “partners in life and cooking”, started Pica Rico Deli in Helston, Cornwall. The couple have fused Mexican flavours with Cornish produce to create a street food inspired venue in the heart of a Cornish town.
Meet the ambassador Pica Rico
The Rebel Baker
Rachel Munro is the founder of The Rebel Baker. Based in Ayr, the bakery can produce over 10,000 cookies per day and supplies products to food service clients all across the UK.
Meet the ambassador The Rebel Baker
Sunnyside Drinks
Christian Heath is the founder of Sunnyside Drinks, an alcoholic ginger beer brand. Christian was inspired to start the business after seeing how successful alcoholic ginger beers were in Australia and wanted to bring them to the UK market.
Meet the ambassador Sunny Side Drinks
Virtuoso Golf
Mike Gore is the founder of Virtuoso Golf, an indoor golf simulation venue in St Helens. After 13 years in the army and 17 years working on offshore oil rigs, veteran Mike decided to turn his passion for golf into his career and set up a virtual golf venue.
Meet the ambassador Virtuoso Golf
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