Greater Manchester’s female entrepreneurs given £20 million boost through Start Up Loans

The British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme has delivered £20 million worth of loans to female-owned businesses in Greater Manchester across 2,156 loans.

Reaching this milestone highlights to commitment of the Start Up Loans scheme in reaching underrepresented founders and opening up access to finance for entrepreneurs. Alongside providing funding through the Start Up Loans programme, the British Business Bank is also involved in initiatives that support female founders, including the female angel investor network, Lifted Ventures. 

The British Business Bank has also identified Greater Manchester as the most entrepreneurial place outside of London, with the city-region’s early-stage businesses securing more from the Start Up Loans programme than any other region outside the capital.

Delyth Edwards, Senior Network Manager for the North West at the British Business Bank said:

“At the British Business Bank, we’re committed to supporting underrepresented groups, helping them to gain the funding and skills required to build a thriving business. The Start Up Loans programme has made a huge difference to female-founded business in Greater Manchester, supporting them with over £20m in funding.

“This is a reminder of why it’s so important to have targeted funding programmes to reach those who have historically struggled to access finance. As we continue to support entrepreneurs across the North West, I look forward to seeing all the success these businesses will achieve.”

Lisa Storey, Founder of EZ Hampers, is among Greater Manchester’s female entrepreneurs to have accessed finance from the British Business Bank. Her sustainable gift business, EZ Hampers, secured a £10,000 Start Up Loan through GC Business Finance to move into a new premises in Altrincham with an increased footfall. Lisa said: 

“The Start Up Loan was important for me to achieve my dreams of opening EZ Hampers. The funding helped us move into new premises, which has put us at the front and centre of the community. We have been hosting lots of events, and we have recently hired a marketing manager to support us in raising our brand awareness. 

“Growing a business is challenging but the Start Up Loans programme helped make accessing funding to grow my business easier. This has helped me get to where I am now, and I look forward to achieving even more success over the coming years.”