We saw record lending this Summer, despite reports from elsewhere indicating low levels of business confidence. Over £35m in Start Up Loans was delivered to people setting up new businesses or looking to grow early-stage enterprises across the UK between June and August 2025.
There were also significant developments and milestones for the programme itself, including receiving a £1bn expansion and surpassing 125,000 loans distributed nationally.
We celebrated a decade of our Ambassadors programme in October, spotlighting our new cohort of 14 outstanding small business owners who demonstrate the resilience, rigour, and creativity needed to bring business plans to life.
The programme also saw impressive milestones being reached in UK Nations and regions. These included the East of England, which has received over £100m in loans since the Start Up Loans programme began in 2012, and the East Midlands (£75m), while in June we announced Scotland had received a total of £75m in Start Up Loans financing.
But of course, there are always lessons learnt and improvements to be made – even during incredibly successful periods – and we enter 2026 poised and ready to help even more aspiring business owners.
To mark the end of a great year for the programme, we asked three of our 2024 Start Up Loans Ambassadors to share their 2025 highlights and plans for the coming year.
Dan Levene, co-founder of Two Blues Solar – a renewable energy solutions supplier based in London
“2025 has been a year defined by persistence and partnership for Two Blues Solar. Building a business in the renewable-energy sector requires long time horizons and even longer patience, and this year has really reinforced that lesson. Some of our biggest breakthroughs, including securing major projects with Marston’s and the NHS, came as a direct result of staying the course, regularly keeping contact points, and investing in relationships long before the commercial opportunity was visible.
“Another of my personal highlights has been the ability to grow the team. Bringing in the right people has accelerated our momentum more than any single strategy or tool. When you combine a strong mission with a strong team and strong partners, progress compounds quickly.
“To aspiring business owners, I’d say: build trusted relationships early. The right partners can help you navigate uncertainty, open doors you didn’t know existed, and give you the resilience and advice needed to push through the inevitable setbacks. Persistence is powerful on its own, but persistence with the right people alongside you is transformational.”
George Greer, founder of Project Harmless – a company dedicated to addressing pressing environmental challenges
“Our biggest learning this year is being ready for sudden growth. One day in May, our website traffic suddenly surged overnight. In our early days, unexpected media coverage of our products would have sent us into panic, however, this time, we were prepared. We checked inventory immediately, reordered key supplies, and communicated clearly with customers, if their parcels might arrive a day or two late.
“Having systems in place made a huge difference, and I am fortunate to have a co-founder, Ka Ho Wong, who is exceptionally detail oriented. With careful preparation, and a very loyal customer base, we now see strong repeat business.
“The lesson was simple: you cannot predict when opportunity will appear, but you can build the structures that allow you to respond with confidence, whilst good communication builds real customer good-will.
“Another proud moment was seeing our products showcased at the Royal Highland Show this year within the UK Government pavilion. Seeing our laptop case, crafted from the untouched official tartan of the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, take centre stage at such an iconic event was a reminder of how far we’ve come.
“I think new entrepreneurs need to be persistent, be ready for all scenarios and always put the customer first. Building a business is demanding, but genuine empathy creates good-will and opens doors that technical skill alone cannot.”
Lisa Storey, founder of EZ Hampers and EZ Bar & Café – a hamper store and fully-licensed community and event space
“At EZ Hampers and EZ Bar & Café, we’ve had plenty of learnings this year. Business owners are required to pivot at short notice and adapt well in periods of change, and installing our new kitchen earlier this year resulted in huge learnings, especially around staffing.
“In our current climate, everything often costs more than what you initially plan for, so my key piece of small business advice is to always ensure you leave a little extra cash for everyday running costs.
“Also, business owners shouldn’t take customer feedback too personally, which is hard at times. As a solo business owner, no-one sees the hours that are worked independently to ensure everything is running smoothly, both at the café and arranging EZ hamper orders and delivery. Of course, customer feedback is important, but in many cases, customers can forget that it is a one-person enterprise, which is no easy feat.”
It’s great to see these former Ambassadors doing so well, growing in 2025 and serving as an inspiration to others considering starting a business in 2026. The resilience of small business owners demonstrated in 2025 gives us a lot of confidence in the future, and we look forward to continuing our offer of support to the UK’s small businesses and entrepreneurs.
