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British Business Bank

Start Up Loans celebrates 10th anniversary and reveals its South East Ambassador

Former Hollywood stunt double, Chloe Bruce, is among 12 small businesses to be selected as champions of UK start-ups by Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank

The announcement comes as the programme celebrates its 10-year anniversary, having delivered more than 9,600 loans worth over £97m to new business owners in the South East since 2012.

One such recipient of these loans is Chloe Bruce, founder of the Chloe Bruce Academy, a business offering virtual martial arts classes and tutorials. Chloe took out her loan of £2,500 in 2020 to start the business.

Chloe said “As a mum of two juggling work and childcare, having an online business has been essential in ensuring I maintain a work-life balance. My dream was always to launch a virtual platform, and when Covid meant that people were forced to stay at home, it felt like the right time to formally launch to the public after years of planning.” Chloe Bruce START UP LOANS AMBASSADORS 2022/2023

Two Dragon’s Den winners, a former Hollywood stunt double and a PhD graduate turned toymaker are among 12 business owners announced this month as Ambassadors for the Start Up Loans programme. The announcement comes as the programme celebrates its 10-year anniversary, having provided more than £900 million in loans since 2012.

The annual Start Up Loans Ambassadors programme, now in its seventh year, celebrates exceptional business owners who have followed their ambition of becoming their own boss after receiving support from the government-backed Start Up Loans programme.

Drawn from each of the UK’s 12 Nations and regions, the 2022 Start Up Loans Ambassadors refl ect the broad diversity and ambition of the nation’s smaller business sector at a grass roots level.

Susan Elliott, Senior Manager, UK Network South East susan.elliott@british-business-bank.co.uk

Steve Conibear, Director, UK Network South & East of England steve.conibear@british-business-bank.co.uk