Little Kitchen Receives Funding to Support Big Ideas

Lisa Alcock
Marketing Manager | S W I G Finance Ltd
27th May 2020
Member roleChamber member

Bristol- based Little Kitchen Cookery School, has received a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) loan of £60,000 through not-for-profit firm SWIG Finance, backed by Triodos Bank to support its business continuity and growth.

The business was started in 2014 by friends Madeleine Joanes-Owen and Claire Warren. Food Technologist Madeleine has a teaching qualification in cookery whilst Claire had previously set up The Food Warren which ran as a thriving and successful street food market located in Bristol.

The school offers cookery classes in a relaxed, domestic style environment, and has seen a year-on-year increase in demand. The classes have become so popular that the school is relocating to larger premises in Totterdown so that they can continue to meeting and exceed customer expectations.

SWIG Finance were delighted to be able to fund Little Kitchen’s relocation and working capital requirements.

Of course, it is not business as usual for Madeleine and Claire during at this time. Although Little Kitchen has had to temporarily close its doors to the public, Madeleine and Claire are using social media to continue to interact with their customers with special offers for future bookings as well as introducing recipe boxes for those who are missing the courses currently.

SWIG Finance Business Manager, Nicola Mapp, commented “Madeleine and Claire’s story is a really positive one. It is a shining example of how two friends with complementary skillsets and experience can use their knowledge to start a business which is based on enthusiasm and passion.  Their partnership is already proving the perfect recipe for success”.

Business Owner, Claire Warren, commented “We were really happy with the service provided by SWIG Finance. Our dedicated Business Manager, Nicola Mapp, was supportive throughout. The application process was straight forward and the funds were released quickly”.

Matt Boggan, Senior Relationship Manager at Triodos Bank UK, who provided a loan to SWIG to support funding such as this, added: “Making money work for positive social, environmental and cultural change is central to the bank’s ethos. Key to this is providing finance to help start-ups and growing businesses fulfil their potential, as these enterprises really have the ability to transform a community. 

“We’re proud to be supporting SWIG, alongside another likeminded organisations. Its aim to make finance more accessible and inclusive aligns closely with our own values.”

About SWIG

SWIG Finance is an accredited delivery partner for the British Business Bank’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

We provide loans from £50,001 to £250,000 to South West SMEs who cannot access sufficient support from their bank.  

If you are a viable business but your cash flow has been disrupted, or if you have lost revenue, get in touch with our friendly and professional team to find out how we can help: info@swigfinance.co.uk / 01872 227 932.

Alternatively, for more information, visit our dedicated CBILS page.

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