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Sarah hits the ground running with new business with start-up loan

Sarah Riley’s dreams came true when a 0% loan from the Staffordshire Means Back to Business scheme helped her hit the ground running when covid restrictions we’re lifted.

Sarah had worked at Antidote in Perton for 16 years before taking it over during the pandemic, using a £5,000 loan from the Staffordshire Means Back to Business scheme to get ready to wow customers with new services and products.

A year on, Sarah’s business has smashed its targets, hitting her first year target of taking almost quarter of a million pounds.

The interest-free loans are part of a unique partnership between all of the district and borough councils in the county and Staffordshire County Council to invest in small businesses to help them set up, survive and thrive during the pandemic.

Sarah said:

‘’But I wouldn’t have been able to do that, and create a unique salon that was ready and waiting to open with a bang when restrictions lifted, without the loan. It really helped me to move quickly and secure new customers as soon as we could open.

Getting an interest-free loan with flexibility around repayments is such a huge help for a start-up business, and it was incredibly easy to apply for.’’