Supporting start ups
Telling the stories of Wales’ most exciting new businesses - from kitchen‑table ideas to thriving enterprises - as part of the Start Up Loans campaign with the British Business Bank.
Some of the best business stories don’t start in boardrooms. They start in kitchens, classrooms, workshops and spare rooms.
While working on communications for the Start Up Loans programme in Wales, delivered by the British Business Bank, I led the creation of around ten founder case studies each year - bringing the human side of entrepreneurship to the fore.
These stories found homes across national, regional and trade press, helping real founders cut through in a crowded media landscape. Among them:
Vine and Vibe – a café and houseplant haven in Pembroke.
We Make Footballers Cardiff – launched by former teacher Leon Stapleton.
The Welsh Wool Shop in Newcastle Emlyn – which even secured coverage in knitting magazines (a first for the programme, and a lovely one at that).
Alongside media relations, I produced weekly bilingual content for the Wales LinkedIn channel - shining a light on founders and celebrating the grit and graft behind each business.
Beyond individual stories, I drafted data‑led press releases using findings from the Bank’s reports and regional insights - balancing heart‑led storytelling with credible, timely commentary.
Working with Welsh and Gen Z ambassadors throughout the year widened reach and brought fresh voices into the mix.
Championing small businesses not just as statistics, but as people building something of their own - while showing others in Wales that entrepreneurship is for them too, easily accessible through the Bank’s Start Up Loans programme.