Breast cancer survivor lands £14,500 funding to revolutionise post-surgery bra design
A Nottingham-based bodywear brand, H.E.R Bodywear, has secured £14,500 in funding from First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans under the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme.
The firm will use the money to develop new products and invest in marketing.
H.E.R Bodywear designs and sells bodywear for women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer or cosmetic breast surgery. The post-surgery bras are medically approved and designed to enhance women’s confidence.
Alexandra Perry, founder of H.E.R Bodywear, is a two-time breast cancer survivor who found it difficult to find attractive post-surgery bras after her operations. She has a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Management and did her dissertation on the post-surgery bra market. Through this, Perry identified a significant gap in the UK market for bras specifically designed for post-surgery or mastectomy patients. This gave her the inspiration to establish a bodywear brand with the mission of improving the emotional and psychological recovery process for post-surgery women.
The funding from First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans will be used to start the production process and market the products after completion.
First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans provides government-backed business loans ranging from £500 – £250,000 for start-ups and SMEs that are unable to borrow from traditional high-street lenders. The not-for-profit organisation reinvests profits into loan funds to further support economic growth and job creation in the local communities.
Perry said: “First Enterprise provided me with a very straightforward process, and I was supported all the way through it. Now, I have a strong target to achieve within six months, and I feel positive and motivated to achieve it. It’s a great pressure that’s pushing me in the right direction. To have the support for me to aid a gap in the market that will benefit people is exactly what I have needed and now I’m looking forward to making a change.”
Simon Mitchell, investment manager at First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans, said: “It was immediately obvious to me that Alexandra had a personal passion for her business plan and at First Enterprise we wanted to support her ambition and passion for the cause. Alexandra is a breast cancer survivor and is now using her experience to potentially help many fellow survivors with a product that improves both comfort and styling. I am full of admiration for Alexandra – she was a pleasure to work with and I am sure she will be a fabulous success leading her new company.”
Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank, has recently announced Enterprise Loans East Midlands (ELEM) as the new regional Business Support Partner (BSPs) for the scheme.
Richard Bearman, managing director, Start Up Loans, said: “Our newly announced partnership with First Enterprise is only further reaffirmed by businesses like Alexandra’s – a great cause that is going above and beyond in tackling an ongoing issue in our society. We are delighted to be able to champion businesses like these and see that hard work and innovation make a real difference.”
