Start-up loan boost for branding agency

Two entrepreneurs based in Bristol have been awarded £22,500 in start up loan funding to launch a branding agency.

Siena Dexter and Kieran Katwala have set up Naked Ape Brands, which has a team of seven employees.

While the brand is at very early stages, its ambitions are high, and plans are in place to grow the headcount and acquire a commercial office space in the next one to two years.

Dexter said: “At first, I found the application documents daunting, I have very little experience of accounting, but I quickly saw how much control I had over my budgeting and planning when it was all laid out so clearly. SWIG was unbelievably supportive from the very start. I was assigned a dedicated business advisor who helped me turn my vision into a tangible, measurable business plan and realistically plan for the first year of my business.

“I firmly believe that to succeed at anything takes full, unwavering focus – it would have been impossible to dedicate myself to launching and running a successful agency if I had one foot in someone else’s business. This Start Up Loan means that we can fast-track the launch of our new business and get it off the ground much quicker.”

SWIG’s Start Up Loans team leader, Mark Thayre, added: “Siena is an astute entrepreneur and clearly has an excellent understanding of what makes a brand successful. The team at Naked Ape Brands is brimming with talent and SWIG are looking forward to watching the brand flourish.”