Bristol start-up set for next level thanks to grant
A Bristol-based start-up has been awarded a £10,000 grant from entrepreneurship charity Hatch Enterprise in partnership with NatWest to advance the business.
Lucy Willoughby's business 'Good Things Gifts' is a gifting site, which seeks out inspiring, ethical and sustainable gifts, which support charities and empower people.
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It is one of ten businesses across the UK to receive a share of the £100,000 grant funding round in celebration of Hatch’s 10th anniversary.
Lucy said: "With this funding I will be investing in a shop space and developing new gift lines which is really exciting.
"We’ve just had our busiest year yet, and with this grant, I can’t wait to build on this growth and momentum, championing more gifts with positive impact."
The grants were established to enable business founders from diverse backgrounds to overcome barriers to growth.
Applications in this round were open to graduates of Hatch programmes, targeting support at underrepresented founders. Of the awardees, nine were female founders, three were from an ethnic minority background and five were disabled. Nine out of the ten grants were awarded to founders based outside of London.
Rebekah Capon, managing director at Hatch Enterprise, added: "Our mission at Hatch is to build a better world through entrepreneurship, supporting those typically underrepresented in the sector to launch and grow sustainable, successful businesses.
"Access to funding is a huge barrier to growth for any business, and even more so for historically marginalised communities. 
"This partnership with NatWest is the perfect way for us to mark our tenth year as a charity, and we’re so pleased for the ten incredible founders awarded funding. Receiving these grants of £10,000 will make a real difference to the founders themselves, their businesses, and their wider communities."
NatWest provided funding for the grants and has been a longstanding supporter of Hatch, donating £1 million pounds to the charity last year.
The bank also sponsors Hatch’s Launchpad and Incubator programmes, helping entrepreneurs to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and network needed to launch and grow their business.
