Bristol Music School tunes up for growth

Bristol entrepreneur, Hollie-Anne Bangham, has had a £25,000 Start Up Loan boost via SWIG Finance to expand her music school and coffee shop.  

The Note Warehouse in Yatton provides one-to-one lessons with various musical instruments, alongside vocal training and music theory lessons. Its coffee shop offers locally sourced coffees and cakes to the public as well as place for parents and carers to wait during lessons. 

With over 500 students, The Note Warehouse has been operating at full capacity with a waiting list for new pupils, so Hollie applied for a Start Up Loan to help fit out additional space to cater for the high demand. 

Before starting her business, Hollie was a full-time musician, touring with Opera companies. Hollie is passionate about music and the benefits it can bring to individuals and communities, and this is what led her to start her own business. 

The business currently employs four members of staff, alongside 15 self-employed music teachers, and is looking to grow the headcount as the business expands. 

Hollie was referred to SWIG Finance via broker Jerry Riches of Business Finance Trust. 

Hollie said “It’s not easy to start and run a small business, but it's going well. After 2 years the chance to expand my shop has been a massive achievement. The funding has allowed me to double my music school capacity. Something I would not have been able to do without the Start Up Loan. Jo, my advisor, made the whole process much easier. She was so personable and believed in both me as a young entrepreneur and my business as a viable start up”. 

SWIG’s Start Up Loans Senior Manager, Jo MacEachen, said “Hollie’s business is an exciting concept that will play an important role in enriching the lives of its students. Hollie’s passion for using music to bring communities together has been clear from the outset, I was delighted that we could support Hollie and help with the next stage of her business - I wish her every success”.