Funding, business advice, and a shot at a free restaurant. Sound good? From start-up loans to rent-free spaces and founder insights, it’s all inside this edition of the Hatch Business Newsletter.

Funding and Grants

UK Government’s Startup Loan

The UK Government’s Start Up Loan programme offers personal loans of up to £25,000 to aspiring and early-stage business owners across the country, including those in London. Backed by the British Business Bank, the scheme also includes free mentoring and support to help entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. The loans are unsecured (meaning they don’t require collateral), with a fixed interest rate of 6% and a repayment period of up to five years.

The UK Government Start Up Loan is available to UK residents aged 18+ launching or growing a business. You can apply for the loan here.

Fran’s experience with the UK Government’s Start Up Loan

We recently spoke to Fran, who secured a Government Startup Loan to launch her Physio Clinic business. Her experience offers valuable insight for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to fund their own venture.

Still in the early stages with no business plan, Fran used the three-month application window she was given to research, build her plan, and work with her advisor to develop a strong application. Once submitted, her application was approved within just five days.

The process required a business plan and three months of payslips, but Fran also included a cash flow forecast and personal budget to further enhance her application. With the loan, she will be able to cover legal fees, set up costs, and get her business off the ground.

Fran’s Top Tips for Applying:

• Put real effort into your business plan; it’s the backbone of your application

• Use the advisor’s support, but don’t expect hand-holding

• Include any additional information which you believe would strengthen your case

• Don’t feel as though you must borrow the full amount

• The 6% interest rate makes it a very affordable option compared to what else is out there

If you’re thinking of applying, “just got for it,” Fran says. “The worst they can say is no and you walk away having learnt loads about your business with a well thought through business plan.”

Click here to read more about Fran’s experience with the loan.

Who’s Hatched?

We helped Beaufort & Blake open their first store – here’s how they’re getting on 6 months later

After building a loyal online following, Beaufort & Blake opened their first store in Wandsworth. Six months in, founder Ed Bonnar shares what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d do differently.

Beaufort & Blake’s first foray into physical retail has delivered some powerful insights. In the first six months, the Wandsworth store outperformed expectations, exceeding sales targets by 12% and turning over £96.5k. Perhaps most striking is the in-store conversion rate, which reached an impressive 30%, a stark contrast to their 2.6% online average. The store has also proven to be a strong driver of brand awareness and customer acquisition, with 60% of in-store shoppers being first time buyers, compared to 49% online. Since opening, their Instagram following has grown by nearly 12%, reflecting the store’s broader impact on brand visibility and engagement across channels.

Ed also reflects candidly on the challenges that came with launching the store. Staffing proved to be the biggest operational hurdle, with an underperforming store manager, leading to a difficult but necessary replacement. Perhaps the most valuable outcome has been the ability to gather in-person customer feedback. Unlike online data, in-store conversations revealed nuanced insights about fit, colour preference, and product gaps, all of which now feed directly into Beaufort & Blake’s product development and marketing decisions. 

Read the full blog here to find out more about Ed’s story.

News and Opportunities

Free restaurant opportunity in East London

St James is offering an incredible opportunity for one entrepreneur to open in a fully fitted restaurant at the new Bow Green development in E3, completely rent free for two years.

Open to local chefs, food startups, and restaurants with a standout concept and some experience, this is a unique opportunity to launch in a new East London location without the usual overheads.

📅 Deadline: 1st August 2025

📩 To apply, send your business plan and cover letter to:

theo.dlaboha-morrison@berkeleygroup.co.uk

Government proposes ban on upwards-only rent reviews

Good news for tenants: the UK government has introduced a proposal to ban upwards-only rent reviews in new commercial leases. If the bill is passed, rents could go both up and down at rent review, reflecting actual market conditions rather than being locked into automatic increases. The proposal also gives tenants the right to trigger rent reviews themselves if landlords choose not to. The move is designed to create a fairer, more flexible system that supports small businesses and high street revival.

You can read more about the proposed ban here.

What’s Been Going on at Hatch?

New website

We’re excited to announce that our brand new website is now live! Designed to be faster, clearer, and simpler to navigate, the new website makes it easier than ever to find your next property. Check it out here.

Property tools

At Hatch, we offer three unique tools to make your property search easier:

Our Daily Property Roundup keeps you one step ahead by alerting you to newly listed commercial spaces as soon as they become available. This means you’re less likely to miss out on opportunities, especially in high-demand areas.

To give you a broader view of the market, our Property Database brings together over 5,000 available retail and restaurant properties from eight of the UK’s leading commercial property websites. This includes Rightmove, Zoopla, Prime Location, Completely Retail, and more. All come together onto one convenient database to save you the hassle of trawling through multiple websites.
And if you’re struggling to find the right space, our Business Listing page flips the search process around. By advertising your specific property requirements, commercial agents can send you suitable options, turning your search into a two-way conversation.