Virgin StartUp 66 Porchester Road, London W2 6ET

"My first meeting with business advisor started late. No apology. It lasted a few minutes. Did not even know what was the name of my business. Start of process there has been a hard search of my Experian credit report. Following that search I was told I was eligible for the loan. However that business advisor asked me to send him again my Experian files via PDF. Weird. I felt that business advisor was more of an operative in a factory processing a new product that did not even knew what the product was about. Yet I was told by Chloe (who has been very helpful) "congratulations you have been assigned your very own business advisor". That business advisor said in an interview promoting himself he experienced in his long career the good the bad and the ugly in business support. I guess I experienced the bad with him. Not interested to deal with that kind of "support" who does not have the decency to know the name of your business. I'm out"

"Nice offices, fun to place to have meetings"

"Start up loans for pre start or up to two years old, backed by gov funding. The staff are fast, friendly and know their stuff. It is easy to speak to a local contact without having your arm twisted. The local contact in North Yorkshire is based in Scatborough but travels to meet people in Hull and York at least monthly they also help people starting a business who do not need finance, Yorkshire in Business."

"I have been working with Virgin StartUp for a fair years now and it has been great. Great opportunities. They made the process of applying for a Virgin Start Up Loan very early on a non daunting process and the follow on support with matching me with a suited Mentor at that time was and has been invaluable. Always willing to offer information and with their support, advice and suggestions it has helped grow my business immensely. The Virgin Start Up team are creative, sharp, having the ability to help nurture and see potential in new fresh ideas. I would recommend to anyone thinking about getting in touch to apply for funding, not to think of reason why they can't; but reason why they can and should: to just do it; you have nothing much to loose and everything to gain! Darcy Ida"