27-year-old TJ Bouchada, founder of nail salon MoodyCow Nails in Milton Keynes, has been announced as British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans 2024 ambassador for the South East.
TJ took out her loan of £12,000 via Let’s Do Business Finance to open her own nail salon, having been made redundant during the pandemic from the salon she worked in previously.
TJ has always dreamed of starting her own business, so she seized the opportunity for a fresh start, inspired by the growing demand for high-quality wellness and beauty treatments.
She used the finance to rent her own shop and purchase the necessary supplies to get her business off the ground. Now, she’s on a mission to create a franchise of boutique nail salons in the Milton Keynes area, offering personalised services that elevate the beauty experience.
The annual Start Up Loans Ambassadors programme, now in its ninth year, celebrates inspiring UK business owners who have launched an enterprise using finance from the government-backed scheme.
TJ is among 14 businesses announced as 2024 ambassadors. The ambassadors have been selected as they demonstrate the resilience, creativity and determination required to make a smaller business successful and to inspire entrepreneurs across the UK.
TJ said: “As the newly appointed South East ambassador for Start Up Loans, I’m honoured to be part of a movement that empowers entrepreneurs like myself.
“The loan was essential in enabling me to open my salon and pursue my dream of being my own boss. I hope I can inspire other young people to take that leap and start their own journey.”
This year, in addition to 12 ambassadors drawn from each of the UK’s nations and regions, two more ambassadors have been selected. These business owners represent two important groups supported by the programme, who may face challenges in accessing finance elsewhere – one from the ex-forces community and the other from the 18-24 Gen Z age group.
The 2024 ambassadors will be introduced at an event in central London to mark the start of a year-long programme that will see them take part in a series of local and national activities, helping inspire and encourage aspiring startup founders to take the leap into business ownership.
Louise McCoy, commercial managing director of Small Business Lending for Start Up Loans, said: “I am delighted to welcome TJ, founder of MoodyCow Nails, as the new ambassador for the South East.
“She embodies the determination and drive that is required of a business owner in the current climate. I know that she will inspire others to follow their dream of becoming a business owner and I am very much looking forward to working with her and helping to share her story.”
“Our fixed-interest rate loans have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs get their business off the ground, with many more taking up the offer of post-loan support from our mentors. We look forward to working with the UK’s founders for years to come.”
