A boutique indoor self-service dog wash has expanded thanks to a £5,000 start-up loan.
Victoria Shepherd set up Happy Henry's! at Amerton Farm, near Stafford, last year to follow her dream of running a dog spa business.
Now she has used an interest-free loan from Staffordshire County Council's start-up scheme to expand into dog grooming.
The funding is part of the wider Staffordshire Means Back to Business support scheme set up by the county council to get more money and support to businesses quicker during and after the pandemic.
Victoria said: "My own dog was very nervous but having had dogs for years I know how to help people to manage them. When I saw a gap in the market in Stafford for a DIY dog grooming service that not only makes bathing nervous dogs easier, but also helps teach their owners how to manage their behaviours, I jumped at it.
"Although I have years of experience as a dog owner, when my dog Henry came into my life I realised he had struggles that I didn't know how to manage. I then found games-based training and started to learn more about dog behaviour and great ways to help dogs.
"The interest-free loan from the county council gave me just that bit of breathing space to finish my grooming training so that I can now offer a fully comprehensive service for all dogs."
To date, the county council has awarded £124,000 in interest-free loans to businesses in Staffordshire which needed a boost.
Staffordshire County Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said: "Our start-up loans can make a real difference to young businesses and has been a critical part of Victoria's growth.
"With flexible repayment terms as well as the zero per cent interest, these loans have already made a big difference to small businesses across Staffordshire, which are the lifeblood of our economy.
"With the support available right across Staffordshire, it's no wonder that our county has seen more businesses start up over the last years than before, and they grow quicker than most others across the UK."
Interest-free loans of between £3,000 to £5,000 from the Staffordshire Means Back to Business support scheme are available to businesses less than two years old.
Visit the Staffordshire County Council website for more information.
