Virgin StartUp Reviews 

James was amazing, made the hole experience easy. and got it done so quick. recommend James for any of your needs. Wish him all the best.

Sinead was incredibly helpful with my application - she made the process very easy to understand and her support and advice were invaluable - thank you Sinead

It was a long process but they are very thorough and very fair so I can’t really complain. And my direct contact James was so helpful and understanding he made the whole process so much easier and smooth.

Thanks to Priyanka the process was smooth and easy, really helpful and fast answering to the email, thanks his advices we got approved .

Thanks to Priyanka the process was smooth and easy, really helpful and fast answering to the email, thanks to his advices we got approved.

Pri made this a very straightforward experience so thank you for that :)

I am extremely disappointed with the meeting and the approach taken towards someone trying to start a new business. I expected practical advice, support and guidance on how to move forward. Instead, I left feeling discouraged and that my business idea had not been properly understood.

The discussion focused on a passenger transport licence, even though I will not be operating vehicles or providing passenger transport. My initial business model is to help small groups and families find suitable holiday accommodation and connect them with local guides and travel partners. I will not be selling package holidays or flights.

A PCV driving entitlement or PSV operator’s licence is therefore not required for the activities I am proposing. There is also no general mandatory travel agent licence in the UK. I understand that I must meet the legal requirements relevant to my actual activities, but the requirement raised during the meeting did not reflect the business I described.

What disappointed me most was the lack of willingness to listen and understand before reaching a conclusion. Supporting a new business should involve asking questions, explaining relevant requirements and helping the applicant identify the next steps. Unfortunately, that was not my experience, and I came away feeling dismissed rather than supported.

I could not be happier with the experience I had with Priyanka - he took care of everything he possibly could for me and so patiently and kindly helped me through every stage of the process, which he made very easy. I really felt like he was batting on my team and I am so grateful to him.

Having approached the British Business Bank, I was linked with Virgin and its Business Adviser, Priyanka deSilva. Although I had prepared a business plan along the lines of their planning template, Priyanka gave me some sound advice and guidance. He asked intelligent and helpful questions and was extremely positive and supportive.

I consider myself relatively confident, but starting a business is lonely and nerve-racking, and having Priyanka on my side added to my confidence.

The bank's process is thorough, and by following it closely, the initial application went through really well and on time. So, all in all, I am extremely satisfied and look forward to building the business up in the future.

At the end of the day, this is am excellent way to get start up finance and I would happily recommend to others.

Pri was an absolute pleasure to deal with, his help and support with the application process was invaluable. So friendly and approachable too. Highly recommend ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I had a positive experience getting the start-up loan quickly and stress-free with great support from James Cowan.

I was really concerned about the application for the start up at first, but Sinead who was supporting me through the process was amazing. She explained everything in detail and was very quick at responding to any questions or concerns i had. She made the process so easy for me, and everything went through very quickly. Thank you Sinead

Pri was incredibly helpful with my start up loan application from start to finish.

Priyanka made everything easy, he understood our business plan and our projection for growth. Great to deal with and is a credit to the scheme

Sinead is an absolute SUPERSTAR!

Sinead was so organised and helpful during the application process, we were incredibly impressed.

She really knows her stuff and communicated quickly and effectively. We felt supported throughout the entire application without feeling pressured.

I'd 100% recommend working with Sinead to any aspiring business owner.

Very quick and easy. I had an initial zoom call with my advisor, Priyanka, on the Friday and by the following Thursday, all of the paperwork was signed and completed.
Very helpful and responsive and worked out a deal best for us

Pri was really great at understanding my business and helping me with my application and loan process

Pri was absolutely amazing to work with. He was professional, supportive and genuinely believed in my vision. I’m so grateful for his time, guidance and encouragement throughout the process. I would highly recommend him.

He has a lot of understanding business skills super happy overall

This is my second loan application, and i must say it all went very fast and very smooth. Thank you Pri for your support in this.