Durham pilates studio opens with £17,500 Start Up Loan
What's the deal? ŌNDA PilatesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a boutique pilates and yoga studio in Durham, has secured a £17,500 loan through the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans programme. The funding covered specialist equipment, a studio fit-out, and preparing the space ahead of opening.
Who's behind it? Founder Kayleigh Oborka-Letman is a former dance teacher who began introducing students to yoga and pilates. Seeing the impact on young people's wellbeing pushed her to bring movement to a wider audience.
What's the endgame? The studio offers hot mat pilates, yoga, and specialist classes aimed at a diverse client base. Since launching, it has started building local partnerships, including plans with the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham to run wellness sessions for corporate conference guests.
"The Start Up Loan gave me the confidence and financial support to turn that vision into reality, allowing me to invest in equipment and the studio space needed to create the experience I had imagined," Oborka-Letman said.
The signal: Government-backed debt remains a practical route for founders too small for venture capital, letting passion-led service businesses launch without giving up equity.
Read more: insidermedia.com
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