Back to school: 5 ideas to kickoff the new academic year

No dreary back to school feelings here. As the summer months come to a close, get ready for the brand-new school year with our back to school list. From new stationery, to books and a cookery school, your lending has helped these creative UK businesses grow and prosper.

1. Stationery

Head back to school or the office in style with unique notebooks, pens and planners from Papermash. Choose from an array of beautiful prints, such as the bright and whimsical designs of US designer, Anna Bond. To increase their stock and add brand-new items to their popular online shop, Papermash borrowed £5,000 back in 2014.

2. Books

Stock up on a selection of new books to help kick-start your September at Browsers Bookshop. The bookshop, based in Suffolk, carries a wide range of history, biography and business-insight books – whatever you may need to help you flourish in your studies. Browsers Bookshop were able to fit out a new space in their shop to expand their collection of books after borrowing £12,500 from 248 investors.

3. Children’s books

Are your little ones starting school this year? Get them excited to start learning with Kids IQ Books’ excellent selection of educational books, including sciences, mathematics and foreign languages. In order to add new stock to their shop, Kids IQ Books borrowed £52,000 through Funding Circle. With all those new books you’ll have, Tidy Books make the perfect book boxes to keep them neat and organised. To help with international expansion and growth, the company borrowed £64,000 across 2 loans.

4. Bags

If you’re child is joining sports teams this year, make sure to grab them a trendy new rucksack from Sporty Kids Wear, who launched their website after borrowing £10,000 in 2014. Or you could look at fashionable book bags from The Stripes Company – their Pointe Tote Bag is not only the perfect size for all day-to-day school supplies, it looks great too! The Stripes Company were able to expand their product range using their Funding Circle loan.

5. Cookery school

And finally, September doesn’t always have to be all about the kids, it could also be the perfect time to join that cooking class you’ve had your eye on. With over 40 cookery courses to choose from to suit beginners as well as experienced cooks, Ashburton Cookery School will help you take your skills to the next level. To expand their facilities in order keep up with the growing popularity of their courses, Ashburton Cookery School borrowed £175,000 across 2 Funding Circle loans.

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Enjoy lending. The Funding Circle team