As part of a weekly series, BusinessCloud is highlighting the latest developments from companies featured in our Founder 250 list.
The UK-wide list celebrates 250 of the country’s leading founder-led and founder-influenced businesses.
RSM UK is the headline sponsor of Founder 250, alongside law firm CG, property specialist OBI and investor Mercia Ventures.
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Downing Street date for Recite Me and Distology founders
The founders of Recite Me and Distology were among the entrepreneurs invited to a post-Budget reception at 11 Downing Street.
Ross Linnett, CEO of North East-based accessibility technology company Recite Me, and Hayley Roberts, CEO of Stockport-based cybersecurity distributor Distology, attended the reception for entrepreneurs and business growth following Chancellor John Healey’s Budget.
Linnett, who was inspired to launch Recite Me by his own experience of living with dyslexia, said: “Always a privilege to be back at Downing Street.
Distology CEO Hayley Roberts outside 11 Downing Street
“Homegrown businesses and fast-growth tech companies from every corner of the country, all in one room, talking about opportunity and what the UK genuinely does well.”
Roberts founded Distology in 2015 and has grown its turnover to £80m. Earlier this year, NorthEdge completed its ninth technology exit with the sale of Distology to Foresight Group.
Roberts said: “An absolute privilege to be invited to No 11 to meet the Chancellor and discuss the budget and the impact for entrepreneurs and founders.
“Politics aside, the Chancellor was humble, engaging and interested. But mostly I enjoyed meeting some inspirational founders that are helping to make this country interesting. I remain an optimist.”
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AI healthcare firm Cera named Health Tech Company of the Year
London-based Cera has been named Health Tech Company of the Year at the Health Tech World Awards 2026.
The AI-powered home healthcare company is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month.
Founded by London doctor Ben Maruthappu, Cera harnesses technology to shift care from hospitals into people’s homes.
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Maruthappu said: “When we started Cera nearly a decade ago, we wanted to change how care was delivered.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy. It’s one thing to build healthcare technology in a lab. It’s another to make it work in someone’s living room.
“A lot of promising ideas in healthcare never make it beyond a pilot.
“The hard part is making them work for the people who need them, day after day.
“Today, our carers, nurses and colleagues deliver around 100,000 home visits every day, using AI and technology to spot health risks earlier, help prevent hospitalisations and deliver better care at home.
“We still have a lot more to do, but this recognition means a lot after all the hard work our teams have put in over the years.”
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FinTech Lovey secures £250m funding facility to back UK SMEs
Lovey, which describes itself as the UK’s fastest-growing FinTech and financial services provider, has announced a senior secured credit facility of up to £250m with Pollen Street Capital.
Founded by Jack Smith in 2016, Lovey has grown from a one-person start-up into a business employing 120 people, funding more than £600m in loans to over 11,000 UK SMEs.
Originally called Love Finance, the business rebranded as Lovey after helping more than 8,000 businesses access over £400m in funding.
Smith said: “This new facility is an important milestone for us and will enable us to put more capital behind UK small businesses, scale our own-book lending and give more SMEs access to finance when they need it.
“Pollen Street shares our belief that finances for small businesses should be simpler, faster and more flexible, and we’re really pleased to have them backing Lovey for this next stage of growth.”
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ARNE unveils plans for its biggest-ever store at Trafford Centre
Fashion brand ARNE has announced plans to open its biggest-ever store at Manchester’s Trafford Centre.
Measuring 6,500 sq ft, the new store will be almost twice the size of its flagship store in Liverpool ONE and is expected to open in mid-2027.
The clothing and footwear brand will continue to operate from its current temporary store at the Trafford Centre while work is ongoing.
ARNE’s new store at the Trafford Centre
ARNE was founded in 2018 by Liverpool brothers Ryan and Reece Broadhurst, who now have an estimated combined fortune of £110m.
In a post to its 605,000 Instagram followers, the company described the announcement as the ‘biggest step we’ve ever taken as a brand’.
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Applied Nutrition celebrates hat-trick of business awards
Liverpool-based Applied Nutrition has celebrated a hat-trick of business awards in the space of a week.
The nutrition brand was founded in 2014 by Thomas Ryder and counts Coleen Rooney among its investors and brand ambassadors.
Applied Nutrition walked away with three awards: Business of the Year 2026 at the Liverpool Innovation & Impact Awards; Sustainable Growth Award 2026 at the UK Fast Growth Index Awards; and Fastest Growing Profit-Led Firm 2026 at the UK Fast Growth Index Awards.
Applied Nutrition’s share price rose marginally over the last week to 298.50p, giving the company a market capitalisation of £746.25m.
At a share price of 400p, its market value would reach £1bn.
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Clare Balding teams up with Group55 to launch new petcare brand
Broadcaster and author Clare Balding has teamed up with award-winning Lancashire manufacturer Group55 to launch her new petcare brand.
Unconditional Love has been rolled out nationally across all Pets at Home stores following 18 months of development.
Chorley-based Group55 is a private-label manufacturer of personal care, petcare and home care products, employing around 140 people.
Stephen Turner, founder and chairman of Group55, said: “Having developed the brand with Clare Balding, it’s incredibly rewarding to see 18 months of hard work, collaboration and investment come to life.
Clare Balding has teamed up with Group55 on launch of new petcare brand
“At Group55, we work alongside entrepreneurs and high-profile talent to invest in, develop and build authentic consumer brands with long-term potential.
“Unconditional Love is a fantastic example of that approach, combining Clare’s genuine passion for dogs with our expertise in product innovation, manufacturing and commercial development.”
Turner founded Group55 in 1999 at the age of 25 with just £700.