A North Devon jeweller has been able to double the capacity and frequency of her workshop events thanks to a £25,000 loan delivered by SWIG Finance.
Amy Fletcher, who runs Amy Eira in Bideford’s Mill Street, has used the cash injection from the Community ENABLE Funding programme, backed by the Growth Guarantee Scheme, to create and equip a new workshop space above the NAKED coffee shop and hair salon, also in Mill Street. The larger area will enable the team to teach eight people at a time rather than four, and events will move from a monthly to a fortnightly basis.
Meanwhile, the old teaching space above Amy’s shop will be converted into a new dedicated workshop for her, enabling her to focus on bespoke commission pieces.
Amy Fletcher, owner of Amy Eira in Bideford, is one of the first recipients of Community ENABLE Funding through SWIG Finance.
The Community ENABLE Funding (CEF) programme works by increasing the availability of funding to social impact small business lenders, who in turn can provide that funding to the smaller businesses they serve in local communities.
One of the key objectives of the British Business Bank’s Community ENABLE Funding programme is to help develop the UK’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) sector provide affordable loans and financial services in underserved communities, by supporting up to £150m of lending over its first two years.
Moving upstairs takes Amy’s workshop away from the heart of the retail premises. “People were able to watch me work, but I do love to chat to customers, so I wasn’t always doing as much work as I’d like,” she laughs. “The new space will enable me to focus more – and it’s also a cosy, exclusive venue for bespoke workshops like couple’s wedding ring creation.
“We still have a workbench in the retail space where people can watch us make jewellery and see the tools we use – the girls make jewellery there for stock.”
Expanding the public workshops, meanwhile, means more people can enjoy a relaxing time making not only new friends, but also a beautiful piece of handmade jewellery – be it a gemstone pendant, a silver torque bangle or a ring set with sea glass beachcombed from local sands.
Need funding to grow your business?
We have Business Loans ranging from £25k up to £250k available
Amy’s jewellery journey arguably began in childhood. “I’ve always been a hoarder, with glass jars full of buttons, beads, pebbles. I would collect like a magpie, and during a fine art degree in Newport, Wales, I began experimenting with beading and wire wrapping. I would buy pieces from charity shops, deconstruct them and put them back together differently, selling them on a market stall.”
After university, Amy found herself working in several jobs “to pay the bills – none of them made me happy”. Husband Rob persuaded her to ask a local jeweller for a job; Amy subsequently worked with Patrick Graham Jewellers in Ruislip for six years, during which time she learned not only how to make jewellery for a living, but also how to run a business, including a team of staff. “By the time I left, I was 100% prepared to not only do something I loved, but also make money out of it.”
When the pandemic hit in 2020, the couple considered moving out of the city suburbs and relocated to Bideford. Amy Eira (her middle name) was launched swiftly afterwards, taking on its first employee in quick succession. The business now has a team of four, all of whom make and teach; and Amy is hoping to employ a fifth full-time staff member in the near future, as well as welcoming guest tutors.
Amy Eira’s next public workshop will produce charm bangles and takes place on Saturday, November 21.
Amy found SWIG Finance and the CEF programme by asking Claude AI to show her financial options to achieve her dreams. “I chose SWIG Finance because I could see it offered the Start Up Loans programme, which is also financed by the British Business Bank – I had a £5,000 loan to start up my business in 2020,” she explains. “This gave me reassurance that SWIG Finance was a legitimate lender, and when I spoke to the staff, they were all really lovely and amenable.
“Without the CEF money, it would have taken me much longer to expand the business. I was able to keep some money back for cashflow purposes, including the extra rent and the need to buy good quality tools for the new space. Now it’s up and running, the extra capacity for public workshops and jewellery making will also increase our income.”
Craig Slater, business manager for SWIG Finance, said: “Being able to assist small businesses in the South West is the best part of my job. Being able to see Amy’s expand and grow, and being able to help a little with that success, was such a pleasure.”
Amy Eira’s next public workshop will produce charm bangles and takes place on Saturday, November 21. Look out for stacking rings in January 2027, and drop or hoop earrings in February.
Find out more about
Find out more about
About SWIG Finance
SWIG Finance is a people-based lender that provides loans and support to help smaller businesses in the South and West Country grow. We base our lending decisions on potential rather than collateral, which means that we can often support businesses when others can't.
We’re growing every year. In 2025/26, we lent £18.4m to 506 businesses, helping to create and secure over 1,134 jobs and generate £95.2m in social impact. Download the report here.
If you’d like an informal chat about your funding requirements, get in touch with our friendly and professional team to see how we can help: info@swigfinance.co.uk / 01872 227 930