Support helps open water swimming business stay afloat

About the business

Inverclyde-based Happy and Wild offers bespoke open water swimming and trail running courses to help people tap into the benefits of the great outdoors. Offering trail runs, cold water dips, and cold-water therapy, Happy and Wild caters to all levels, helping beginners experience the thrill of outdoor swimming while also offering more advanced support for experienced swimmers. The business’ clients include community care forum Your Voice, who bring groups along to help demonstrate the benefits of open water swimming for overall mental wellbeing.

How Business Gateway has helped

Following redundancy, Lisa approached Business Gateway to find out how to transform her vision for her open water swimming business into a reality. Lisa accessed a suite of Business Gateway’s start-up services, including 1:1 support from her dedicated business adviser, as well as specialist advice on her business plan, marketing strategy, and how to officially register Happy and Wild as a business.

Thanks to Business Gateway and Inverclyde Council, Lisa was also able to benefit from a Start Up (DSL) business loan to help purchase the equipment needed to get her specialist classes up and running.

Lisa also made use of Business Gateway’s webinars to learn more about the skills needed for launching a brand-new business.

Lisa Boonsanong, Owner of Happy and Wild, said: “I’ve always loved the outdoors and have been swimming in open water since I was a child. After being made redundant, I had to carefully consider what my next steps were, and it made sense to me to share my passion with others through a new business.

“I couldn’t have set up Happy and Wild without Business Gateway. They have been a great support throughout. My mentor really believed in my business from the beginning which is so encouraging.”