How Fika used finance to grow – and help others BLOOM

Fika Catering makes great food. But for founder Ed Walker, that's only half the story. 

Alongside the event catering business and café sits BLOOM, a social enterprise that helps disadvantaged people into work. Growing it has taken ambition, coupled with the right finance at the right time. And this is where Ed’s passion lies. 

Where it all began

We've backed Fika from the very beginning. In fact, when Funding Circle first used Fika’s catering services, we were their second-ever client. They’ve come a long way from those early days. 

While they looked after us with delicious food, our relationship flourished. When Fika needed finance to take their business to the next level, Funding Circle was there to back them.

How finance helped Fika have a greater impact

As Fika Catering built its reputation, demand for its services quickly outstripped the capacity of its original kitchen. For Ed, investing in a second kitchen wasn’t just about taking on more clients – it was about creating more opportunities to make a difference through BLOOM Coffee Academy. To make that happen, Fika needed a cash injection, which is why they came to us.

Opening a second kitchen required significant upfront investment. A Funding Circle term loan gave Fika access to the £100,000 it needed to expand, allowing them to spread the cost across regular monthly repayments.

“As a business owner, you're spinning a lot of plates,” explains Ed. “An admin task like applying for a loan takes time, and time was ticking.”

Ed and his team had set their hearts on a site in Canary Wharf, London, to open their second kitchen and first cafe, Fika Xchange. But with several other people interested, they knew they had to act fast.

“It was the fact that the loan came back very quickly, and I knew I could have that money when I wanted it, that meant that we could push the button and crack on with the business,” says Ed.

“From the moment I applied for the £100,000 loan, it took two or three days for the money to be in my bank.”

Supporting disadvantaged people back into work

Doing good and giving back has always been central to Ed’s business. Securing the second kitchen and cafe space helped Fika meet demand and grow.

Most importantly for Ed, this gave Fika the opportunity to equip more people experiencing hardship with the skills they need to grow through BLOOM Coffee Academy.  

“BLOOM is our not-for-profit social enterprise with a very simple purpose: to give those people who have fallen on difficult times a skill and an opportunity to get back into paid work.

“It really does change people's lives,” says Ed. 

“We've trained around 140 people to become qualified baristas since we've started. Because it’s funded through Fika, the more coffee we sell, the more money goes into BLOOM Coffee Academy, and the more funds we've got, therefore, to train people.”

The link between finance and giving back is clear for Ed:

“If we didn't take the loan, we would have been half the size we are now. BLOOM’s impact would also have been half. So I genuinely think the money that we took from Funding Circle to scale has directly doubled the number of people we’ve trained.”

A long-term relationship built on trust

We continue to work with Fika as they’ve grown. They now have FlexiPay, which Ed describes as a “safety net” to bridge any cash flow gaps the business faces.

FlexiPay is a flexible line of credit that gives business owners complete control over their cash flow. Pay upfront then split your repayments over 1 to 12 month instalments, with one simple flat fee from 1.99% applied each time.*

“Cash flow is the biggest thing in a small business, so it’s very helpful to have an extra facility behind the scenes should we need it,” says Ed.

The ripple effect of finance and good business

Finance not only unlocked the next stage of Fika’s business, but made a tangible difference to the lives of 140 disadvantaged people, and counting.

“You've got to be brave as a business owner sometimes. If I didn't take the money, I wouldn't have doubled in growth,” Ed concludes. 

“There's been huge progress and I look back to where we are now and I'm blown away. It's a real pinch-me moment.”

To explore your business’s finance options, check if you’re eligible in 30 seconds and get a decision in as little as an hour. Our team will help you assess which product, or products, are right for you. Click here to apply today.

10/11/26: While we want to help as much as we can, the information found here is provided solely for informational purposes and should not be considered financial or legal advice. To the extent permitted by law, Funding Circle does not accept any liability for any loss or damage which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information contained here. If you have any questions, please speak to your professional adviser or seek independent legal advice. 

* Please note that 1-month repayment terms are not available on all accounts.