Cloud Nine Kitchen
Cooking up a sustainable business and lifestyle with Post Loan Support
Running a mobile street food business in the Lake District sounds idyllic, but for Bryony Jackson, founder of Cloud Nine Kitchen, the reality was more complex.
With a passion for restaurant-quality food and a mobile catering van ready to renovate, Bryony and her partner were excited to launch. But as first-time business owners, they quickly realised they needed help setting up the right structure and managing their finances.
“We knew what we wanted the business to look like,” Bryony says. “But we didn’t know how to get there. We needed help with the foundations—how to track cashflow, plan ahead, and make sure we were building something sustainable.”
That’s when they turned to the Post Loan Support Programme, delivered by UMi and Newable. The free service connects Start Up Loan recipients with expert mentors, workshops and resources to help them grow with confidence.
“We were able to get more clarity on our finances,” Bryony explains. “That gave us the confidence to plan ahead and start booking events and festivals a season in advance.”
They also worked on growth planning, refining their marketing and sales strategies to increase income and fund renovations for their catering van.
“We looked at how to use our website and social media more effectively,” she says. “It helped us build a pipeline of regular bookings and recurring income.”
Operational systems were another focus. With support, they created structures that would allow them to scale, including defining roles, planning for outsourcing, and preparing to take on bigger events.
“We wanted to grow without burning out,” Bryony says. “Having systems in place means we can do that.”
They also took time to reflect on lessons learned from past events, using those insights to improve profitability and cash flow.
“Post Loan Support helped us turn experience into strategy,” she says. “We’re able to be more proactive with our planning.”
Today, Cloud Nine Kitchen is thriving. With a clear structure, better financial insight, and a growing reputation, they’ve been named finalists for New Business of the Year at the Cumbria Food Awards 2025.
“We’ve built a business that supports our lifestyle,” Bryony says. “And we couldn’t have done it without the support.”