A Manchester-based craftsman of high-end backgammon boards has invested in new equipment and a larger workshop with the support of a £6,000 loan through the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme, delivered by GC Business Finance (GCBF).

Founded by Guy Haslam, Bone Club Backgammon designs and creates handmade custom backgammon boards, with a focus on high-end craftsmanship. The bespoke boards can sell anywhere between £500 and as much as £23,000.

Originally trained as a dentist, Guy has had a varied career, including running a web design agency which became a limited company, before following in his father’s footsteps as a joiner and undertaking a furniture restoration course at MANCAT.

After relocating to his home area, Guy rekindled his love for backgammon which he used to play with his Mum. Wanting to use backgammon as a way of meeting like-minded people Guy researched local players, and invited them to the Bone Club, where he could socialise and play with other enthusiasts.

Falling in love with backgammon again, Guy realised he could combine his business and creative skills to design and sell luxury boards. Believing it could become a viable business, he began selling the boards and was encouraged by strong initial demand.

Commenting on his inspiration behind founding a business, Guy said: “I’ve played backgammon since I was seven with my Mum, so it’s long been a passion of mine. I’d just never considered I could make money from it. Through setting up Bone Club I saw the joy and fun it brought to people, and I wanted to take this joy and apply it to my work, so founding Bone Club Backgammon felt like the logical next step.”

To scale the business further, he secured a Start Up Loan from GCBF. This helped Guy to move to a larger workshop, allowing him to bring some outsourced processes in-house, along with boosting business stock.

With ambitious targets to produce 12 custom boards and 50 smaller custom boards per year, Guy is hoping to hire his first part-time employee later this year, along with a full-time team member within a year. High-end events also represent an opportunity for the business, with Guy currently running around three corporate events per month, along with exclusive games at private members' clubs across Mayfair.

“I never expected for the business to take off quite in the way it has. To help it grow, I needed the right support, and I found this in the GCBF team. It was a straightforward and supportive process, allowing me to focus on how I could scale and grow Bone Club Backgammon. With the help of the funding, our expansion into corporate events and private members clubs has catapulted us forwards, so there’s plenty more to be excited about as we continue to grow,” added Guy.

Alex Mearns, Head of Start Up Lending at GC Business Finance, said: “Guy’s story is truly inspirational, turning his passion into a successful business. This is why having targeted support for new founders is so important, helping to turn these incredible personal stories and passions into a reality. With the help of our underwriter, Georgia, the impact the SUL funding had on Guy and Bone Club Backgammon is already clear, with plenty of exciting new developments to come in the future.”

Delyth Edwards, Senior Network Manager for the North West at the British Business Bank, said: “The Start Up Loans programme was set up to help people just like Guy – someone who has a strong passion and skill, to help them turn this into a viable business. The success of Bone Club Backgammon is testament to this, creating a unique product while offering the potential to provide more jobs in the local economy. Guy’s personal journey is inspirational, and I can’t wait to see what he achieves next.”