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Beck and Co: From ‘Can we do this?’ to ‘We’ve got this’
Beck and Co went from a kitchen-table idea to a six-figure kidswear brand in two years. Co-founder Hollie Anderton‑Schofield shares how HSBC’s free Small Business Growth Programme helped them build confidence, improve cash flow and scale.
One vest, one big idea
Beck and Co, a kids’ clothing brand with attitude and heart, was born in the sleep-deprived haze of new parenthood. After their son Beckett arrived, founders and wife-and-wife team Hollie and Jade couldn’t find alternative, oversized, skate- and surf-style clothes.
Inspired by the magic of childhood, from muddy puddles to paper aeroplanes, they headed to the kitchen table and started designing their own clothing.
What began with a single printed vest quickly grew into graphic t-shirts and heavyweight sweatshirts. Hollie and Jade’s hands-on, personal approach soon turned into a community of parents and social media followers, busy growing their own families and looking for what Hollie and Jade were offering.
Without planning it, their kitchen table project snowballed into a thriving business, says Hollie.
We’ve been carried along on this current, where two years ago we were battling with a newborn and now we’re running a six-figure business!
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The challenge: Scaling without experience
The speed that Beck and Co took off wasn’t without its moments of doubt. “There wasn't much enjoyment initially because it was so fast; we didn't have time to catch up,” Hollie explains.
Alongside a new baby and business, Hollie was working full-time as a teacher and Jade in the NHS. And with no fashion or business experience, the pair worried they’d made a mistake in launching their ‘accidental’ brand.
Their time, energy and money were eaten up managing the day-to-day operations. It was a blur of post office runs and spending more on postage than customers were paying.
Every decision felt high stakes: from choosing price margins and sourcing reliable manufacturers to production regulations.
The hardest part was not knowing what we didn’t know.
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The turning point: HSBC Small Business Growth Programme
In that first year, Beck and Co almost closed the business; questioning whether it was sustainable. It was also a turning point. The founders decided “to go all in”. “But we didn't know what we were looking for,” Hollie emphasises. It was then, scrolling on Instagram, that she was intrigued by an advert for the HSBC Small Business Growth Programme. The programme is free, open to all and designed to support small businesses grow and build resilience.
The word ‘growth’ caught Hollie’s eye, prompting her to explore its training, insights, events and tools. “It reinforced the importance of stepping back and having oversight of what's going on, especially with numbers,” she says.
Instead of generic small business advice, Hollie appreciated that the programme helps with real challenges through practical guidance. She and Jade quickly developed essential skills in AI, cash flow and sustainable scaling, which they could apply immediately. The founders made use of the AI Coach, cash flow forecasting tools and leveraged the benefits of a personalised plan to guide their next steps.
Through these actionable tools and expert insights, Hollie and Jade gained confidence and have adopted a whole new way of working.
We were able to step back from working in the business and start working on it.
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The programme has also enabled a mindset shift and an understanding that growth isn’t about selling more. It’s about building systems for the future, better understanding your finances and having a plan to follow. This mindset has since influenced every major decision.
With HSBC UK’s support, they’ve gone from almost shelving their side hustle-turned-business to having plans and forecasts. “It helped turn what felt like a really tiring hobby into a business with a much clearer long-term direction,” Hollie notes.
The Small Business Growth Programme grows month on month, with new content added regularly. The experience has been so valuable that Hollie and Jade decided to move their banking to HSBC UK.
We switched our business bank very quickly after discovering the HSBC Small Business Growth Programme because it's the most helpful programme I've seen. It's real, practical tools and support.
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Results, awards and confidence
In April, Beck and Co won the West Midlands ‘Start-Up Business Award’ at HSBC’s Small Business Growth Awards in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses. This was a huge milestone, as combined with the programme, it gave Hollie and Jade “the confidence to take control.”
Hollie admits that running a small business can be a “very lonely place to be”. Not having a sounding board is a massive challenge: “You wonder whether you’ve made the right decisions.”
The awards win and celebration dinner sparked new conversations, and the credibility of the award brought new growth opportunities. These connections have already led to two wholesale orders, taking Beck and Co into boutiques. “It’s opening doors for us that I never anticipated.”
Today, the founders’ futures look very different. With effective, business-savvy systems now in place, Hollie and Jade plan to keep learning, growing and making connections. “There’s a version of the future that we didn't think would ever exist because we were never looking to start a business,” Hollie concludes.
Hollie and Jade’s 5 tips for fellow business founders
- Remember it’s okay not to know everything — a wealth of information exists that can help you build capability across every area of your business.
- Embrace new connections where possible, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- Access free tools and training — they're there to support your success.
- Learn as you grow.
- Put learning into action with a simple growth plan — then review it regularly.