How the Opportunity Investment Fund has supported local businesses

See below a list of businesses we have supported through OIF.

Roller Nation

Roller Nation is the only custom-built roller skating venue in the country. It opened in Tottenham in 2019.

Nearly 100 years ago the majestic space in Bruce Grove was a cinema, but it has now been transformed into a 'mecca' for roller lovers everywhere.

Roller Nation have used OIF funding to fit out the space, which has created 21 local jobs.

The roles were recruited with support from our dedicated employment service, Haringey Works.

David French, Director of Roller Nation, said: 

The application itself was very thorough and it does take time, but it was relatively straightforward. There’s an understanding you have to hit targets in terms of your business plan and financial programming but that’s important because we’re not talking about peanuts here. And the OIF has a responsibility to the council to ensure it’s all being done responsibly.

Ten87

Ten87 Studios provide creative workspace for music and sound. They are based in South Tottenham and run 42 studios across 3 sites.

The first OIF loan enabled them to:

• expand onto their second site in Tottenham
• refurbish a vacant warehouse
• create more commercial floorspace and recording studios, co-working space and event space

They then received a second OIF loan, which was used to finance 10 more studios on a third site in the High Cross Centre.

Rob Burn, Producer/Director at Ten87 Studios, said:

The loan is the best way I’ve found of borrowing money. We’ve experienced things moving quite slowly through a conventional lender, and maybe they don’t quite understand the inner workings of a business, but Haringey Council was very receptive and flexible.

Redemption

Redemption Brewing Co. was set up in 2010 by Andy Moffat and Sam Rigby. They are an award-winning urban craft brewery based in Tottenham.

The OIF has enabled Redemption Brewery to:

• refurbish and expand into a building in north Tottenham
• take on new apprentices and staff in order to meet increased demand for their acclaimed craft beer

Andy Moffat, Owner of Redemption Brewing Co., said:

Thanks to the funding we have grown the business and it’s doing really well. We are now producing between 25,000 to 40,000 pints a week, we’re going into more pubs and producing far more bottles of Redemption than we used to which are sold in places like the Co-op.

We’re also expanding globally and exporting beers to Sweden, Italy and Denmark.

Chuku’s

Chuku’s is the world's first Nigerian tapas restaurant, fusing Nigerian cuisine and culture with the homely feel of tapas bars. Winners of Virgin Media Pioneers’ entrepreneurship award and described by The Royal Africa Society as “reflecting the direction African food is going”.

Founded by the British-Nigerian brother-sister duo, Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederick, Chuku’s has gained internal fame as a pioneer in the restaurant industry. This unique Seven Sisters restaurant is based in a former money transfer shop. OIF funding has helped them transform the space.

Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederic, Owners at Chuku’s, said:

It was also great to meet business that have already received OIF funding such as High Cross, True Craft, and Roller Nation. They were very supportive and still pop in to see how we are doing.

Other businesses supported 

The OIF has supported many more businesses. Here are a few:

• The Albion Knitting Co. – an industrial scale fully fashioned flat knitter, knitting for Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, See by Chloe, Nicole Fahri amongst many others
• The High Cross (Instagram page) – Chris Johnson and Alex Beeston have transformed a disused public toilet into a cosy café/bar on the Tottenham High Road
• Pressure Drop – a small independent brewery, owned and operated by Ben, Graham and Sam
• Stronghold Bouldering Centre – a state-of-the-art climbing centre on Fountayne Road
• True Craft – an old, disused building in West Green Road has been transformed into a thriving pub and pizza place

Contact us if you want to express your interest and grow your business.