Vivobarefoot doubles global sales by leveraging government-backed finance to scale sustainable footwear exports from the UK to five continents

British sustainable footwear brand Vivobarefoot has experienced remarkable growth, doubling its annual turnover in just four years, thanks to a strategic mix of innovation and government-backed financial support.

Founded by cousins Galahad and Asher Clark, seventh-generation cobblers from Somerset, Vivobarefoot launched in 2012 with a mission to create footwear that protects the foot while allowing natural movement.

Their distinctive minimalist designs quickly captured the attention of customers worldwide, earning a reputation for combining sustainability with cutting-edge comfort.

International Expansion Sparks Financial Needs

As Vivobarefoot shipped products across the US, Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Africa, international demand surged.

With growth came the familiar challenge for fast-scaling businesses: maintaining sufficient working capital to fulfill global orders efficiently.

To address this, Vivobarefoot turned to HSBC UK, which provided a series of loans backed by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government’s export credit agency.

Government-Backed Finance Powers Growth

In 2022, Vivobarefoot secured a £3.8 million loan through UKEF’s General Export Facility (GEF), which helps UK exporters access working capital.

Following this, two further GEF-backed loans were issued in 2024 (£5.7 million) and 2025 (£6.7 million), bringing the total government-backed support to more than £16 million.

These financial resources enabled Vivobarefoot to meet rising international demand, expand its operations, and continue investing in sustainable production methods.

The company now supports over 120 jobs across Bristol and London.

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Leadership Perspective on Expansion

Colin Hawes, Export Finance Manager at UKEF, highlighted the significance of supporting innovative UK businesses:

“By unlocking working capital through our General Export Facility, UKEF has helped Vivobarefoot sustain jobs and long-term growth, while achieving new milestones in innovation and sustainability.

They’re a brilliant example of British ingenuity thriving on the world stage.”

John Collins, CFO at Vivobarefoot, added:

“As a working-capital intensive business exporting worldwide, UK Export Finance allowed us to fully leverage growth opportunities overseas.

I would encourage any company eligible to access UKEF support to do so quickly—it lets you focus entirely on the commercial opportunity.”

Imelda Vyshka, Relationship Director at HSBC UK, emphasized the bank’s role:

“We’re committed to helping high-growth businesses scale domestically and internationally, offering timely working capital with the reassurance of government backing.”

Impact and Consequences

Vivobarefoot’s success demonstrates how targeted financial support can enable SMEs to compete globally.

Beyond boosting sales, the investment has safeguarded hundreds of UK jobs and reinforced the company’s leadership in sustainable footwear innovation.

The wider impact of UKEF’s initiatives is substantial: in the last financial year, the agency provided £14.5 billion in new financing, supporting over 667 UK exporters and protecting approximately 70,000 jobs.

What’s Next?

With government-backed finance and international demand continuing to rise, Vivobarefoot plans to expand further into new markets while investing in research, sustainable materials, and waste reduction initiatives.

UKEF’s support will continue to play a key role in facilitating growth opportunities for ambitious UK exporters.

Summary

Vivobarefoot’s journey illustrates the power of combining innovative products with strategic financial backing.

Government support through UKEF and bank partnerships allowed the brand to scale globally, protect jobs, and reinforce its commitment to sustainability.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Vivobarefoot grew sales by 85% over four years, from £49 million to £91 million.
• Over £16 million in government-backed finance from UKEF enabled international expansion.
• The company now supports 120+ jobs across Bristol and London.
• UKEF’s General Export Facility helps SMEs secure working capital up to £25 million with repayment terms up to five years.
• Vivobarefoot’s growth highlights the potential for UK SMEs to thrive in global markets with strategic financial support.