A Dunmow gift manufacturer is to expand to cope with its increased demand.

Apatchy, which was set up in 2009 by Georgie Stacey and Sam Tolhurst, has secured a £150,000 funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking to help increase the business’s turnover to £1million next year.

The firm, which makes and sells a wide range of lifestyle products, including makeup bags and rugby boot bags, through its own website and on Notonthehighstreet.com, was listed as eighth in the Fortuna 50 list of fastest growing, female-led businesses.

Sam said: “When we started Apatchy six years ago, we had ambitious growth plans for the business. Now we’re looking to increase our turnover to £1million next year and with support from the bank we believe this is achievable.”

Martin Evans, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, added: “Apatchy is a great example of an ambitious, female-led company that started out as school gate chat and has grown into a successful online business.”