The leisure company currently has just two sites in Guilford and Bristol, which is said to be the largest indoor trampoline park in the world.
Since launching in 2013, Airhop has grown to turnover of £5m and has a goal of increasing that significantly to more than £40m by 2020 with the support of Santander Corporate & Commercial.
The business used the bank’s growth capital loan scheme, which backs fast-growth companies – generally with funds of between £500,000 and £5m. But with £6m from Santander, Airhop is set to open 18 new locations across Britain and Europe, which is expected to create some 1,500 new jobs.
The company, which caters to families and friends or group bookings from businesses and schools claims guests can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour on a trampoline.
“Ten minutes on a trampoline burns as many calories as 30 minutes jogging. Bouncing on a trampoline reduces the impact on your limbs by 80 per cent while making them stronger. Why constantly remind yourself that you are exercising with each laborious thud along the pavement? AirHop will provide with you an excellent work out and you’ll have fun taking part,” it said.
Darren Hedges, MD, AirHop, said: “The confidence shown by the Santander team in the brand and its international growth potential, along with the flexibility of its growth capital financing product, was the critical factor in our choice of funding partner and we are very pleased to have found a bank that shares our vision.”
Santander’s growth capital director Peter Able said it was Airhop’s impressive management team and business model that appealed to the bank and called it an “exciting concept”.
“The UK leisure market is performing very well and leading brands such as AirHop will continue to thrive. AirHop’s trampoline parks provide a good value, weather-proof, fun and healthy experience for all age groups. I look forward to seeing more of their sites open in the future,” added Harry Stoakes, director of BDO’s leisure team.
