Pictured above: Mani Johal (FEBA), Adam and Ewa Strombek and Suman Gupta (Derby City Council).

The first Polish grocery store in the heart of Derby's city centre has opened for business with the help of a small business loan.

Adam and Ewa Strombek, who moved to Derby from Poland five years ago, received support from Small Loans For Business (formally known as Enterprise Loans East Midlands) to help them set up the "Ewa", translated as Eve, in the Cornmarket.

Established by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and managed by First Enterprise Business Agency (FEBA), Small Loans For Business provides businesses and entrepreneurs with loans of between £3,000 and £20,000.

The shop will cater for Derby's thriving Polish community, currently estimated at more than 6,000 people, as well as those with a taste for Polish delicacies such as wiejska spicy sausage, pickled cabbage, chocolate covered marshmallows and other products that are already established in the UK.

Quamar Zaman, Chief Executive of FEBA, said: "Adam's experience of grocery shop management has given him strong customer service and financial management skills that, combined with his strong business plan and identification of local demand for specialist groceries, make him an ideal candidate for Small Loans for Business."

Speaking at the official opening, Adam said: "This is a really proud day for both of us. When we arrived in Derby five years ago we couldn't have imagined that we'd eventually be opening our own shop in the city centre. We'd like to thank FEBA for giving us the advice and support we needed to help us realise our dream. We'd like to introduce the local community to new products that cannot be found in other convenience and large retail stores. "

Offering advice for other budding entrepreneurs, Quamar Zaman said, Small Loans for Business is a sustainable source of funding which addresses the difficulties of accessing finance.

"If you do apply for a small business loan, you will get help and assistance with your application, but it's important that you are prepared and organised. Getting your loan approved depends on how well you present yourself, your business and your financial needs."

John O'Reilly, emda's Business Support Director, added: "Securing finance to support your business through its early stages is often the biggest challenge for entrepreneurs like Adam. This makes initiatives such as Small Loans For Business crucial.

"I would encourage people with determination and viable business ideas to contact their Business Link advisor and find out about the support services available that could help them make their business propositions a reality."