We have helped many new businesses and start ups. Below are testimonials from just a few.

Laura Darrington – Greetings cards
Kate Lynch – Day nursery
Melissa March – Learning for the elderly in care homes
Lisa Botterill – Solicitor
Faye Downey – Trainer for professional sportsmen
Asif Ghadawala – Electrical equipment wholesaler
Ian Rodwell – Shopfitting & joinery

Laura Darrington

“Laura Darrington Design was founded in January 2004 with the aim of selling contemporary handmade greetings cards to the retail market. Initially I had a start up loan from the Prince’s Trust, although after establishing the demand for my product, I quickly realised a further business loan was needed to help move my company on to the next level.

After researching funding/loan opportunities, I found The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity. I put together a new business plan which projected what I intended to spend the loan on and quickly received an appointment with 3 of the Trustees of the charity. The meeting was informal and the Trustees approachable provided you have a clear idea of where the money will be spent and, in turn, have a realistic vision of your chosen business.

Following the meeting, I soon received a reply to say the loan would be granted and would shortly receive a cheque.

After speaking with many industry colleagues over the past 5 years, it is very rare for businesses to receive loans on the terms of The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity. As a result, this allows you to inject more money into growing your company, as opposed to paying expensive interest rates.

Since receiving the loan from the charity, my company has gone from strength to strength. Laura Darrington Design now has 11 sales agents and numerous overseas distributors and is now selling to various UK retail chains throughout the UK and Ireland. I also won “Most Promising Young Designer” in 2008, which was nominated by retail buyers within the greetings cards industry. This was a great achievement as it really outlined how much had been achieved within my first 5 years in business”.

Kate Lynch

In 2001 Sir Thomas White Loan Charity gave us a £10,000 loan to set up Allexton Day Nursery. We started out with only 4 children and 8 years later we are providing quality care and education for 70 children and employ 16 staff. Allexton Nursery moved into the Westend Surestart Children’s Centre, working in partnership with them and we are going from strength to strength. We have made a huge difference to many children and families in our local area. We achieved the Awards to Industry Award in 2008 for our outstanding contribution to the caring professions and are so grateful to the charity for providing us with this opportunity.

Quote from parent “I’ve been so  pleased with Allexton Day Nursery for my two boys. I leave them knowing they are safe and happy and the staff have become friends. Thank you for all your hard work and the wonderful way your nursery is run- Rebecca – Mum to Danny and Joe.”

Melissa March

“We would have struggled without the help we received from the Sir Thomas White Loan Charity to be able to start up our business. We took a big risk, as I left full time work and this was only enabled by help from Sir Thomas White. Since receiving the loan Learning for the Fourth Age has gone from strength to strength and I would recommend the scheme to anyone.”

Lisa Botterill

After the award of my Law Degree from Warwick University, I needed to attend a one year Legal Practice course in order to pursue my career as a solicitor. In the year 2000 I borrowed £3,000 towards the course fees and studied at De Montfort University. I was offered a training contract by a firm of solicitors in Northampton and travelled daily to carry out my training there before returning to Leicester to work at Harvey Ingram. I now specialise in corporate finance and am grateful to the Sir Thomas White Loan Charity for its part in helping the development of my career. I repaid the loan in 2008.

Faye Downey

The STW charity loan meant that I could use the funds to buy the equipment and office resources I needed to set up as an independent practioner after working for UK Athletics and The English Institute of Sport. Moreover, the business planning guidance and check point of the committee have contributed to the success of planning for the corporate side of my sports training. Since setting up the business I have been contracted to England Rugby for the the World Cup 2007. More importantly, for the home county of the charity I have worked as a speed and power consultant to Leicester Tigers contributing to their fantastic achievement of Guinness premiership Champions 2009″.

Asif Ghadawala – Electrical equipment wholesaler

Asif had been a manager for a local clothing manufacturer since the age of 18, at 28 he opened his own business in an empty shop. The Charity helped Asif buy vital stock & equipment allowing him to start trading. Now 5 years later, Asif employs 8 staff at his custom built 8000 sq foot warehouse which he has recently acquired. With business support from his friends and family, Asif now delivers a large variety of electrical items across the county, as well as offering a postal service throughout the UK and a delivery service for the Leicestershire region.

Ian Rodwell

IPR Interiors Ltd was set up in 1999 by Ian Rodwell. Mr Rodwell’s ambition was to establish a highly respected shop fitting and joinery business. In order to begin to achieve this Mr Rodwell required some funding so that he could take on a small workshop and purchase tools and machinery. It was at this point that he was introduced to the Sir Thomas White Loan Charity. Mr Rodwell met with the Charity and explained what his vision was and how he would need to achieve it. The Charity went on to loan him £7,000 interest free for a period of 9 years. Although this seems like a small amount in the current climate, at the time it was more than enough to help get the business up and running.

Since then IPR Interiors Ltd have continued to expand and currently have 13,000 sq ft of workshop and office space where they manufacture high quality bespoke joinery for major construction companies and undertake Nationwide shop fitting contracts for well known high street brands.

Without this initial help with funding IPR Interiors Ltd would not be in the position it is today.