Linda Neville New Trustee

INTRODUCING LINDA NEVILLE AS OUR NEW TRUSTEE

by News

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity is delighted to welcome Linda Neville on board as a new Trustee of the Charity.

Linda had a 26-year career in the NHS, working initially as a nurse with clients suffering from serious and enduring mental health conditions before spending a number of years in senior nurse leadership positions and culminating in an Operational Director position.

As Director of Adult Mental Health Services for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, Linda was responsible for a £100 million operating budget and a £50 million capital development programme.
Since leaving the NHS in 2011, Linda has developed her own business, providing Expert Witness reports for Court, and developing a Private Practice clinic, SanaMente, assisting people to make and embed changes into their lives.

“I found out about the Charity recently and was immediately impressed and excited by the work they do,” Linda said.

“My career has been about supporting people to be the best they can be through enhancing their belief in themselves and building sustainable coping strategies. So, this is like the final piece in the jigsaw, by supporting people financially to realise their dreams.

“I love the fact that the support is available in business and education,” she continued.

“I believe it is so important for people who are looking to develop themselves or have an innovative great idea to have somewhere to access funding from. Safe, sensible funding with a kind approach to making sure the ideas and applications are sound and robust.”

In 2021, Linda launched the online platform and community, Strive, using innovative and ground-breaking approaches to empowering people to be at their best, whilst supporting businesses to reduce sickness absence and increasing productivity.

In September 2023, Linda was a finalist for Outstanding Female Entrepreneur and won Outstanding Woman in Care Services, and was also awarded Inspirational Female Leader at The Women’s Awards.

“I hope that my impact will be of value around understanding people, ideas and behaviours,” she added.

“I am keen to be supportive to my fellow Trustees and the applicants. Although I have a public sector and business background, my passion is not finance or figures, it is all about the people and how best to help them. In some cases that will be about supporting an application and in others not. Sometimes the dream is not theirs to chase.

“I am delighted and thrilled to be part of this amazing Charity, it fits in perfectly with my ethos, lifestyle and plans. The people are great, the work is so rewarding and interesting, and I get to meet amazing people having super ideas!”

Q3 2024 Graphic

£141,000 AWARDED IN INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO PEOPLE IN LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND

by News

We’re thrilled to announce that we awarded 10 interest-free loans to people within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in the third quarter of 2024.

Totalling £141,000, the latest sum in interest-free loans is to be utilised to either fund business start-up or development, or postgraduate education.

Nine interest-free business loans totalling £131,000 were approved to support a variety of local businesses including a travel agency, womenswear boutique, mobile caterer and a consultancy firm, as well as a top-up loan for a current business borrower. These individual loans ranged from £5,000 to the full £20,000 available.

Meanwhile, one education loan to the value of £10,000 was approved to enable a student to complete postgraduate studies at university.

Established in 1542, STWLC hosts quarterly application windows each year in which people aged over 18 and under 45 can apply for unique interest-free loans of up to £20,000 to aid local businesses, or £10,000 to support students wishing to return to postgraduate education. The Charity’s loans are interest-free for nine years, and become repayable by equal instalments after three years.

Lucy Womack, Chair of STWLC, said: “We’re very pleased to be supporting a further nine businesses with our interest-free loans this quarter, as well as helping a student to begin a postgraduate course at university.

“Some people say that not paying a penny back in interest on a loan sounds too good to be true, but I promise, that’s our offer! I’d encourage anyone who is starting a small business to visit our website and read the criteria in full. It could be the best decision you ever make!”

Application packs are available to download upon completion of a contact form on our website – please use the tabs listed above.

The next deadline for applications is 3.30pm on Tuesday 1st October 2024.

2024 Grants Stats v2

OVER £100,000 AWARDED IN BUSINESS GRANTS!

by Business Grant Success Stories

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity has awarded 23 grants to businesses in Leicestershire and Rutland totalling £103,000 – the largest amount ever awarded by the Charity!

With 2024 being the 60th year of STWLC being registered with the Charity Commission, and following the record-breaking loan approval figures in 2023, we celebrated by doubling our grants budget to £100,000, giving more businesses than ever before the chance to benefit.

Whereas our interest-free business loans are to be repaid, these grants of up to £5,000 require no repayment by recipients at all, offering a much-needed boost during a challenging economic time for small businesses.

A total of 125 applications were received by STWLC, with the grants awarded ranging from £1,000 to the maximum amount of £5,000 to support businesses from a wide range of industries, including: photography, baking, injury rehabilitation, construction, art, early years childcare/education, and IT services.

“We are a young company, so to have a head start on some of our marketing efforts is fantastic. I’m excited to see the impact this will have.” – Jake Saunders, Saunders Networks Ltd.

Ammo Khan, Chair of STWLC’s Grant Committee, said: “This was a special year for the Charity’s grants scheme, with our funding pot doubled to provide more grants than ever before to local businesses. I’m delighted that the opportunity has been grasped with both hands, and I’m sure the total amount of £103,000 spread across 23 recipients will make a huge difference to many small business owners across the county.”

Lucy Womack, Chair of STWLC, added: “Last year we approved our highest amount of interest-free loans since 2008, so we’re absolutely thrilled to continue that good news with our highest-ever grants approval figure this year. Starting and running a small business is a hugely rewarding endeavour, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. We hope that these grants can provide a much-needed boost to all 23 recipients, and we look forward to following their progress and future success.

Jake Saunders, Managing Director of Saunders Networks Ltd and a recipient of the grant, said: “I’m extremely grateful to receive this grant for our business. We are a young company, so to have a head start on some of our marketing efforts is fantastic. I’m excited to see the impact this will have on building our customer base and better serving our existing customers too. Thank you so much for awarding this to us, we are so grateful!”

Ellysia Blair, The Rehab Coach, said: “This grant means that I am able to support so many more local sportspeople, clubs and teams in Leicestershire with their sports rehab and injury prevention. I am so excited to be able to get a professional to help me with designing a proper website and have more of a social media presence, allowing my business to reach further afield and spread awareness about how I can help people with their return to sport. I cannot thank STWLC enough!”

Christian Thompson, a Photographer, added: “I’m tremendously excited to receive this grant, which will allow me to meet new potential clients which will provide the opportunity of gaining wedding photography bookings at prestigious venues. This grant will help me to take my business in the direction that I want to head. Thank you to The Sir Thomas White loan Charity!”

Applications for STWLC’s business grants are now closed, however applications are still being welcomed for our interest-free business loans, which are available up to the value of £20,000.

LBF24 EVENT graphic 02

CHARITY TO HOST FESTIVAL EVENT FOR SMALL BUSINESS START-UPS

by News

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity is delighted to once again be hosting a FREE event at Leicester Business Festival, with tickets now available for: OMG! I’m starting a business but don’t know where to begin…

Taking place inside The Gallery at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Thursday 7 November (10am-12pm), this free event will showcase real business owners who have experienced fear, imposter syndrome, sleepless nights and survived it all, talking to those who are treading the same path.

We also want our event to be dynamic, engaging, interactive, supportive and memorable. The event is for people who have started a business but feel a bit lost, clueless and scared. We want people to feel heard about the realities of risking their savings and reputation and also feel safe and supported in the environment we create for them.

In the format of ‘Question Time’, we’ll have a panel of people comprised of business experts and new business start-ups – all familiar with starting new businesses or helping those to do so. Our Fiona Bruce will be Lucy Womack, our Chair. She will initially introduce and then ask questions of the panel and then field questions from the audience.

Featured on the panel will be our Patron and successful business owner, Barrie Stephen, our Ambassador Steff Lee (founder of Kino Bino), a borrower of our interest-free loan, Scott Moore, as well as Pete Hitchings of Loughborough University and HR expert, Paul Dickinson.

As well as a fantastic learning and networking opportunity, attendees will also be able to find out more about our interest-free business loans, which are available up to £20,000 over a 9 year term-length, to support the start-up or growth of businesses in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland.

Parking will be available at King Power Stadium on the day for event attendees.

To book your place for FREE, please click below:

BOOK YOUR PLACE FOR FREE HERE

Sam Purvis new trustee

WELCOMING OUR NEW TRUSTEE, SAM PURVIS

by News

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity is delighted to announce that Sam Purvis has become a new Trustee of the Charity.

Having worked in a variety of roles, from commercial to senior operational management and from talent development to employment law and HR, Sam started her own company and has spent the last 20 years as Managing Director of The Compass Partnership.

The Compass Partnership design and maintain HR systems to multi-site operations, SMEs, franchised and non-franchised businesses and internal HR teams alike, providing HR, legal, and learning and development expertise to businesses of all sizes.

After joining the Charity as a new Trustee, Sam said: “I first heard about STWLC from a close colleague of mine, who is also a Trustee. I thought at first, there must be a catch, but as long as the criteria is met, there really isn’t!

“I can honestly say that the Charity offers a brilliant financial lifeline to entrepreneurs like no other I have ever heard of, and it is so rewarding to hear the progress that borrowers have made with their businesses as a direct result of being loaned the money to start up or expand.

“I know just how challenging it is in the early days and how lonely working hard to build a business from scratch can be. I hope to bring experience, empathy and lots of examples of my own to share.

“Being part of STWLC really does feel like a privilege and being able to help so many people is incredible – I cannot wait to help spread the word!”

To find out more about our interest-free loans, which are available up to £20,000 for business purposes or £10,000 for postgraduate education, please select the relevant tabs at the top of this page.

28.10.19 - LBF-Opening-Event-1112

STWLC PARTNERS WITH LEICESTER BUSINESS FESTIVAL 2024

by News

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity is delighted to be an official partner of Leicester Business Festival 2024.

Taking place between 4th – 15th November 2024, the festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year and around 80 events are expected to be held across the two weeks.

Last year, STWLC hosted an event at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium titled: ‘Everything you always wanted to know about starting a business but were afraid to ask’, which was well attended and proved to be a great success.

We’re delighted to confirm that the Charity will once again be hosting its own event at this year’s festival, with further details to follow soon.

Lucy Womack, Chair of STWLC, said: “Participating in and supporting LBF has been invaluable for us and has reinforced our commitment to local businesses. Last year we connected with inspiring entrepreneurs which played a crucial role in nurturing new businesses and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs. Our event was a great success and we will be hosting a similar style panel this year for aspiring business entrepreneurs.”

Although the festival takes place from 4-15 November 2024 the build-up starts from now as applications are open for event ideas.

If you are interested in hosting your own event, visit the website and complete the application form. The sooner you submit your event, the more likely you are to get your preferred time and date:

Alongside STWLC, other key partners for 2024 include the East Midlands Chamber, University of Leicester, Everards of Leicestershire, Leicester Hospitals Charity, and TheMusicLicence, by PPL PRS Ltd.

For any questions about the festival, email hello@leicesterbusinessfestival.com or call 0116 464 5995.

Rewards for referrals!

NEW BORROWER REFERRAL SCHEME NOW LIVE!

by News

We are pleased to launch our brand-new Borrower Referral Scheme, which gives current or former STWLC loan recipients a fantastic opportunity to receive a £50 gift card by referring another successful loan applicant.

Open to both business and education loan borrowers, if an applicant identifies you as a referrer on their application form, and they draw down on the loan having been successful, you will have the opportunity to choose between a £50 Amazon or One4All gift card as your reward.

Lucy Womack, Chair of STWLC, said: “Our mission as Trustees of the Charity is simple – allocate as much money as possible to those who need it for business and education purposes within our county. To help us achieve that further, we’re enlisting your help!

“Do you know a friend or family member who is thinking about starting a business or taking a postgraduate course? Perhaps you speak with the public daily and have the opportunity to tell more people about us? Either way, this is a great way to receive a £50 gift card for yourself, while making a positive difference to somebody else. Start spreading the word today!”

To view our referral scheme terms and conditions please see below, and please visit the business loan or education loan pages on our website to view our loan eligibility criteria.

Referral Scheme Terms and Conditions

To be eligible and to receive a reward for a referral, all the following terms and conditions need to be met:

  • The referrer must be a current or former loan recipient of the STWLC (either education or business).  If a former borrower of STWLC, then the loan must have been fully repaid no more than 6 years from the date of the referral (application) so referral eligibility can be confirmed
  • The referrer must be identified on the application form, as submitted by the applicant.  Referrer contact details must also be submitted
  • The applicant being referred must be successful in securing a loan from STWLC and must complete / draw down on the loan.  The reward will only be paid once this has taken place.
  • The applicant, in providing referrer details, must agree to the decision / result of their loan application being shared with the referrer and this should be indicated on the application form
  • Referrals can be accepted for both business and education loan applications (grant applications are excluded)
  • The reward will consist of a £50 gift card from either Amazon or One4All (referrer to choose) and this will be emailed to the referrer once the loan has been drawn down
  • Current and former STWLC Ambassadors are excluded from receiving referral rewards
Business loan borrower Leicester

GEORGIE ANSELL: BUILDING A STRONG BUSINESS

by Business Success StoriesNews

“Life is about living and you work for the majority of it, so why not do something you love!” 

These wise words come from Georgie Ansell, who is proof that following a passion for a career can be hugely satisfying and rewarding, with her business, Georgie Ansell Personal Training, now thriving thanks in part to our interest-free business loan. 

Georgie grew up in Rutland with her mum, dad and brother and returned to the county soon after completing an undergraduate degree in Leeds. 

“I then travelled South East Asia, which was one of the most amazing experiences,” Georgie explained. 

“I came back from travelling and decided I wanted to have a career as a PA, so I started working as a receptionist for land developers and worked my way up to being a PA for the COO of the company.” 

While doing this job, Georgie found her love for fitness and having travelled around Australia for six weeks, she decided to take the brave step of changing her career path. 

“I soon left the PA role and trained to be a personal trainer,” she continued.  “During my training I had a full-time job caring for the elderly in Rutland, which was really rewarding.  I have been a qualified PT for just over six years, but running it as a full-time business for 20 months.”

Unlike most other gyms, Georgie Ansell Personal Training provides a small, intimate and comfortable setting for people to train.

“My personal training business offers one-to-one and small group sessions in a private gym based just outside of Oakham, Rutland. The space is unique as its only me and the person training. It takes away the big gym environment and provides a space they can feel comfortable in.” 

“I did some research as I wanted to expand my business,” Georgie reflected when recounting STWLC’s role in her entrepreneurial story.

“The interview was great, the Trustees put me at ease and were very supportive through the whole process.” 

Georgie Ansell

“It was then while searching the web for loans that I came across STWLC. I found the process straight-forward. The business plan gets provided so you know what you need to include. The interview was great, the Trustees put me at ease and were very supportive through the whole process.” 

Once Georgie’s interest-free business loan was approved, she quickly went about putting the funds to good use.

“I used the funds to renovate part of an old chicken shed so I could use it as a private gym space,” Georgie continued. 

“I was also able to purchase equipment for the gym. I bought two sets of cardio machines, a rig, with a squat rack, pull up bar and pulley machine, plus barbells, dumbbells, storage units and much more functional fitness equipment. I also purchased a laptop for admin.”

Finishing with a final word on STWLC’s impact, Georgie put it simply:

“I wouldn’t be in the position I am with my business without them!”

To make an enquiry to Georgie Ansell Personal Training, please email: info@georgieansellpersonaltraining.co.uk 

For more information on our interest-free business loans, available up to £20,000 over a nine-year period with no repayments required in the first three years, please click here

Victor Yu 01

VICTOR YU: FINDING A NEW PATH

by Education Success StoriesNews

One huge benefit of taking a postgraduate course is that it gives people an extra opportunity to re-shape a career direction if their undergraduate studies no longer remain their key interest and passion.

That proved to be the case for Victor Yu, who studied geography at undergraduate level before changing direction with an Epidemiology MSc at Imperial College London, which led to his current position as Senior Public Health Analyst at Hertfordshire County Council.

One of many recipients of STWLC’s interest-free education loan, Victor began by recounting his early memories of education.

“I grew up around Birmingham and undertook the majority of my secondary education in the region, plus including a brief stint in the US and Scotland for a couple of years,” Victor explained.

“For my undergraduate studies, I went to Loughborough University in the East Midlands, where I studied geography. I remained in Loughborough for a year after graduating to build up savings to fund my masters, whilst I continued training in athletics in the hopes of securing a sports scholarship, to secure even more additional funding. Unfortunately, I did not get this.”

During his search for funding opportunities, Victor first heard about The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity online.

“I looked at websites which provided information on postgraduate funding opportunities and found the Charity mentioned. Along with STWLC’s loan, I managed to secure grants from several other charities which also aided in my masters funding.”

With finances secured, Victor commenced a move away from his geography undergraduate studies to instead follow his interest in epidemiology.

“The course content was centred around principles of biostatistics, public health, and epidemiology, taught by world renowned researchers,” Victor continued.

“In the second semester, students were given the choice of more specialised modules, which involved more advanced content around infectious disease modelling, statistical methods like machine learning and advanced regression, and spatial modelling of diseases. The course cumulated in a several month dissertation project, where I worked with researchers on developing a large Bayesian statistical model examining global trends in childhood and adolescent height.

“The course was paramount in helping me transition to a quantitative field related to health,” Victor added.

“Without having done the course, it would’ve have been much more difficult for me to have entered the field and to reach where I am today as I came from a fairly unorthodox undergraduate background, in contrast to my peers who had done degrees like biomedical science, clinical degrees, pharmacy and mathematics.”

It’s clear that Victor’s postgraduate studies have been instrumental in shaping his desired career, and he concluded with a glowing review of the Charity’s interest-free education loan, which helped to make it possible.

“It sounds cliché, but I like the idiom that life is like a box of dominoes falling in to place. Being accepted for the loan has given me all of the experiences of my life since graduating and where I am now. In addition, with the loan being interest-free with a long repayment period, you appreciate the altruism the Trustees have in seeing their applicants succeed, over purely monetary gain.”

If you’re considering postgraduate education like Victor and need funds for tuition or living costs, please click here to read more about our interest-free education loans.

Gwilym Roberts 01

GWILYM ROBERTS: LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

by Education Success StoriesNews

Starting and developing a career in acting is no mean feat. It involves a combination of training, networking and perseverance, but when the love for it is there, it can be an incredibly special career to have.

Growing up in Melton Mowbray, Gwilym Roberts always had an interest in acting through his family, and decided to follow this through a less conventional education route.

“I decided against taking A Levels and did a BTEC course in Musical Theatre at Brooksby Melton College,” Gwilym began.

“Then, I went to the University of Cumbria to continue this further. Whilst there, I realised my love was for just acting, so decided to do a Masters in Acting at Guilford School of Acting.”

It was at this point in time when Gwilym discovered The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity – and specifically, the interest-free education loans available through the Charity.

“We were looking for loans, as I couldn’t afford to do my Masters without additional funding, and my Mum found STWLC. After some research about the Charity, we realised this was a perfect fit,” Gwilym reflected.

One of the UK’s leading accredited drama schools, the Guildford School of Acting provides dedicated training within a purpose-built environment on the University of Surrey campus, focusing on practical actor training through a series of workshops and rehearsals.

“The course was amazing,” Gwilym continued.  

“I was in classes from 9am till 6pm most days, and it was very hands-on and holistic in its approach. I was excited for most classes, and there was a real sense of collaboration.

“It’s helped me get an agent, and furthered my study as an actor. I’ve since appeared in some Shakespeare shows, and am doing so again, and couldn’t have done that without my Masters.”

“Even now, the repayments are just a monthly expense that I don’t worry about. I would, and have, recommended the Charity to many other people, and will continue to do so.”

Gwilym Roberts

Now a Self-Employed Actor, Gwilym concluded with some kind words about his experience with STWLC and the benefits of receiving an interest-free loan.

“I couldn’t have done my Masters without additional funding, and having the security of knowing I didn’t need to start repayments for three years and it was interest-free made me not worry about it whilst studying. Even now, the repayments are just a monthly expense that I don’t worry about. I would, and have, recommended the Charity to many other people, and will continue to do so.”

If, like Gwilym, you are considering a postgraduate course and require funds for tuition or living costs, please click here for more information about our interest-free education loans, available up to £10,000.