In workshops, kitchens, offices, and playrooms across Leicestershire and Rutland, small business owners are quietly making big things happen – and for some, the boost came in the form of a Sir Thomas White Loan Charity Business Grant.
Now, it’s your turn.
These grants – available up to £5,000 – are completely non-repayable. They’re designed to give entrepreneurs the financial push they need to grow, evolve, and make bold moves they might otherwise have put on hold. The deadline to apply is fast approaching: Monday 25 August 2025.
For Adventure Playschool founder Naomi Standring, the grant was the green light she’d been waiting for. “We’re finally able to build a new playroom for our pre-school children – something we couldn’t have done for years without this help,” she says, smiling at the thought of welcoming more families and adding new members to her team.
That same sense of momentum is felt in the medical innovation world. Sara Aspinall, Director of STAK Orthopaedics Ltd., calls the grant “a major milestone” that will allow her to boost marketing and reach more patients living with debilitating knee stiffness. “This isn’t just about our growth,” she says. “It’s about making a real difference to people’s lives.”
For builder James M Tuck of JMT Construction Limited, the funding will go toward advanced training – “opening other avenues of work and opportunities to allow the business to pursue growth.” For chef-entrepreneur Louis Morgan of Fire & Embers, it’s a shiny new oven: “It’ll double our output, so we can take on bigger events without worrying if we can cope with the volume.”
Some are using the grant to open doors into new markets. Wedding photographer Christian Thompson sees it as a chance to connect with clients at prestigious venues, steering his business in the exact direction he’s dreamed of. Sports rehab specialist Elly Blair, The Rehab Coach, is investing in a new website and social media presence. “It means I can reach further afield and help more local sportspeople get back to the activities they love,” she says.
For others, the impact is more emotional than operational. “Receiving this grant means the world to a small business like ours,” says Samuel Ballard of Club Voyages. “We’re embarking on exciting projects in the coming months, and this takes our dreams one step closer to reality.”
The stories vary, but the thread running through them is the same: a timely investment, a bold idea, and a community spirit that turns possibilities into plans.
So if you’re aged between 18 and 45, live in Leicestershire or Rutland, and run your business here, this is your moment. Whether it’s new equipment, training, marketing, or expansion, the Sir Thomas White Loan Charity Business Grant could be the spark that sets your next chapter in motion.
Applications close Monday 25 August 2025. Apply now via our website – and let’s see what you can do.
