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CHARITY TO HOST FESTIVAL EVENT FOR SMALL BUSINESS START-UPS

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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

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STWLC PARTNERS WITH LEICESTER BUSINESS FESTIVAL 2024

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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.

Giveaway winner eliza

CHARITY MARKS LEICESTER GIVING DAY WITH £500 GIVEAWAY PRIZE

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Eliza Bea McCann, a Leicestershire entrepreneur who set up sustainable leisurewear company, Noelle Ltd, has won a £500 Giveaway as part of a Leicester Giving Day celebration, organised by The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity (STWLC) and supported by partners Embark CSR.

STWLC announced Eliza as the winner of their Giveaway at the Town Hall in Leicester on Friday 18 November at the culmination of Leicester Business Festival 2022.

The Charity had invited entrepreneurs from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to submit ideas to help grow or start their young business to be in with the chance of winning, and Eliza was shortlisted alongside four other entries from Jessica Byers (Jessica PA Support Services), Taher Dhuliawala (Neuroability Ltd), Joe Fuggle (theathleteplace) and Tarnjeet Kaur (WMK).

With unethical practices in textile manufacturing becoming more prevalent, Eliza set up Noelle Ltd to bring ethically-made clothing back to Leicester.

All of her products are made in an ethical family run factory, based in Leicester, and are GOTS certified. With the £500 Giveaway prize behind her, Eliza is now looking at the next stage of her business’s development and is planning to use the funding to raise awareness of her brand by investing in marketing campaigns.

Having been announced as the Giveaway winner on Leicester Giving Day, Eliza said: “So far, I’ve only invested my own money, so this cash injection will really help me. I’ve spent money on things I need to have, like a website, but doing more marketing is definitely going to help. I believe I have something good, but I’m trying to get it across to more people. This prize money will make a huge difference.”

STWLC Trustee Anne Whitlock, who was on hand to announce Eliza as the winner at the Town Hall alongside fellow Trustee Sue Cleminson, said: “On behalf of everyone at the Charity, we’d like to congratulate Eliza on winning our £500 Giveaway competition. We received many fantastic entries and it was a tough decision when selecting our shortlist, but Eliza stood out and is a thoroughly deserved winner of the prize. We look forward to seeing how this funding can help support and progress Eliza’s exciting business.”

An integral part of the 2022 Leicester Business Festival, which STWLC is an official supporter of, Leicester Giving Day provides participants with an opportunity to showcase their support for charities and local communities, by raising funds, volunteering services or offering gifts.

The £500 Giveaway competition was funded by STWLC, which supports young people in Leicestershire and Rutland who want to make the best of their lives by starting new businesses or educating themselves at postgraduate level.

For more information, please click on the relevant tabs at the top of our website. 

Leic Business Festival 2022

Get Set For Leicester Business Festival

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The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity is proud to be an official supporter of Leicester Business Festival 2022 and is excited to be attending several events, including the launch on 7 November, ‘Creating the Perfect Pitch‘ on 11 November and the ‘Innovation Masterclass‘ on 17 November – plus many more!

This year, Leicester Business Festival runs from 7-18 November, and people are being encouraged to book their places as soon as possible. In all, there will be 82 free-to-attend events taking place.

During the festival we look forward to raising awareness of the Charity and meeting with local business owners to showcase what we offer. We would also love it if our borrowers were able to join us and help spread the word about the Charity’s interest-free loans!

There are many great events lined up, all FREE to attend, and it would be great to see some familiar faces throughout the festival.

To view details for all events and register your place, CLICK HERE