Four new businesses to be set up following loan approvals

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity says £114,560 has been approved in interest-free loans in December 2018.

The cash will used to establish or develop four businesses within Leicestershire and allow a further eight people to study for postgraduate qualifications.

Among the business ventures to benefit from the interest-free loans provided by The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity are a personal trainer, a fashion brand designer and a creative business.

Meanwhile, students successfully accessing an education loan from the Charity will now go on to study in the fields of audio production, law, and training to become an associate physician.

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity has been in existence since 1542 and was founded by one of the city’s most generous (but least well known) benefactors, Sir Thomas White. Although he never actually set foot in Leicester, Sir Thomas is honoured by being included as one of the four statues around the Clock Tower in the Leicester city centre.

The figure from the latest quarter means that The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity has approved £453,970 in interest-free loans across the calendar year.

David Howard, chair of trustees at The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity, said: “As always, it’s pleasing to be able to approve a number of loans to help young people achieve their goals, whether that is in business or studying for qualifications to enhance career prospects.

“To have been able to offer just short of half-a-million pounds to people within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is very promising; however, we want to help more. With 2019 on the horizon, I’d encourage anybody within the county aged between 18 and under 35 to get in touch to see if we can help, whether it’s to start a new business venture or to inject some funding to develop an existing business.

“Our next application deadline is Monday 7 January, so there’s still time to apply, with packs available immediately through our website.”