Leicester Startups is proud to confirm that it will be receiving support for a second year running from one of the most well-established business charities in the UK, The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity (STWLC).

STWLC’s sponsorship in 2024 will enable Leicester Startups to help even more founders through its monthly events, its Accelerator programme and wide range of communications.

It follows a highly successful partnership last year which saw Leicester Startups host 11 meet-ups including Demo Day and a ‘Business Transformer’ workshop. STWLC’s presence in Leicester Startups marketing materials also led to tens of thousands of views and hundreds of click throughs to the fantastic loans on offer for entrepreneurs on the STWLC website.

Local entrepreneur Ben Ravilious founded Leicester Startups in 2013 to help existing and aspiring startup founders seek advice, mentorship and co-founders. He said:

“We know there’s a growing appetite for entrepreneurship in the East Midlands, particularly for tech startups, and so this continued sponsorship from The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity is a massive help for us to deliver more support to the entrepreneurial community in the area.”

Founded in 1542 by one of the City’s most generous benefactors, Sir Thomas White, STWLC provides loans for news startup founders and existing businesses needing investment.

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 Leicester city centre.

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 post-graduate education.

Lucy Womack, Chair of Trustees at STWLC, said:

“Following a successful collaboration in 2023, we’re delighted to be renewing our partnership with Leicester Startups for the year ahead.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for the Charity off the back of approving a record-breaking £600,000 in interest-free loans last year, so we’re looking forward to expanding our support further – and hope that many within the Leicester Startups network can benefit too.”