First Enterprise

First Enterprise Providing fair, flexible business finance across the UK. Supporting startups, growing SMEs, and underrepresented entrepreneurs turn ambition into success.

🚀 Happy Monday! Here's what's coming up this week at First Enterprise.Whether you're looking to grow your network, stay ...
03/08/2026

🚀 Happy Monday! Here's what's coming up this week at First Enterprise.

Whether you're looking to grow your network, stay up to date with the latest business news, or just fancy celebrating our feline friends, we've got plenty to share.

📅 Upcoming events

📍 11 August – Chamber x Kuku Connect Affiliation Celebration Evening

Rosa will be joining businesses from across the East Midlands for an evening of networking, collaboration, and great conversations. If you're attending, be sure to come and say hello!

📍 20 August – Nottingham Summer Networking Lunch

Zainab will be at this relaxed networking event hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com. If you'd like to chat about your business, your growth plans, or the funding and support available, we'd love to meet you.

🤝 Heading to one of these events? Don't forget to register in advance and come and find us. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, we're always happy to have a conversation.

📚 New on our website

📰 What does the new Labour administration mean for businesses?

With Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister and a new cabinet taking shape, we've explored what the latest political changes could mean for SMEs.

We also take a closer look at the Government's renewed investment in Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) and what it could mean for businesses looking to access finance.

🐱 And finally...

Saturday is International Cat Day! 🎉

We'll certainly be celebrating our four-legged colleagues and companions who occasionally "help" us work from home (usually by sitting on the keyboard).

We'd love to see yours too, so share a photo of your cat in the comments! 😸

Have a fantastic week from everyone at First Enterprise! 💙💛

Happy Tuesday! 👋We've got another busy week ahead at First Enterprise, with plenty happening both out in the community a...
28/07/2026

Happy Tuesday! 👋

We've got another busy week ahead at First Enterprise, with plenty happening both out in the community and here on our channels.

📍 Upcoming events

Rosa and Zainab will be attending She Scales: Female Founders Connection & Co-working, spending the day connecting with inspiring women in business, sharing ideas and supporting founders as they grow.

Taking place on July 30th in Coventry — register your interest if you'd like to attend.

Then in August, Rosa will also be representing First Enterprise at the Chamber x Kuku Connect Affiliation Celebration Evening, celebrating the power of collaboration across the East Midlands business community.

Later in the month, Zainab will be attending the Nottingham Summer Networking Lunch. This relaxed networking lunch is hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com.

If you're heading along to any of these events, we'd love to meet you — don't forget to come and say hello! 👋

🎨 A new client success story

We'll also be sharing the inspiring story of Shadi Fine Art Studio. After moving to the UK, founder Shadi Shokoohi used an £8,500 Start Up Loan to launch professional art classes, creating a welcoming creative community where people can build confidence, improve their wellbeing, and discover their artistic potential.

📰 Monthly company news

Keep an eye out for our latest company update, where we'll be looking back at recent events, sharing the latest investment news for the UK's CDFI sector, and celebrating some fantastic milestones from across the First Enterprise team.

Here's to another week of supporting ambitious businesses and the communities behind them. Have a great week! 💙

📣 This week at First Enterprise...It's another busy week ahead supporting businesses, celebrating our sector, and gettin...
20/07/2026

📣 This week at First Enterprise...

It's another busy week ahead supporting businesses, celebrating our sector, and getting out into the community. Here's a look at what we're going to be up to!

💙 A boost for community finance

We celebrated the Government's latest announcement of increased support for Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). More investment in community finance means more opportunities for businesses that might otherwise struggle to access funding — helping more entrepreneurs start, grow and thrive.

🎤 A new customer success story

We shared the inspiring journey of VitaVoice, a health supplement business that turned years of expertise into an innovative product supporting singers, teachers, presenters, and other professional voice users. With the support of a £25,000 Start Up Loan, they're now taking their business to the next level.

💡 Good debt vs bad debt

We also published a brand-new article featuring insights from our Deputy Director, Danielle Davis, exploring one of the biggest misconceptions in business finance.

Debt isn't always something to fear. When used strategically and for the right reasons, it can be a powerful tool for growth. Danielle shares practical advice on how to distinguish between good debt, bad debt, and smart borrowing.

🤝 Out and about in Birmingham

Our Investment Managers, Zainab and Inderpal, attended the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce's South Asian Heritage Month Celebration, where they enjoyed meeting the Mayor, connecting with fellow Chamber members, and networking with local business owners. It was a fantastic evening celebrating community, diversity, and the businesses helping our region thrive.

📅 Coming up...

On the 30th of July, Zainab and Rosa will be heading to She Scales: Female Founders Connection and Co-working at the University of Warwick NatWest Accelerator. The event brings together female founders to connect, share experiences, and support one another while building their businesses, and we're looking forward to meeting plenty of inspiring entrepreneurs throughout the day.

If you're interested in attending, feel free to register.
Whether you've read one of our latest articles, met one of the team at an event, or you're just starting to explore your funding options, thank you for being part of our community.

Have a fantastic week! 💙

👋 Happy Monday! Here's what's coming up this week at First Enterprise.🤝 Supporting female founders in Nottingham We're l...
13/07/2026

👋 Happy Monday! Here's what's coming up this week at First Enterprise.

🤝 Supporting female founders in Nottingham

We're looking forward to attending the Female Founders Club: Cyber Resilience Made Manageable at Nottingham Trent University.

Cybersecurity can feel overwhelming when you're running a business, so it's great to see practical advice being made more accessible. If you're attending, come and say hello!

☕ Building meaningful business relationships

We'll also be joining Creating Connections, hosted by Holly Nixon. Networking doesn't have to be about collecting business cards — it's about having genuine conversations, sharing ideas and building relationships that help businesses grow.

🛍️ Celebrate Independent Retailer Month

July is Independent Retailer Month — a global celebration of the independent businesses that bring character, choice, and community to our high streets.

Whether you're picking up a gift, grabbing a coffee, or discovering your next favourite shop, choosing local helps support the people and places that keep our communities thriving.

📰 Article of the week

This week's featured read is Why fast finance isn't always smart finance. When opportunities arise, it's tempting to move quickly, but choosing the right funding can be just as important as choosing funding that's available fast.

We'll explore how taking a little extra time to consider your options can help set your business up for sustainable growth.

💬 Join our Facebook community

If you haven't already, don't forget to join our new Facebook groups. They're a welcoming space to ask questions, connect with fellow business owners, share experiences and access practical advice from our team.

Have a great week, and if you're heading to any of these events, we'd love to meet you there!

👋 Happy Update Day! Here's a look at what's coming up this week at First Enterprise.📅 Events we're looking forward to......
07/07/2026

👋 Happy Update Day! Here's a look at what's coming up this week at First Enterprise.

📅 Events we're looking forward to...

We're excited to be out and about meeting businesses and partners over the coming weeks. If you're attending any of these events, we'd love to see you there!

• Female Founders Club: Cyber Resilience Made Manageable at Nottingham Trent University
• Holly Nixon's Creating Connections networking event

📰 New articles coming soon

Keep an eye on our channels for two new reads designed to help your business grow:

💷 3 signs your SME has outgrown its startup budget — how to recognise when your business is ready to think differently about funding.

🎮 5 ways managing a business is like being a Pokémon trainer — a fun take on the lessons every entrepreneur learns while building a business.

💬 Join the conversation

Have you joined our new Facebook groups yet? They're a place to ask questions, share experiences, connect with other business owners, and pick up practical advice from our team and community.

Wherever you are on your business journey, we're here to help you take the next step. Have a great week!

This week at First Enterprise 👇It’s been another busy one, and we’ve got lots to share…📖 New readWe’re publishing a help...
29/06/2026

This week at First Enterprise 👇

It’s been another busy one, and we’ve got lots to share…

📖 New read
We’re publishing a helpful guide later this week breaking down what interest rates actually mean for your business — and what to watch out for when you’re thinking about funding.

📍 Out and about this week
You’ll find us connecting with businesses and partners across the region:
• Midlands Business Network Expo in Leicester
• Summer Funding Summit in Shrewsbury
• Enterprising Women Summer Networking & Finalist Announcement in Chesterfield

If you’re attending any of these, come and say hello — we’d love to chat!

At First Enterprise, it’s all about supporting small businesses and building meaningful connections in our communities 💙

Behind every business loan is a person with an idea, a goal, and a determination to build something of their own.Over th...
24/06/2026

Behind every business loan is a person with an idea, a goal, and a determination to build something of their own.

Over the last year, we've been proud to support hundreds of entrepreneurs across the UK through the Start Up Loans programme, but the impact we've seen in the West Midlands has been particularly significant.

Of the 289 Start Up Loans we provided to female-led businesses during 2025/26, 135 were awarded to women entrepreneurs in the West Midlands.

Even more encouragingly, 63 of those business owners were from minority communities.

These aren't just statistics. They represent people taking a chance on themselves, turning side projects into sustainable businesses, creating jobs, supporting their families, and contributing to the local economy.

The region also accounted for nearly half of our total Start Up Loans lending. Of the £10.5 million we delivered throughout 2025/26, £5.1 million was invested into businesses across the West Midlands.

Access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers facing many aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

That's why these figures matter.

They show what can happen when finance is accessible, support is available, and people are given the opportunity to pursue their ambitions.

We're incredibly proud to play a small part in those journeys and to continue supporting the diverse and ambitious business community that makes the West Midlands such a vibrant place to start and grow a business.

Here's to the entrepreneurs building the future of the region, one business at a time.

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Some businesses start with a market opportunity.Others start with a personal mission.For Rochelle Hughes, founder of Bes...
24/06/2026

Some businesses start with a market opportunity.

Others start with a personal mission.

For Rochelle Hughes, founder of Bespoke Assistance, it was the latter.

Inspired by her experiences as a parent of a SEND child, Rochelle launched a transportation service designed to provide safe, supportive, and reliable travel for children, young people, and adults who need extra assistance.

With support from a £25,000 Start Up Loan, she was able to purchase a larger vehicle and expand the number of people she can help across her community.

It's a brilliant example of how funding can help turn a passion for helping others into a growing business that makes a real difference.

Read her story here 👇

🔗 https://www.first-enterprise.co.uk/post/bespoke-assistance-start-up-loan-case-study

Some businesses start with a market opportunity.Others start with a personal mission.For Rochelle Hughes, founder of Bes...
24/06/2026

Some businesses start with a market opportunity.

Others start with a personal mission.

For Rochelle Hughes, founder of Bespoke Assistance, it was the latter.

Inspired by her experiences as a parent of a SEND child, Rochelle launched a transportation service designed to provide safe, supportive, and reliable travel for children, young people, and adults who need extra assistance.

With support from a £25,000 Start Up Loan, she was able to purchase a larger vehicle and expand the number of people she can help across her community.

It's a brilliant example of how funding can help turn a passion for helping others into a growing business that makes a real difference.

Read her story here 👇

🔗https://www.first-enterprise.co.uk/knowledge-hub/categories/success-stories

23/06/2026

📢 We're growing our business community.

At First Enterprise, we believe that businesses thrive when people come together to share ideas, experiences, and support.

That's why we've launched two new Facebook groups designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners connect, learn, and grow.

🤝 The Midlands SME Growth Community

A welcoming space for business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders to discuss growth, finance, leadership, marketing, and more.

💜 The Midlands Female Founders Hub

A dedicated community for women founders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to connect, share experiences, and support one another.

Whether you're starting up, scaling up or simply looking to expand your network, we'd love to have you involved.

Join the communities:

👉 Midlands SME Growth Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/midlandssmegrowthcommunity

👉 Midlands Female Founders Hub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/midlandsfemalefoundershub

Tell us in the comments — which business topic would you most like to discuss with other entrepreneurs?

Address

6 Sherwood Rise
Nottingham
NG76JF

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441159423772

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