Charity is offering interest-free loans across the Harborough area

The Leicester-based Sir Thomas White Loan Charity was incredibly set up almost 500 years ago in 1542 – when King Henry VIII sat on the throne.

If you’d like to apply for a loan in the next quarter, all applications must be in by Monday 6 January 2020

Martin Hageman, a consultant to the charity, said: “This really is a brilliant opportunity for established businessmen and women as well as budding entrepreneurs.

“You’ll obviously save a lot of money if you do qualify for one of our interest-free loans.

“And the money that we lend people could be make or break – the difference between making it in business or not.”

He said the Sir Thomas White charity is doing particularly well in Market Harborough, Lutterworth and surrounding villages.

“This is very fertile territory for us.

“We’ve been well received right across Harborough district and we appreciate that high level of interest,” said Martin, who beats the drum all over Leicestershire and Rutland for the historic philanthropic cause.

“I’ve also linked up with various thriving and dynamic business networks in Harborough.

“We have 18 trustees and applicants are interviewed by three of them.

“You’ve got to be over 18 and under 45, with liquid assets of under £40,000 and show us that you’ve got the business potential to succeed.”

He said wannabe tycoons and captains of industry can borrow up to £20,000.

“We require between 2-4 guarantors, depending on the amount being borrowed – we’ve clearly got to carry out due diligence.

“You can pay the loan back over nine years.

“But you don’t have to pay a penny back in the first three years,” said Martin.

“We are a sort of kind Dragons’ Den!

“We have a substantial amount of money to lend, generated by land investment, and we want to help people succeed.

“It’s good for them, it’s good for the community and this is exactly what our charity was set up to do.

“We are living in a vibrant, exciting part of the country and the more we can do to promote the local economy the better.”

If you would like to apply for an interest-free loan by December 19 then visit the charity’s website here and request an application pack:http://www.stwcharity.co.uk/