October news: a busy events season, an exciting nomination, and a new hire
Updated: Nov 2
Well, October certainly kept us busy!
It’s been a month full of milestones, celebrations, and exciting developments at First Enterprise.
We’ve got achievements to share, people to celebrate, and plenty to look out for if you’re a small business owner.
Read on to discover what we've been up to this autumn and what we've got planned going into the winter period.
Good things are happening at First Enterprise this October!
An exciting nomination for our team
First Enterprise has been shortlisted for the Alternative Finance Provider Award at the Insider Media Central and East Dealmakers Awards 2026, and the team are absolutely buzzing!
We’re not counting our chickens just yet, but we’re definitely keeping our fingers crossed!
This nomination shines a light on the impact we create through championing small businesses, making finance more accessible to them, and providing ongoing community support.
A big thank you to Insider Media for recognising our work and to everyone who’s trusted us, worked with us, and supported us along the way. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you.
Our biggest year of lending yet!
Our 2025/26 Impact Report is here, and we’re proud to report we’ve had our most successful year of lending yet!
Over the past financial year, we’ve:
Invested £22.6 million in businesses across the UK
Delivered 827 loans
Helped create or safeguard 1,829 jobs
Supported the creation of 628 new businesses
Directed 41% of our lending to businesses in deprived areas.
We’re also making progress towards more inclusive finance, with 40% of our funding going to female-led businesses and 33% to ethnic minority-led businesses.
That’s a 3% increase for female-led businesses and a 6% increase for ethnic minority-led businesses in just one year!
Behind every number is an entrepreneur working hard to bring their ambitions to life, and we’re proud to have helped make that possible.
Want to see the impact for yourself?
Download our 2025/26 Impact Report and learn more about how we’ve assisted underrepresented businesses across the region.
Black History Month: A chance to celebrate our black team members and clients
October is Black History Month in the UK and an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and success of our black colleagues, and the black-owned businesses we've helped support.
Our Business Advisor, James Minott, supports new entrepreneurs through our Start Up Loans scheme. Our Investment Manager, Seth Addo, helps established businesses grow with Business Loan funding. Meanwhile, our Portfolio and Risk Manager, Abdullah-Isa Amole, ensures our lending is managed responsibly.
Their experience and passion help make First Enterprise what it is, and we’re proud to have them with us.
We also need to take a moment to highlight some of the black-owned businesses we've worked with over the past few years, including:
Every entrepreneur deserves the opportunity to turn their ideas into reality and build a business they’re proud of, whatever their background.
We know that access to finance and business support isn’t always equal, which is why making funding more accessible for entrepreneurs from all backgrounds is so important.
A successful Business Growth & Funding event
For the third year running, we brought local business owners and industry professionals together at our Business Growth & Funding: Practical Insights for Midlands SMEs event at Nottingham Trent University’s Dryden Enterprise Centre.
And what a day it was!
From talks about funding options and money-saving tips to hearing from business owners who’ve been through the process themselves, there was plenty to take away.
Local organisations supporting businesses across the Midlands were on hand to share what help is available, and our new one-to-one funding clinics gave attendees the chance to discuss their business and funding plans in more detail.
Events like this are a great reminder of how valuable it is to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from others on the business journey.
And if you couldn’t make it, get in touch to explore how we can support your business.
We've decided to mix things up in 2027 and move our annual event to the spring.
So keep an eye out for announcements in the new year.
Business and networking events recap — and what's on the horizon
Business support is at the heart of what we do and as such, our team is regularly on the road attending events and reaching out to potential clients. So, they understand their funding choices and know to get in touch when they're ready to take the next step.
We've had a busy autumn — with even more on the upcoming calendar.
Important business events our team has attended this October
This month, the team headed to the Midlands Business Expo to spread the word about First Enterprise.
Seth, and another one of our Investment Managers, Inderpal Singh, spent the day learning more about businesses across the Midlands, and sharing how First Enterprise can support them with finance.
And of course, we had to pop down to London to support our client, Natasha Duncan, who was named the British Business Bank’s 2026 Start Up Loan Ambassador for the West Midlands.
Back in 2024 we helped Natasha secure a Start Up Loan to get her café business, Monk & Smuggler, off the ground. We’re thrilled to have been a part of Natasha’s journey and can’t wait to see what the future holds for her business!
Save the date — don't miss out on these fantastic events this November
Festival of Entrepreneurs
On the 3rd and 4th of November, we’re heading to the Festival of Entrepreneurs at the NEC Birmingham, where our Executive Director, Daniel Carrico, will be providing expert insight on how to fund your next stage of growth.
Get your FREE ticket now: https://bit.ly/festofentrepreneurs
Elevate to Success
We’re proud to be sponsoring Elevate to Success 2026, where our Deputy Director, Danielle Davis, will be speaking about business finance and support.
If you’re looking to elevate your business, grab a ticket and save £25 using code ELEVATE25: https://bit.ly/elevatetosuccess
Start & Sustain
Start & Sustain is a new business support programme that offers free expert advice, practical guidance, and funding support to help you take the next step.
Visit The East Midlands Growth Hub and complete a registration form to learn more.
Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) Start Up Day
Head down to Nottingham Central Library on the 24th of November for BIPC Start-Up Day 2026. The day will include expert talks and practical advice on everything from branding to AI.
Book for free by visiting: https://bit.ly/BIPCSTARTUP
Welcoming new faces and celebrating milestones
Another addition to the First Enterprise team! Meet Anna Ross, our new Underwriter
Anna has joined our underwriting team this month, bringing a wealth of experience to the team after an impressive 16 years underwriting at HSBC.
After a short break, she was ready for a new challenge and has already found that First Enterprise’s friendly and calm working environment suits her well.
As Anna is a mum of four, a little peace and quiet probably goes a long way!
Anna is already proving herself to be an asset to the team, and we can’t wait to see what she achieves!
Welcome to the team, Anna!
We’re happy to announce Carlo Eid has been promoted to Finance Controller
Carlo initially joined us as Finance Assistant, and he’s clearly made a great impression over the last 12 months. Just before his one year anniversary, Carlo's hard work and dedication was rewarded with a promotion to Finance Controller.
We know that Carlo will continue to shine in his new role and build on everything he’s achieved in his first year with us.
Congratulations on one year at First Enterprise and your well-deserved promotion, Carlo!
How can First Enterprise help your business?
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to take your business to the next level, we’re here to help you explore your options.
Ready to start the conversation? Complete the form below or give our team a call on 0345 602 7355.
If you’d rather talk to us in person, we’ll be at the Festival of Entrepreneurs on the 3rd and 4th of November to discuss all things business growth and funding. Grab your free ticket and come along!
