Meet our Start Up Loans team
The Business Managers and Advisors at Let’s Do Business Group are here to help small companies like yours to grow by giving advice, answering questions, and being a confidant. Since the introduction of the service, they have supported hundreds of businesses on their journey to success.
Our finance arm offers funding for start-up businesses as well as businesses wanting to grow & invest in scale up. As an accredited delivery partner of the Start Up Loans Company, we offer loans from as little as £500 to £25k.
Get to know our Team:
Mike Trotter
Living in East Sussex, Mike has been Head of Lending at Let’s Do Business Group since his promotion in 2015. Before working here, he had a career in banking, but later came to LDBG to work on the start-up loans team as a business manager and has been here since 2004 to present day with a break in between.
On a day-to-day basis, Mike’s job consists of delivering the Start Up Loan scheme as a contracted delivery partner of British Business Bank ensuring delivery within terms of contract. Being the head also means he oversees a team of 8.
“I came to work for Let’s Do Business Group as the opportunity to transfer my commercial banking skills to assist with the launch of a new business loan scheme arose. I would say the biggest pro of my job is being able to assist an individual to fulfil a dream or aspiration to launch their own business.”
With the large length of time Mike has been working at LDBG, it has meant that he has been able to help a variety of businesses, finding multiple to have been rewarding. One of the hardest parts of this job for him is declining an application. Because of the number of applications that are received, it means that he has to act as a responsible leader and make a commercial decision.
A piece of advice that Mike would give to businesses looking to start is:
“Undertake as much market research as you can and prepare a robust business plan.”
Martin Menezes
Before becoming a Business Manager, Martin worked for Lloyds Banking Group for 28 years, with his last position being Commercial Relationship Manager there. Living in East Sussex, he has spent the last 8 years as a Business Manager for LDBG, working within the Start Up Loan Team.
The day-to-day basis of his job consists of reviewing and assessing new applications to reach a clear outcome (make a clear decision on moving forward or not with the application), undertake second approval (double checking the assessment) and decline reviews, and undertake appeal reviews where necessary.
“The thing that led me to this job was skills and experience I previously possessed within finance and lending. I was approached by a former employee of LDBG to consider joining the Group’s lending Team and undertake a Business Manager role.”
One of the best things about Martin’s job is helping applicants to achieve their desired dreams and goals for their business by providing the required finance. For Martin, he says a business that felt the most rewarding to help and stuck with him was Babel’s Coffee & Wine Bar in Hastings Old Town. Martin worked with owner’s Ben & Amy, who applied for a £50,000 start up loan to help complete the purchase of their business. On the other hand, something difficult about this role for Martin is the lack of applicant response and commitment whilst progressing new applicants he is looking to support.
A piece of advice that Martin would give to businesses looking to start is:
“Start with a simple business plan and grow it as needed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!”
Phil Pocock
Living in East Sussex, Phil worked over 30 years for NatWest Bank prior to becoming a Business Advisor 7 years ago at LDBG. In his previous role, Phil worked with business customers so taking on this role at the group was the perfect next step for him. His job consists of reviewing and assessing business plans/financial forecasts before working with the Start Up Loan applicants to obtain a positive result for them.
“I already knew some of the staff here and was familiar with the services LDBG offered which attracted me to this role of offering support to small businesses in particular. One of the best things about this job for me is being able to help applicants to fulfil their dream of running or growing their own business and the messages of thanks afterwards! The most difficult thing about this role is having to turn applicants down.”
For Phil, the most rewarding business he has helped that sticks to mind is a former MasterChef winner. He was able to agree two loans for him & his wife which allowed them to launch their first restaurant and then second loans a couple years later for them to open their second restaurant.
A piece of advice that Phil would give to businesses looking to start is:
“Make sure you thoroughly research your market to identify the demand for your proposed services.”
Dawn Horsley
Having a background in Administration and Credit Control, Dawn, who lives in East Sussex, has been working at LDBG for 6 years. After moving across from the administration team, her current role as a Business Advisor involves analysing and investigating loan documents, assess loan applications and provide a decision to the applicant.
“I applied for the Start Up Loan administration role as the thought of helping people achieve their objectives/dreams is something I enjoy doing. For me I find it hardest declining applications where the applicant has the enthusiasm and excitement of starting their own business, but for whatever reason, we are unable to support their application!”
A piece of advice that Dawn would give to businesses looking to start is:
“Do thorough research into demand, location, pricing etc and also to write a business plan and cash flow forecast – putting details in writing helps to put everything into perspective and can be used and updated throughout trading.”
Rachel Hunt
Before working as Business Advisor at LDBG for the last 4 years, Rachel, who lives in East Sussex, worked mainly in Finance. Her job as a Business Manager consists of working with the applicants mainly on their business plans and financial information submitted with their loan applications. She works with them in order to help in making their applications as robust and viable as possible in order to hopefully approve their loan request.
Having previously worked in the Start Up Loan team at LDBG when the Start Up Loans contract was first established in 2012, Rachel was led to this job as she liked the idea of working for a Social Enterprise and being able to help many local businesses was something that appealed to her.
“One of the biggest pros of my job is helping people to launch their businesses and supporting local growth! The most rewarding business I worked with that sticks to mind is one of my applicants whose products were being sold in Selfridges in London. One of the hardest parts of this role is not being able to help everyone who applies”
A piece of advice that Rachel would give to businesses looking to start is:
“Thorough research is key and using your business plan as an ongoing tool as it should be a work in progress. A realistic cashflow forecast is essential and can help with budgeting in those early stages and going forwards.”
Lisa Gray
Living in East Sussex, Lisa has been working for LDBG for just over 2 years and has a background in Loan Administration for a Peer-to-Peer lending company. She is the first port of call for Start Up Loan Applicants meaning that she checks all of their loan documentation and works with them in readiness of passing them over to the Business Managers to work with.
After being made redundant due to Covid-19, Lisa was led to this job at LDBG as she always felt what they do is worthwhile to local businesses and the community. For her, the best part of her job is working within a team where she feels fully supported and the most difficult part is not always being able to manage Applicants’ expectations of how the Start Up Loan Scheme works.
“For me, the most rewarding business I helped would be working with the Business Manager responsible for approving the second loan of a former MasterChef winner which allowed him to open his second restaurant.”
A piece of advice that Lisa would give to businesses looking to start is:
“Make time to fully complete their Business Plan, 12-month Cash Flow Forecast & Personal Survival Budget as these documents are our insight into their (proposed) businesses. The more detailed information we receive the easier the transition is through the loan application process.”
Jay Hancock
Originally from Gloucestershire, Jay moved to East Sussex over 20 years ago. From the age of 17, she started working for a local Hastings based charity as well as starting an apprenticeship in business and administration for LDBG, back when they were a training provider. After finishing her apprenticeship a couple of years later, she was offered a job working within the apprenticeship and training department up until the end of that contract.
From there, Jay started working within the Start Up Loans team and looking after the Hastings Chamber of Commerce admin duties up until she went on maternity leave. Since her return last summer, she has been working back with the SUL team as the first port of call for applicants. Her job consists of checking the applicant’s loan documentation and then working with them in readiness of passing over to the Business Managers who complete the assessments.
“After finishing my apprenticeship with LDBG almost ten years ago, I jumped at the opportunity of becoming an official member of the team; initially in a role where I was supporting and working with future apprentices. In every role I’ve done my favourite part of my job has always been supporting people to achieve their dreams!”
A piece of advice Jay would give businesses looking to start is:
“Do your research and planning. Putting details in writing such as a business plan and cash flow forecast helps to put everything into perspective.”