Let’s Do Business Finance shortlisted for Scale Up Business of the Year at Sussex Chamber Business Awards 2026
We are thrilled to announce that Let's Do Business Finance has been shortlisted for Scale Up Business of the Year at the Sussex Chamber Business Awards 2026, recognising a year of strong strategic growth and sustained impact in improving access to finance for SMEs across the Sussex and the wider South East.
The Scale Up Business of the Year award celebrates organisations demonstrating exceptional growth alongside a clear, sustainable strategy for long-term financial performance.
Purpose-led growth and measurable impact
2025 marked a significant period of expansion for Let’s Do Business Finance, driven by a vision focused on widening access to finance for underserved small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while strengthening the UK’s Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) sector.
In the 12 months to March 2026, we delivered substantial growth in both lending volume and social impact:
Total lending increased from £8.69m (March 2025) to £11.17m representing 28% growth
A total of 650 businesses supported
Growth lending to established businesses increased exponentially from £2.4m to £4.22m, a 76% increase
This shift toward higher-value lending reflects a growing ability to support business expansion, job creation, and wider regional economic development.
Strengthening capacity while maintaining service excellence
To support increased demand, our team expanded by three additional members of staff during the period. Despite this rapid growth, we have maintained a strong commitment to customer service and relationship-led lending.
This is reflected in our 81 five-star Google reviews, with borrowers consistently highlighting the clarity, professionalism, and supportive approach of the team.
“My wife recently applied for a business loan and received incredible support from both Lisa Grey and Martin Menezes, who were outstanding and went out of their way to assist us on the application. Thanks to them, we have managed to secure funding and will use this to develop our business.”
Responsible, sustainable scaling
Crucially, Let’s Do Business Finance’s growth has been achieved with a clear focus on sustainability and responsible lending practices. Rather than prioritising short-term gains, we continue to focus on long-term business resilience and inclusive economic growth.
We are also working to contribute to broader efforts to raise awareness of ethical finance options within the CDFI sector, helping more SMEs understand the alternatives available beyond traditional high-street lending.
“This shortlisting is a fantastic recognition of the team’s commitment to delivering meaningful impact alongside sustainable growth. Over the past year we’ve worked hard to increase access to finance for businesses that are too often overlooked, while ensuring we maintain the highest standards of service and responsibility in everything we do.
Our growth is not just about numbers, it’s about enabling entrepreneurs to start, scale, and succeed, and ensuring finance is available to those who need it most. We are proud of what we’ve achieved so far, and even more focused on the opportunity ahead as we continue to expand our impact across the region and beyond. 35% of our loans last year were to female led businesses; 39% to ethnic led businesses with 29% of businesses in the most deprived wards that we cover.”
Sean Dennis, Managing Director, Let’s Do Business Finance
The Sussex Chamber Business Awards 2026 will be held on 10th July 2026 at DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole. We wish all the shortlisted businesses the best of luck.