Let's Do Business Finance is proud to back Let’s Do Business Group’s Start Up September campaign, championing new and growing businesses across Sussex and the South and East of England.

Start Up September, the flagship campaign from Let's Do Business Group, is returning for 2026 — and Let's Do Business Finance is once again standing behind it as a proud supporter of the initiative.

Start Up September exists to shine a light on entrepreneurship at exactly the moment many people are considering taking the leap into self-employment or business ownership, and make that support easily accessible and less intimidating for those new business owners. Throughout the month, the campaign brings together practical guidance, inspiring case studies and access to funding information, all designed to help aspiring and early-stage business owners turn ideas into viable, sustainable businesses.

For Let’s Do Business Finance, supporting Start Up September is a natural extension of our day-to-day mission. As a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) and accredited Responsible Finance provider, we offer government-backed business loans, including Start Up Loans, to individuals and businesses who may otherwise struggle to access mainstream finance. We work alongside, rather than in competition with, high street banks and other lenders — filling the gap for those just starting out, or those with ambitions that don't yet fit a traditional lending profile.

“Start Up September is about more than just a month of activity — it’s about making sure the right support and the right information reach people at the moment they need it most. Every year we see people with genuinely great ideas who simply don’t know where to start, or who assume finance isn’t available to them. Our role is to change that.”

— Sean Dennis, Managing Director of Let's Do Business Group

A Focus on Financial Literacy and Access to Finance

Central to LDBF's involvement in Start Up September — and to its broader purpose as an organisation — is a commitment to improving financial literacy and widening access to finance. Many would-be entrepreneurs are held back not by a lack of ambition or ability, but by a lack of understanding or confidence in how business finance works, as well as what support is available, and how to plan realistically for growth.

By combining practical funding products with clear, jargon-free guidance, Start Up September breaks down the barriers to starting and growing a business. This support isn't limited to brand-new start-ups: established businesses looking to expand, diversify or invest also turn to CDFIs like us for the kind of flexible, relationship-led lending that recognises their potential beyond a simple credit score.

Free templates and guides, spanning everything from cashflow forecasts and business plans to marketing strategies and tools, are available to download right now - as are learning opportunities with a range of events taking place throughout the Start Up September campaign.

New this year, our team are offering free 30-minute drop in clinic sessions (online) for both new and established business owners to discuss finance and growth options - an opportunity to talk to business finance experts with a no-obligation appointment to understand the options.

Why It Matters for Local Communities

The case for supporting entrepreneurship goes beyond the individual business owner. New and growing businesses create jobs, generate local spending, and strengthen the resilience of their local economies. Every start-up that succeeds, and every established business that expands, has a ripple effect — supporting suppliers, creating employment opportunities, and contributing to the vibrancy of the high streets and communities in which they operate.

By broadening access to finance and building financial confidence among business owners, this can unlock wider economic value and growth — turning individual ambition into tangible benefit for towns and communities across our home county of Sussex as well as our coverage across the South and East of England.

Getting Involved

Throughout September, we’ll be sharing information on the events, practical resources and free support available under the Start Up September campaign on our social media channels and across our newsletters. Aspiring and existing business owners interested in finding out more about Start Up Loans, Business Loans or other government-backed finance options can find out more on our website, or Get in Touch to talk to the team.