Let's Do Business Group

What Let's Do Business Group does

Let's Do Business Group is a UK-based business support organisation headquartered in Hastings, East Sussex, founded in 1990 and operating as a private company limited by guarantee (company number 07422542). The group delivers business consultancy, training, marketing support, and access to finance services to start-ups and SMEs across the South East and East of England, primarily through public sector-commissioned programmes funded via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and similar government schemes. It operates through three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Let's Do Business Finance (accredited British Business Bank lending arm), Let's Do Marketing (marketing training), and Capitalise Business Support.

The organisation's revenue model centres on three streams: (i) public sector commissioning by local authorities including Essex County Council, Southend, Hastings Borough Council, Rochford District Council, Brentwood Borough Council and Luton Borough Council; (ii) lending operations as an FCA-regulated, British Business Bank-accredited delivery partner for the Start Up Loan Scheme, Growth Guarantee Scheme, and (from 2026) Community ENABLE Funding, offering loans from £500 to £250,000; and (iii) grant advisory services such as Smart Start Brentwood, Newhaven Enterprise Zone and Low Carbon Investment Fund grants. Its technology stack comprises standard digital delivery tools (Zoom, Cademy) for virtual workshops and one-to-one advisory sessions, CRM and case management systems, and a proprietary Social Impact Calculator for outcome measurement.

The group serves multiple customer segments including aspiring entrepreneurs, SMEs, women entrepreneurs (via the Her Biz programme with NatWest), underrepresented founder groups, and refugees/non-English speaking communities. Programmes include Backing Essex Business, RISE Hastings, Smart Start Brentwood, Innovate and Elevate Rochford District, Luton Elevate, Newhaven Grant Schemes, and the annual trademarked Start Up September® campaign. Reported outcomes for 2025-26 include over £57 million in economic impact delivered, £11 million in lending facilitated, over 1,100 jobs created, and over 6,000 start-ups supported since inception. Leadership is headed by Chief Executive Graham Marley.

Name

Let's Do Business Group

Legal name

Let's Do Business (South East) Group Limited

Website

https://letsdobusinessgroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Let's Do Business Group is a UK business support organisation delivering consultancy, finance, marketing, and training services to start-ups and SMEs across the South East and East of England, primarily through local authority-commissioned programmes and accredited British Business Bank lending partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Support Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Business and Secretarial Schools (611410)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)

Keywords

• Business support services
• SME advisory
• Business consultancy
• Access to finance
• Grant advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Hastings

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Sector Commissioning: Primary revenue stream from delivering contracted business support programmes commissioned by local authorities (Essex County Council, Southend-On-Sea City Council, Hastings Borough Council, Rochford District Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Luton Borough Council) and funded through UK Shared Prosperity Fund and other government schemes.
2. Access to Finance Services: As an accredited lender for British Business Bank's Start Up Loan Scheme and Growth Guarantee Scheme, revenue is generated through lending operations and loan management. Finance options up to £250k available to help businesses grow.
3. Grant Advisory Services: Delivery of grant programmes including Newhaven Grants Scheme, Smart Start Brentwood grants, and other local authority-funded grant schemes to support business start-up and growth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Let's Do Business Group delivers business consultancy, training, and access to finance for SMEs and start-ups across the South East and East of England. Services are delivered via one-to-one advisory sessions, group workshops, and lending products (Start Up Loans up to £25,000 and business loans up to £250,000 through British Business Bank schemes). Most services are funded by local authorities and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and offered at no cost to eligible businesses.

Product overview

Let's Do Business Group is an award-winning business support organization with over 30 years of experience delivering a comprehensive portfolio of services across the South East and East of England. The core offering centres on business consultancy, access to finance (up to £250k), marketing support, and business training for SMEs and start-ups. The portfolio includes regional programmes such as Smart Start Brentwood, Innovate and Elevate Rochford District, Her Biz (women's start-up programme with NatWest), Ready for Business, RISE Hastings, Newhaven Grant Schemes, Luton Elevate, Backing Essex Business, and Southend Business Support. Key sub-brands include Let's Do Business Finance (accredited lenders for British Business Bank) and Let's Do Marketing. The group also runs the annual Start Up September® campaign and uses a Social Impact Calculator to measure outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Start Up September®: Annual campaign bringing together business support organisations to provide free advice sessions and events for aspiring entrepreneurs across South East and East of England.
• Her Biz
• Smart Start Brentwood
• Innovate and Elevate Rochford District
• RISE Hastings
• Ready for Biz
• My Biz
• Backing Essex Business
• Luton Elevate: Business Growth Launchpad
• 1066 Business Awards

Products and services

• Business Consultancy Expert one-to-one business consultancy for SMEs covering strategic planning, operations, finance, marketing, and growth guidance across the South East and East of England.
• Business Finance Finance options up to £250,000 for start-ups and growing SMEs, including Start Up Loans (£500-£25,000) and Growth Guarantee Scheme business loans, delivered as an accredited British Business Bank partner.
• Let's Do Business Finance Subsidiary acting as accredited lender and delivery partner for British Business Bank schemes (Start Up Loan Company, Growth Guarantee Scheme, and Community ENABLE Funding). First accredited UK lender for Community ENABLE Funding.
• Let's Do Marketing Subsidiary delivering specialist marketing workshops, training, and digital marketing programmes including social media marketing, email marketing, LinkedIn, and marketing strategy courses.
• Marketing Support Marketing support services for SMEs including digital marketing training, strategy workshops, and skills development.
• Grant Advisory Service Advisory service helping SMEs and start-ups identify and apply for appropriate grant funding opportunities, including administration of local authority grant programmes.
• Inward Investment Support services for attracting investment and businesses to the South and East of England, working alongside partners such as Freeport East.
• Business Centres Physical business centre facilities and co-working spaces for businesses operating in the South East of England, used to host workshops and business support services.
• Her Biz Free women's start-up programme in partnership with NatWest providing workshops, mentoring, and a £500 business plan competition for female entrepreneurs across East Sussex and Kent.
• Smart Start Brentwood Fully funded business support programme in Brentwood, Essex delivering workshops, peer support, and grants up to £1,000 for aspiring entrepreneurs and new businesses.
• Innovate and Elevate Rochford District Fully funded business support and leadership programme for SMEs in Rochford District, Essex, providing expert-led training, mentoring, networking, and tailored business advice.
• Ready for Business Free start-up workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs in Hastings, Bexhill, and Sidley covering business planning, branding, marketing, and finance.
• RISE Hastings Business and skills support programme (Reboot, Ideas, Skills, Enterprise) for local businesses and residents in Hastings, funded by Hastings Borough Council and UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
• Newhaven Grant Schemes Grant funding programmes for businesses in the Newhaven Enterprise Zone including Low Carbon Investment Fund and Refurbishment of Employment Space Fund, offering grants up to £15,000.
• Luton Elevate: Business Growth Launchpad Programme offering mentoring, workshops, collaborative learning, and growth grants for businesses in Luton, commissioned by Luton Borough Council.
• Backing Essex Business Tailored advice, skills development, peer networking, and bespoke support programme for businesses across Essex, in partnership with Essex County Council.
• Southend Business Support Free specialist business and financial support for start-ups and scaling businesses in Southend-On-Sea including one-to-one advisory sessions, workshops, and access to finance, commissioned by Southend-On-Sea City Council.
• Start Up September Annual trademarked campaign bringing together business support organisations across South East and East of England with free Ask the Expert sessions and events to support new businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £57 million in economic impact delivered across South and East of England in 2025-26
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Rochford District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioning partner for Innovate & Elevate Rochford District programme, a fully funded business support and leadership programme for local SMEs, funded through UKSPF.
• Brentwood Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioning partner for Smart Start Brentwood programme, delivering fully funded business support including workshops and grant funding up to £1,000.
• Southend-On-Sea City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioning partner for specialist business and financial support programme, providing free advisory sessions, workshops, and access to finance for local businesses.
• Hastings Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for RISE Hastings (Reboot, Ideas, Skills, Enterprise) programme, funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support local businesses and residents in Hastings area.
• Luton Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Luton Elevate: Business Growth Launchpad programme providing mentoring, workshops, collaborative learning, and growth grants for local businesses.
• Essex County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Backing Essex Business programme delivering tailored advice, skills development, peer networking and bespoke support to businesses across Essex.
• Start Up Loan CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial delivery partner able to offer Start Up Loans from £500 to £25,000 alongside business support to help entrepreneurs launch businesses.
• North Essex Economic BoardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for delivery of business support and training to businesses across North Essex districts including Braintree, Colchester, Chelmsford, Maldon and Tendring. Also partner for communication support initiatives.
• Freeport EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInward investment partner working alongside Let's Do Business Group to strengthen economic growth message and attract investment to the region.
• Talk Community (Herefordshire)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Herefordshire Council to provide strategy and marketing support to the voluntary, charity, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
• Ashdown HurreyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChartered Accountants partnership for delivering workshops to refugees on financial aspects of running a business including tax returns and self-assessment.
• Let's Do MarketingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary company delivering specialist marketing workshops and training including LinkedIn, social media marketing, email marketing, and marketing strategy courses.
• Newhaven Enterprise ZonemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery partner for Newhaven Enterprise Zone Business Growth Fund offering grants up to £15,000 to businesses within the Enterprise Zone. Also delivers Low Carbon Investment Fund grants.
• Southern HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in RISE Hastings consortium along with Education Futures Trust to deliver business support in Hastings.
• Education Futures TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in RISE Hastings consortium along with Southern Housing to deliver business support and skills development.
• Responsible FinancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLet's Do Business Group is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) featured in Responsible Finance impact reports. Partnership contributes to sector-wide economic growth and job creation data.
• Let's Do Business FinancecoreOthersSubsidiary of Let's Do Business (South East) Group Limited providing business finance and loans as an accredited lender.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hatch Enterprise: UK-based enterprise support organisation focused on under-represented founders including women and ethnic minorities. Highly comparable to LDBG's Her Biz and inclusive entrepreneurship programmes, with similar mission-driven, impact-measured model.
• School for Social Entrepreneurs: UK charity providing training, mentoring and support to social entrepreneurs and community enterprises. Closely comparable to LDBG's mission of supporting purpose-led SMEs and use of government-funded programme delivery.
• Start Up Loans Company: British Business Bank-owned direct provider of Start Up Loans (£500-£25k). Functions as both partner and partial competitor to Let's Do Business Finance, since both originate Start Up Loans under the same government scheme.

Broad incumbents

• The Prince's Trust: Major UK charity offering enterprise support and finance to young people starting businesses. Operates at significantly larger scale than LDBG and overlaps on start-up lending and training, though focused on 18-30 demographic.
• Be the Business: UK-wide SME productivity and management support organisation. Overlaps with LDBG's business consultancy and growth advisory services for SMEs, though broader in remit and not a CDFI lender.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): UK's leading membership organisation for small businesses, providing advice, training and representation. Comparable to LDBG's SME advisory and policy/advocacy role, though operates nationally as a membership body.

Regional players

• Business West: Regional chamber of commerce and business support organisation covering the South West of England. Direct functional analogue to LDBG's regional enterprise support model in a different UK geography.
• Scottish Enterprise: Scotland's national economic development agency delivering business support, advisory and grant programmes. Directly analogous regional delivery model to LDBG, but in a different UK nation and at much larger scale.

Others

• NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator: NatWest's core SME banking and accelerator programmes. While a long-running LDBG partner via Her Biz, NatWest also delivers enterprise support directly, including lending products that overlap with LDBG's accredited lending franchise.
• Responsible Finance: UK membership body for Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). LDBG is a featured member CDFI; Responsible Finance sets sector standards and aggregates impact data across the UK's CDFI lending sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/120131474731056
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lets-do-business-group
• Xx.com/ldbgroup

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Let's Do Business Group