21st June 2022

Louth-based children’s education and play centre receives £92,000 MEIF funding

Lincolnshire-based children’s education and play centre, Little Louth, has received £92,000 in investment from First Enterprise - Enterprise Loans via the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), backed by the British Business Bank’s Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS).

Little Louth is a role play education centre for children of nursery and primary age. The business was set up in 2021, when founder Heather Thompson spotted a gap in the market in Louth, Lincolnshire, where there were no children’s play facilities within a 30-mile radius.

The launch of the innovative children's play centre aims to strengthen children’s social, physical, and fine motor skills through role-play and developmental education. The centre will introduce a range of interactive set-ups - such as a fire station, bakery, and car garage - to allow children to use their imagination to develop key social skills.

The funding from the MEIF will be used to invest in the allocation of business resources, equipment and supplies needed to launch this spring, as well as the creation of six new jobs.

Heather Thompson, Director of Little Louth, said:

"All the members from the mother group I went to were looking for a place they could take their kids to play and just have a chat with other parents. That's when I came up with the idea for Little Louth.

“I never knew if we would get the business off the ground, but now I’m excited to open the doors thanks to the support of First Enterprise.”

Matthew Wright, Investment Manager at First Enterprise - Enterprise Loans, said:

“We at First Enterprise wholeheartedly endorse this venture and are pleased to be supporting Heather in such a fantastic enterprise, which offers a great local resource to parents in Louth, as well as an excellent route for child development.”

Lewis Stringer, Senior Manager, UKN at the British Business Bank, said:

“The MEIF is committed to supporting the growth of SMEs across the Midlands, and this funding for Little Louth demonstrates how MEIF investment can lead to new job creation and business development in the region, particularly in the more rural areas. We encourage other businesses to consider MEIF funding for their growth plans”

Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said:  

“We all understand the importance of learning through play in the early years, and all the evidence shows that the pandemic has had a negative impact on the development of many young children. That’s why facilities such as this, which fire the imagination of children and encourage social interaction, are so important.

“I’d like to congratulate Heather for creating this fantastic business in Louth and at the same time thank First Enterprise and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund for their financial support.”