I've recently been working with Foundation East. They're an Industrial and Provident Society which lends money and provides support to people who need to grow their businesses but who may have been turned down by banks despite having a great business idea and plan.

It's not as easy to get a bank loan now as it used to be and that could have serious implications for the business landscape.  It's often a chicken and egg situation but Foundation East helps some really great businesses break out and stand on their own two feet.

Even Foundation East turns away more businesses than it supports because it would be wrong to give hope to someone with a flawed plan by lending them money - only the best plans get through.  It also helps vulnerable businesses grow stronger - most experience financial pain as they grow their business and some could fall at this hurdle despite having very good longer term prospects.

Foundation East obviously has to have investors as well as borrowers but to me this is a no-brainer - especially at the moment.  If you decide to invest before the end of the tax year you can claim the 5% Community Investment Tax Relief for the current tax year. 

You can invest anything from £100 to £20,000 in the knowledge that your investment won't just be benefiting you but it will be helping others to climb the enterprise ladder too. After five years your capital is returned or you can re-invest it for a further period. I really believe in this so have invested £2,500 myself. 

If you want to catch the end of year deadline you'll obviously need to act now but don't just take my word for it - Foundation East will send you all the information you need to make an informed decision if you click here to get in touch with them or take a look at their website here.