BCRS Business Loans brought together business leaders from across the West Midlands for an afternoon of dining, networking, and inspiration as the popular Black Country Diners Club event returned.

Hosted by business loan provider BCRS Business Loans, more than 70 members of the Black Country business community attended the networking lunch at the Molineux Stadium on September 24.

The event featured guest speakers Brendon and Jaydon Manders, the Birmingham-born brothers behind seasoning and sauce products Lumberjaxe who secured a £90,000 investment from Emma Grede on BBC One's Dragons' Den earlier this year.

The entrepreneurial duo shared their journey from launching their business with just £100 each from their mother's council house kitchen in 2020 to building a brand now stocked in more than 250 UK retailers.

Attendees networked with business colleagues over a two-course meal while gaining valuable insights into how the brothers turned setbacks into stepping stones and developed the growth mindset that transformed their humble beginnings into a thriving business venture.

Speaking at the event, Lumberjaxe Jaydon Manders said, “Our business has expanded rapidly in under a year—from our mom’s kitchen to appearing on Dragon’s Den to working with big names like Aldi and Selfridges. Starting with just £100 each, our goal remains to bring our products into as many homes as possible.”

Brendon Manders added: “We struggled to source financing from high street banks and needed funding to help make the Aldi contract work. It was a sink or swim situation and Louise from BCRS Business Loans helped us to facilitate the funding we needed- and now all of our products are stocked in Aldi.”

BCRS Business Loans chief executive Stephen Deakin said: "We were delighted to welcome so many guests to join us for another successful Black Country Diners Club lunch. The Manders brothers provided an inspiring example of the entrepreneurial spirit and tenacity for which the West Midlands is known.

"BCRS Business Loans occupies a unique place in the region's economy, working with a range of lenders, business groups, professionals, and companies to support business growth. Events such as this enable us to strengthen relationships, forge new connections and extend awareness of the funding solutions we offer."

Amy Jacklin of Kids’ Village Charity, BCRS Business Loans' Charity of the Year, gave an update on the charity’s progress and their goal to become the UK's first holiday village for seriously ill children near Lichfield. So far, BCRS have raised £1,700 this year for the children’s charity.

The Black Country Diners Club has established itself as one of the West Midlands' premier midday networking events, attracting business leaders from throughout the area.

BCRS Business Loans provides funding to businesses across the West Midlands and Wales that are struggling to access finance from traditional lenders. Businesses can secure loans from between £10,000 to £250,000 to support growth and recovery plans.

Having launched in 2002, BCRS Business Loans has now passed £100 million in total lending to businesses, generating overall £518 million in economic impact. Up to the end of April 2025, BCRS Business Loans supported 1,594 businesses that were unable to access traditional finance, creating over 5,900 jobs and safeguarding 11,779 existing roles.

BCRS Business Loans has achieved one of its best years ever for delivering funds, providing £9,900,502 to 124 businesses during the 2024-25 financial year, a 68% increase in the number of SMEs supported compared to the previous year.

In the last financial year, lending through BCRS Business Loans resulted in the safeguarding of 889 jobs and creation of 317 roles while adding £51.2m to the economy of the West Midlands, surrounding region and Wales. Of the funding, 34.6 per cent went to the UK’s most disadvantaged areas.