Business support
Start up support
If you’re a new business within Southwark please take a look at our guide to doing business in Southwark which will provide you with information on relevant council services and information you need to know before setting up within our Borough.
Other available support services are detailed below.
Business Support Service
The Business Support Service is a government funded initiative that provides help with starting and running a business.
The Business Support Service also has some helpful videos on its YouTube channel.
View the Business Support Service website for more information on the service.
You can also contact them in the following ways:
- telephone: 0300 456 3565
- textphone: 0191 581 0052
- email: enquiries@businesssupportservice.co.uk
- availability: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
The London Enterprise Panel’s Growth Hub
The London Enterprise panel maintains a ‘Growth Hub’ which keeps a list of available business support to businesses situated within the capital. The Hub provides useful search services to allow businesses to quickly and efficiently find relevant support services.
There is also live chat and a link to the Business Support Service. Take a look at the Growth Hub website.
OneTech
OneTech is a support service for tech founders in London. It aims to open up the sector to founders from under-represented groups through workshops, mentoring, networking and access to funders. For more information and to sign up, visit the OneTech website.
Start, Scale and Grow
The Start, Scale, Grow programme is designed to give owners of start-ups and SMEs the knowledge, skills, tools and confidence they need to scale and grow their businesses.
If you're interested in joining the project, email info@nwes.org.uk or phone 08456 099 991 (mention ‘Start, Scale, Grow’).
You can also contact us if you’re:
- just embarking on your entrepreneurial adventure and need to learn the key skills required to build a successful business
- an owner of an established business, but want to know how to drive growth and build resilience into your organisation
- someone who struggles with some of the common questions entrepreneurs face, such as ‘How do I stand out in a crowded market?’ or ‘Why are we growing so slowly?'
Newable
Newable operates a variety of programmes aimed at supporting businesses through various schemes. These vary from programmes aimed at supporting business start-ups to projects designed to increase growth and business development.
For more information on the different projects available visit the Newable website.
The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme
The enterprise programme supports unemployed young people aged 18 to 30, to work out if their business ideas are viable and whether self-employment is right for them. It's for people who:
- have a business idea they want help to explore
- are aged 18 to 30
- are unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week
- live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
Depending on the outcome of this process, the programme can offer mentoring support and, for those that really need it, financial support to start a business or mentoring support to secure goals in employment, education or training. The Prince’s Trust website has more information.
Start Up Loans
The Start Up Loans Company is a government funded initiative providing start-up support in the form of a repayable loan together with a business mentor for entrepreneurs across England and Northern Ireland. The initiative operates through a network of delivery partners across the country who support entrepreneurs in all industries and sectors.
The loans are available to people of all age groups.
Find a delivery partner.
Page last updated: 18 April 2024
