Business support programmes
Business Resilience and Growth
Lewisham Business Resilience & Growth (BRAG) is a programme funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which offers eligible Lewisham businesses access to a range of business support activities designed to help your business overcome its challenges, grow and prosper.
Run by Goldsmiths, University of London, BRAG provides you with the expert advice and resources you need to help drive transformative growth for your business:
Free commercial property advice from the London Business Partnership
If you are experiencing challenges with your commercial property such as:
- negotiating a new lease with your landlord
- a rent review coming up and you do not agree with the new rent figure proposed by the landlord
- business rates and relief schemes
- rent arrears and agreeing an arrangement with your landlord to clear these.
- your landlord is proposing to evict you or not extend your lease
- the new energy efficiency rating
Eligibility Criteria:
If you would like to benefit from this wide range of free support, you need to meet all of the below criteria:
- You are based or currently trading in London.
- You have 250 employees or less (including yourself).
- Your current turnover is under £44m.
If you meet these three requirements, apply for property support.
Grow London Local
Grow London Local provide a single point of access to free support that will help your business grow. Whether you're a hairdresser, wholesaler, mechanic, or any small business owner in Lewisham, Grow London Local gives you access to expert business support. It's available online or in-person and specifically designed for micro and small businesses. Simply book an in-person session to discuss the right support needed to grow your business.
Legal Foundations
Legal Foundations is a not-for-profit organisation founded by lawyers who believe that the legal basics can and should be free-of-charge for all businesses. They offer a wide variety of free legal documents and guides that can help you get your business up and running, all drafted by highly qualified UK lawyers. For example, they host free generators for, website privacy policies, employment contracts, and more.
BIPC Lewisham
BIPC Lewisham aims to extend the provision of business support in the Borough of Lewisham, by helping aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses to increase their entrepreneurial skills and confidence, as well as providing access to business information and resources.
BIPC Lewisham will also facilitate a variety of expert led workshops, one to ones, and networking events within the local business community. Lewisham Libraries card holders will be able to access the following Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) services locally:
- business information and resources, for example free access to high quality UK and global market intelligence, customer insights, and company data
- intellectual property advice and guidance
- free one-to-one support and training
- topical business networking events
- access to the latest business books and eBooks, digital newspapers, magazines and journals
- business databases: COBRA, IBIS World and Grant Finder
- conference equipment and room hire
Business databases
COBRA
COBRA (Complete Business Reference Advisor) contains all the information you need to turn your idea into a business. Access remotely or in any library branch and find more than 4,000 factsheets, market reports, contacts, and sources of funding and support plus hundreds of practical guides to starting up more than 350 types of business. Access through the link above with your library card number and PIN:
Grant Finder
GrantFinder is the leading funding database in the UK covering local, national, and international sources of funding. Thousands of funding sources are included such as charitable trusts, societies, research councils, national government, the EU and corporate sponsors. Access at Lewisham Libraries' hubs: Catford Library, The Library at Deptford Lounge, Downham Library and Lewisham Library.
IBIS World
Trusted industry research covering thousands of global industries. Get a quick and intelligent overview of any industry. In every report, you’ll find actionable insights, comprehensive data and in-depth analysis. For any queries relating to the BIPC Lewisham, please email BIPC@lewisham.gov.uk.
Enterprise Nation
Whether you’re launching a new business or developing an existing one, Enterprise Nation connects you to the resources and expertise to help you succeed. Enterprise Nation exists to shortcut your route to trusted business support. With a business community of over 120,000 people it is a great way to network. Business support services include:
- funding hub
- business advice from industry experts
- workshops, training and e-learning
- guides and templates
- networking events online and in person
- opportunities to showcase services
Business Debtline
Business Debtline offer a number of services to help businesses during the cost of living crisis, these include specialist advisers and a cost of living hub that will help you to:
- find out how to make the most of your money
- understand how the cost of living can affect how you deal with your debts
- get advice about dealing with high gas and electricity bills
- find out about help from other organisations
- understand what to do if you can't afford your living costs
British Business Bank
The British business bank is a government-owned business development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses. There are a number of business loan options available:
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
Business membership organisation offering a wide range of products, services, advice, information as well as resources and tools that will help you grow your business and save money.
Benefits include: legal advice, tax protection insurance, health and safety, HR online support, pension planning, business banking, as well as networking opportunities:
South East London Chamber of Commerce
Business membership organisation offering a wide range of products, services, advice, information as well as resources and tools that will help you grow your business and save money.
Benefits include: practical business support, training, excellent networking opportunities and access to new markets and services:
Support for Lewisham businesses
If you need support for your business, we may be able to help. Please complete our form, and a member of our team will be in touch.
Lewisham business newsletter
For current news about businesses in Lewisham and to keep up to date on current and emerging business support sign up for our business newsletter.