Published: 10 October 2022
Two great new schemes have launched in Southwark to support new and emerging businesses with free advice, mentoring and funding. Although targeted at businesses, this can include social enterprises and non-profit companies.
Known as the Southwark Pioneers Fund, there are two key strands:
- Community drop-in days for anyone interested in starting a business, taking place around the borough
- Walworth and Camberwell – 19 October
- Bermondsey – 21 October
- Peckham – 5 November
- Sydenham – 8 November
- 1 to 1 advice surgeries with business experts, again spread around the borough from October 2022 to January 2023
- Networking and showcase events in December 2022 and March / July 2023
This is all free to access for any Southwark resident, and you can find out more and sign up via their website.
They actively encourage women, marginalised genders, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, young people, senior citizens and people with disabilities to apply.
Designed for emerging businesses that are looking to take the next step, the Accelerator programme is a more intensive form of free support, offering free training, advice, peer support and networking, with an estimated value of £5,000. Programme graduates can then apply for up to £10,000 of funding to support their business
Businesses should have around £40,000+ turnover in the last 12 months, and be looking to recruit at least one member of staff or full-time equivalent in the next 12 months. The programme starts in January 2023 – find out more and apply to join via their website.
Deadline for applications is 31 October 2022