Workshops, networking events and ongoing opportunities
We’re here to help businesses in our community thrive by offering tailored resources, expert-led workshops, practical training sessions and valuable networking events. Whether you’re a start-up or a well-established company in Newham, our goal is to support your growth, connect you with other local businesses and wider partners and provide access to essential tools and knowledge.
Explore our upcoming events, discover specialised training programs and join a thriving network of like-minded professionals. Together, let’s build a resilient and successful business community.
Upcoming March events
Celebrating Women Leaders in Sustainability
Tuesday 25 March – 9.30am-11.30am
Join us for an impactful event with the UEL Sustainability Centre and Green Business Action, supporting SMEs in their sustainability journey. Open to all entrepreneurs, with a focus on empowering women-led businesses, the event offers practical support, funding opportunities, and networking. Gain insights on emissions reduction, green finance, and resilience while contributing to Newham’s Just Transition Strategy.
To secure your spot today and be part of the movement toward a sustainable future
Empowering Communities & Business Workshop: Pitch Your Value
Thursday 27th March - 1:30pm–3:30pm
Stratford
This workshop is designed to help charity leaders, startups, community activists, creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, final-year students (business/creative fields), and business founders refine their pitches and communicate their value effectively. Given the Growth Fund opportunity, it could also help potential applicants strengthen their proposals and enhance their chances of success.
Sustainability and Business-how to improve and boost your competitive edge
Thursday 27th March – 2:30-3.30pm
Online webinar
This 1-hour virtual seminar is designed to help decision makers in small organisations get a grasp of the basics of sustainability. Attendees will gain an understanding of what sustainability can mean for their businesses, dispel myths and gain insights about integrating sustainability into day-to-day operations.
Upcoming April events
Introduction to Startup Law
Wednesday 9th April – 2:30-3:30pm
Online
If you're on the verge of launching your dream business or already navigating the world of start-ups, you won't want to miss this event! Unleash your entrepreneurial spirit and embark on a thrilling adventure into the realm of start-up law with Michael Buckworth, the founder of Buckworths, the only law firm in the UK working exclusively with startups and high growth businesses.
Expressway Incubator programme
April 1st 2025
Online and in-person at Expressway
If you have a ground-breaking idea and the drive to make it happen, this is your chance to turn vision into reality!
What’s in it for you?
- A dynamic 6-month incubation program
- Expert mentorship & support
- The opportunity to scale your business
Key Details:
Application Deadline: Rolling applications until March 7th 2025
Program Start: April 1st 2025
How to Apply: Send your CV + a brief business idea statement to Ournewhambande@newham.gov.uk
Barclays Black Founder Accelerator Programme
Applications are now open.
The programme especially designed to champion diversity in entrepreneurship and showcase Black Founder-led businesses. Foundervine is an award-winning social enterprise with a strong track record of helping entrepreneurs from under-represented communities to start their own business.
Ongoing Opportunities for businesses
Grow London Local
Grow London Local will give you free access to all the support you need to help grow your business. Explore our online library for events, support programmes and expert-led content designed to help you achieve your business goals.
Newable
Newable helps companies thrive by providing the essential resources they need to take the next step with their business. They support companies of all shapes, styles and sizes because variety and diversity fuels a thriving economy. Click on the above link to view its upcoming events/webinars.
Google for Startups
Google for Startups supports growing startups to utilise its resources, classes, connections and expertise to build their technical skills and knowledge.
It runs a number of programmes including:
- Startup School: Provides practical workshops on training for startup founders and their teams, covering topics including SEO, user experience and Google ads.
- Residency: Supports growth-stage startups to make the most of Google’s products, connections and best practices. Startups benefit from tailored mentoring, as well as access to workspace.
- Live sessions: A virtual event series bringing together Google experts, industry leaders, venture capitalists and coaches to support founders with their questions.
- Immersion (black founders): A 12-week skill-building mentorship programme for Black-founded startups. It prepares founders to grow their businesses, raise funding, and advance their leadership skills.
- Immersion (women founders): A 12-week mentorship-focused programme connecting women-founded startups from across Europe with Google resources.
Click here to find out more.
Hear from a consortium of respected speakers to discuss the incredible value of having a more diverse and inclusive supply chain.
Samuel Wilson's Loan Trust for young people
Samuel Wilson's Loan Trust is a charity which offers business loans to young people aged 18-39 who are "in need by reason of ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantages" to establish and develop new businesses.
The maximum loan is £50,000 starting at 2% interest. Please note that, as part of the application process, a robust business plan with detailed and realistic financial forecasts is required.
Help to Grow: Management Course
The Help to Grow: Management Course is designed and delivered by entrepreneurs and industry experts from world-class business schools. It provides:
- access to 12 weeks of learning designed to fit alongside work commitments
- development of a bespoke business growth plan to help your business reach its full potential
- 1:1 support from a business mentor
- networking opportunities
The programme is 90% funded by the Government so you only pay £750.
The Mayor of London’s scrappage scheme for businesses
The Mayor of London’s new scrappage scheme for vans and minibuses has been designed to further tackle the negative impact of toxic air pollution in London. It will enable eligible SMEs and charities with ten or less employees to replace polluting vehicles that don't meet the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) emissions standards – ULEZ is expanding to include outer London on 29 August.
The scrappage scheme offers six grant payment options. We encourage Newham businesses who aren’t ULEZ compliant to consider trading up to a fully electric vehicle using either a grant of £7,500 for a van or £9,500 for a minibus.
Queen Mary University of London's qNomics Programme offers free business services ranging from advice and training on business finance to planning, market research and expansion.
This free advice and support is delivered by students from Queen Mary's School of Economics and Finance under the supervision of expert practitioners who volunteer their services as part of their commitment to pro bono work.
