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 Events in January
Business start-up course
As we step into the New Year, it’s the perfect time to turn those resolutions into actionable steps. Whether you’re an existing business or have a dream of starting your own business, our highly energised Rebel Business School is the perfect opportunity to make 2025 your best year yet! Join us for an exciting 10-day journey where you’ll learn how to start a business with no money and no business plan.
Read the course highlights
University of East London – London E16
The Newham Chamber of Commerce is hosting its first Mayor’s Big Budget Business Breakfast, at the University of East London's Docklands Campus.
Mayor Fiaz OBE will present the Council’s business-related budget for the forthcoming year, ensuring commitment to ‘Building a Fairer Newham’ are upheld. The event will also feature the launch of the STEAM Community Support Centre, which will provide support to the local businesses in areas such as science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths.
The event is free for all Newham businesses, members and non-members and strictly ticket-only.
For more information
London Local Skills Improvement Plan
Wednesday 22 January – 1pm-2pm
Online
Are you a micro, small or medium employer looking to explore your future workforce? Join Central London Forward, South London Partnership, Local London, and West London Alliance which supports the pan-London Local Skills Improvement Plan for a FREE webinar series exploring how to maximise the recruitment support available in your area to help your business grow and thrive.
The upcoming session on Wednesday 22 January, will cover Sector-based Work Academy Programmes – what they are, their impact, and ways to get involved.
For more information
Save on Business Rates & Leases
Tuesday 21 January – 10am-11:30am
Online
London Business Partnership are delivering FREE commercial property advice to businesses across London.
Join to get valuable insights on:
- Business rates and your eligibility for rate relief.
- Changes to business rates as a result of the Autumn Budget.
- Understanding and negotiating your lease.
- Come along and have all your commercial property questions answered by experts in the industry.
For more information
The StartUp Show
Saturday 25th January – 09:30-4.15pm
Sancroft, Paternoster Square London EC4M 7DQ
The StartUp Show is an absolute must for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. It’s your chance to discover everything you need to know about starting and growing a business. Join in-person to access five focused stages and three interactive zones. Lunch and refreshments provided with the price.
Funding Readiness Programme
Many founders and entrepreneurs are confused by the funding options available to them and to help them navigate the funding landscape better, we’ve designed a programme to help to demystify funding and to provide founders with the skills and knowledge they need to fund their business growth.
Upcoming February events
Save the date!
Tuesday 11 February
In-person Apprenticeship Information Session for Businesses
Join us in celebrating National Apprenticeship Week from 10-14 February! In partnership with Newham College and University of East London, we invite all businesses in Newham to come and find out:
- Levy transfer: how to access funding through apprenticeship levy
- Funding support: opportunities to train new and existing staff
- Apprenticeship process: steps to hire new apprentices.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into how you can support the development of your unique workforce. Learn strategies for cost-effective recruitment and training, boost productivity, promote new talent and learn about the government incentives and support available for businesses.
More details to follow, stay tuned!
Newham Business and Enterprise has partnered again with Newable to assist local SMEs in unlocking new opportunities with leading developers involved in various exciting regeneration projects within the borough.
Join us for an exclusive 15-minute one-on-one session with top buyers and decision-makers from Newham. Discover how you can collaborate and contribute to the exciting transformation of our borough.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of building a thriving future rooted in community wealth building.
For more information
click here
Professional Beauty London
Sunday 2 March – 10.00am-5.00pm Monday 3 March – 10.00am-5.00pm
ExCeL London
Professional Beauty London 2025, is an industry event for Beauty & Spa Professionals, featuring product launches, exclusive trade discounts, and inspiring seminars. Take the opportunity to explore top brands, compare options, and find solutions for your business. Stay ahead of the trend by identifying new treatments and spot revenue generating trends.
For more information
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.
