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 2025
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.
How to Stick to Your 2025 Business Goals
Tuesday 14 January – 10:30am-11:30am
Online
This webinar from Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre aims to help businesses set and maintain their New Year's resolutions, focusing on setting meaningful, achievable goals and creating a structure that keeps you focused, resilient, and accountable.
Topics covered in this session:
- Setting realistic goals
- Mastering deadlines and milestones
- Building resilience.
Learn to start the year with clarity, commitment and confidence.
For more information,
Discover Enterprise Funding: An Invitation for Young Entrepreneurs
We’re excited to invite you to an information session on Monday 13 January, where you can learn all about a new Enterprise grant scheme designed to support young entrepreneurs aged 18-30 who are either looking to start a new business or grow a business they started within the last two years.
Event details:
- Date: Monday 13 January 2025
- Time: 11:30am-1pm
- Location: Our Newham 112-118 The Grove Stratford, London E15 1NS
This session is strictly for individuals aged 18-30! During the event, the funding provider will thoroughly explain the criteria and offer guidance on how to best meet the eligibility requirements.
Feel free to share this invitation with other young entrepreneurs who fit the criteria and are interested.
Spaces are limited, so be sure to register your interest early.
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.
Course highlights:
- How to Get Started for Free
- Sales and Marketing
- Building a Web Presence
- Using Social Media
- The Legal Stuff
- Mastering Pitching
- Networking & Productivity
- Search Engine Optimisation
- Coaching and Motivational Support
- How to Negotiate for a Win-Win
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.
