Start Up Greenwich has partnered with The British Library and The Royal Borough of Greenwich to deliver a fully funded business support service which helps aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses to build their entrepreneurial skills and confidence, as well as giving them access to business information and resources.
If you wish to register as a Start Up Greenwich member, please click here.
If you wish to register as a Start Up Greenwich member, please click here.
We offer our members a variety of expert-led workshops, 1-2-1's with a business manager, access to business resources, opportunities to trade and test business ideas, usage of the Start Up Greenwich business lounge, networking events and much more.
Resources available
Here are some of the resources you can access when you join our business community as a Start Up Greenwich member.
Kickstart your business
We have teamed up with the British Library’s Business & IP Centre (BIPC) to deliver grassroot business support on your doorstep, FREE to join and open to all new and aspiring business owners across the capital.
Spread across two days, Day 1 covers the multiple areas of intellectual property (IP) and their relevance to your business, as well as practical tips on how to use the BIPCs resources to protect, research, and develop your business idea.
Day 2 takes a deep dive into the areas you need to focus on to kickstart your business, from the essential building blocks of starting up and running a successful business to common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
COBRA business resource
COBRA, or the Complete Business Reference Advisor, is a business database which can help you research and strengthen your entrepreneurial ideas. It contains more than 4,000 factsheets, market reports, contacts, and sources of funding, in addition to hundreds of practical guides to starting up more than 350 types of business.
If you're a Start Up Greenwich and Greenwich Libraries member, you can access this for free.
1-2-1 support
These sessions will provide focused support to help members address their business challenges and provide a safe space for them to discuss their business ideas. To book a 1-2-1, please email startupgreenwich@gll.org
Room hire
As a Start Up Greenwich member, you can book the Business Lounge without charge to conduct business activities i.e. meetings, workshops, seminars, product/service launches etc. Payment for the space is only required if there is an associated fee for attendees. This can be paid at the library where the space is but will be discussed upon booking.
Monthly Coffee Mornings
Held for our Start up Greenwich members on the last Wednesday of the month, Coffee Mornings are a space to network, problem-solve, and share your business problems and successes with likeminded new and aspiring entrepreneurs. All over tea, coffee, and biscuits! There is no obligation to share anything; it is simply a safe space for Start Up Greenwich members.
Collaborate with us
We are always looking to expand our pool of facilitators and create new, strong partnerships with industry experts and local organisation who are interested in supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in their journey.
If that sounds like you, please email us on startupgreenwich@gll.org
What to expect from workshops
Start Up Greenwich aim to host a variety of free workshops each quarter, ranging from sessions on marketing, finances, branding, sustainability, funding, and much more. Each workshop will be facilitated by an expert in the industry, so that our members can receive the most effective and accurate support. Workshops are in person, online, or hybrid with the goal of reaching as many members as possible, so that we can form a thriving, local business community. While we try to add and adapt the workshops we offer, we are always up for more suggestions and engaging with new facilitators.
To see our upcoming events and workshops, click here.
Start Up Greenwich Business Grants Programme
Start Up Greenwich will deliver a £20,000 business grants programme for registered businesses within the Royal Borough of Greenwich (including sole traders, CICs and social enterprises, etc).
The first round of applications will open on Monday 6th January and close on Friday 31st January.
Programme benefits
Businesses will have the opportunity to apply for grants between £500 and £2,000. One application per organisation is allowed. The grant can be used to:
- Equipment
- Resources
- Professional services to increase their business growth/capacity
- To deliver a project aimed at supporting local communities or initiatives.
Eligibility criteria
- A business based and registered in the Royal Borough of Greenwich e.g. ltd company, CIC, social enterprise, LLP, sole trader etc. The business must have a bank account in the organisation’s name.
- A business that is a member of Start Up Greenwich or a business receiving support from South East Enterprise.
Application process
The Start Up Greenwich team will screen all applications and send eligible applications to a panel of GLL judges.
Due to the short period applications are open for, we aim to provide a decision on applications as soon as they come in. – This could result in a first come first served process.
All applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will be notified as soon as possible.
Once the panel of judges agrees to allocate an organisation a grant, the applicant will be made aware of this in writing. The GLL judging panel’s decision is final.
What happens when I get the grant?
Organisations that have been awarded grants will need to invoice Start Up Greenwich with the amount they have been awarded. Grants must be spent within 3 months of receiving payment. For monitoring and evaluation purposes, a member of the Start Up Greenwich team will be in touch will all applicants to request evidence of spending of the grant by requesting receipts and invoices. In addition, the Start Up Greenwich team will select a handful of grant applicants to write case studies on how impactful a grant has been to their business/project.
If any business has further questions about the business grants, or needs help completing the application form, please email: startupgreenwich@gll.org
If any business has further questions about the business grants, or needs help completing the application form, please email: startupgreenwich@gll.org
The Start Up Greenwich grants programme is funded by UKSPF (UK Shared Prosperity Funding).
One-year Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) memberships
In partnership with Royal Borough of Greenwich, Start Up Greenwich have allocated funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to provide Greenwich businesses with 1-year memberships to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the leading business representative organisation for small businesses.
The opportunity is available until 31st March 2025.
What are the benefits to me?
FSB membership enables small firms to take away a lot of the stress from doing business. It offers products, services, advice and information, as well as resources and tools to help grow your business and save money.
This includes:
- Business insurance
- 24/7 legal, tax and employment advice line
- Access to financial advice
- Access to legal support
- Cyber security advice
- Health and safety support
- HR advice
- Healthcare plans
- PR and crisis management
- Tax investigation protection
- Debt recovery service
- Support with increasing sales/winning new contracts
- Exclusive member discounts for additional support too.
Am I eligible?
Memberships are available to businesses that are:
- based, registered, or operating in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
- have between 1-4 employees
- are a registered Start Up Greenwich member
What is the cost?
Eligible businesses will be required to contribute a nominal fee of £50. The remaining cost of the membership will be covered through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
This is a saving of up to £195 on the standard membership fee for businesses with up to 4 employees.
This is a saving of up to £195 on the standard membership fee for businesses with up to 4 employees.
If you would like to express your interest please click here:
FSB Membership Interest Expression Form | Cognito Forms
Start up Greenwich membership
When you become a Start Up Greenwich member, you will have the opportunity to meet and build networks of support amongst other entrepreneurs which you can leverage to support the growth of your business. In addition, you will be able to learn from successful local start-ups, established businesses and other professionals associated with the start-up ecosystem which can help you reach your business goals.
Start up Greenwich members will also have access to opportunities to help promote their business through their association with the service and the wider networks that we can tap into.
Start up Greenwich members will also have access to opportunities to help promote their business through their association with the service and the wider networks that we can tap into.
Neurodivergent spaces
Neurodivergent spaces
