Local Factsheet - Brent

Welcome to Grow London Local! ​

One place to access all areas of small business support. From Barnet to Waltham Forest, Grow London Local can support you with accessing the business finance you need, marketing to help boost your sales and upskilling your team or yourself if you are not sure where to start. ​

From there, we will introduce you to the right support network that suits your business to allow for the best chance of success.​


Eligibility:

• Must have a London-based home or trading address.
• Must meet the conditions of Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) — i.e., not having received government support exceeding £315,000 in the past three years.
• Must agree to our General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

• Must have a London-based home or trading address.
• Must provide a UTR or CRN.
• Must meet the conditions of MFA — i.e., not having received government support exceeding £315,000 in the past three years.
• Must agree to our General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

Website: https://www.growlondonlocal.london/  
E-mail: hello@growlondonlocal.london

London Borough of Brent Council can signpost individuals looking to start a business, and trading businesses looking to grow to local support services. The council website also has information on business rates, licensing, premises, procurement, environmental health and online trading standards guidance to support businesses.

The Council are currently offering a free training programme aimed at helping you get confident in selling online through different platforms like Amazon and eBay, improve online sales and grow your business.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: http://www.brent.gov.uk/business/

Tel: 020 8937 1234 (general enquiries)

Tel: 020 8937 1525 (business rates)

Tel: 020 8937 5555 (trading standards)

Amplify Venture is a free two-year programme for ambitious founders and business owners seeking to scale and expand their businesses.

Amplify Venture will provide a series of programmes and opportunities for businesses across different sectors to fuel their success and growth, providing access to tailored support, resources, knowledge and events.

Current activities and programmes include:

- Community programme - where scaling businesses can access content, events, networks, and post-programme support to successfully scale their ventures.

- Business Workshop series - A range of events offering short and sharp modules to support businesses.

- Futureproof Accelerator - Support for diverse businesses across the Fast moving consumer goods sector to help them grow, access investment opportunities and networks, and support them through navigating the commercial supply chain.

New programmes are being added on a regular basis.

Eligibility: Available for trading businesses in London who are scaling up their business. Each programme may have more particular criteria please check the website for further criteria.

Website: https://www.amplifyventure.org/

Nwes offers one-to-one business advice, a range of business and personal skills training courses, and serviced business premises, for those wishing to start or grow a business. Business support is available in Norfolk and Suffolk and will be tailored to individual needs but often includes business planning, legal structure, the effective and efficient operation of the business, marketing plans, support in preparing finance proposals, identifying cost savings, environmental planning, and key steps to starting-up. Nwes also provide Start Up Loans for London, Norfolk, and Suffolk

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.nwes.org.uk/

Tel: 01603 227840

E-mail: info@nwes.org.uk

Online contact form: https://www.nwes.org.uk/contact/

The programme will provide businesses with the skills and knowledge required to grow by bringing together a range of support, advice and training alongside the connections and opportunities needed to enter new markets, compete globally and grow your business. As part of the programme businesses will receive 1-2-1 support from a Business Adviser and have the opportunity to attend a series of export readiness workshops to help support your business with international growth.

Eligibility: This programme has two funding streams, as such the programme can support businesses within the following criteria. Businesses Registered in the UK, Trading in London looking to grow internationally
and meet either set of the below eligibility criteria.
- Be a new or reactive exporter
- Have a turnover between £50k and £500k
- Have less than 30 employees

or
- Have a minimum of three employees
- Be trading for more than 18 months
- Have turnover or investment minimum of £50k

Website: https://go.newable.co.uk/JPM-GlobalLondonProgramme

The LONDON E-business Support Programme is a fully-funded package of support specifically aimed at helping business owners make better use of digital technology to enhance their online presence support includes: 121 expert advice, guidance, webinars and events for businesses in Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow.

Support available includes:

- Initial Digital Audit / Review
​- 121 Digital Advice & Support
- Digital Webinars & Tutorials
- Networking Events

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have been registered for over 1 month with HMRC or Companies House and have fewer then 250 employees.

Website: https://londonbp.co.uk/thelondonebusinessprogramme/

Do you have questions about market research and intellectual property?

The BIPC offers guides, highlights useful databases, publications and websites (all of which may be available from local libraries or via the British Library). The guides include resources for the following industries: Advertising; Alcoholic drinks; Books and Publishing; Childrenswear; Confectionery; Construction; Energy; Fashion; Fast Food and Snacks; Footwear; Frozen, chilled and ready-made foods; Furniture; Giftware; Global business; Green and Ethical business and Social Enterprise; Health and Fitness; Horticulture; Insurance; Jewellery; Music; Organic food; Over-the-counter and Complementary Medicine; Packaging; Recruitment and Training; Sports; Telecommunications; Toiletries and Cosmetics; Toys and Games; Travel and Tourism; and TV and Film.

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business, including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.bl.uk/bipc/

Tel: 020 7412 7901

E-mail: bipc@bl.uk

Online contact form: https://bl.libanswers.com/form.php?queue_id=2495

If you are looking for information and advice that could help your business, The Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre may be able to help.

They offer business information including specialist sector guides, community and not-for-profit resources, business start-up support, business workshops, digital courses and professional development, access to market research and statistical information on companies, countries, import and export.

Membership fees may apply, check the website for details.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/supporting-businesses/small-business-research-enterprise-centre/about-small-business-research-enterprise-centre

E-mail: sbrec@cityoflondon.gov.uk

The Made Smarter adoption programme aims to empower and support London's manufacturing businesses. The programme has a particular focus on adopting digital technology eligible businesses can access:

- Advice and support (Technology Adoption)
- Organisational workforce development
- Leadership & Management training for industrial digitalisation
- Funding support

Eligibility: Available for trading manufacturing businesses in London.

Website: https://www.madesmarter.uk/adoption/in-my-region/london/

The Property Advice Service aims to support "small to medium sized enterprises, micro businesses and solopreneurs" with unexpected challenges when leasing a commercial office, retail or workspace. Support can help with legal terminology and financial implications, or face prohibitive costs of the professional advice they need. The programme is delivered by London Business Partnership, Gerald Eve (international property consultants) and the University of Law and is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Eligibility: Available for trading businesses who are based in London with less 250 employees who have a current turnover of less than £44 million. 

Website: https://londonbp.co.uk/propertyadviceservice/

Email: info@londonbp.co.uk

Greater London Authority (GLA) provides online information on supporting businesses in London covering the economic strategy, partner opportunities and much more.  They also fund a range of London-based initiatives. 

For those in London with an idea to support patients or their local community, there is support to get started. London’s social enterprise initiative is open anyone in London with an idea that supports patients, carers, communities or healthcare workers.  

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/BUSINESS-AND-ECONOMY

The Selby Centre is a centre of excellence for collaborative charity and social businesses working together to create community wealth and support.

Support includes: Marketing, Social Media Optimisation, Web Site Development, AI tools, Employment Law, Restructuring, Product Development, Charity and Social Enterprise Structures, Governance, Raising Finance and Bid Writing.

Eligibility: All businesses including those not yet trading in London.

Website: https://www.selbytrust.co.uk/spf

Register interest via website.

A police-led, not-for-profit organisation helping small to medium sized businesses and third sector organisations strengthen their resilience against cyber-attacks. Offering:

- Free membership to access the Getting the Basics Right programme to help you implement security best practices for your business that will prevent the majority of cybercrime.

- Step-by-step guides and tools from ourselves, our partners, the police and government on how to action each topic addressed in the programme.

- Affordable services to understand the vulnerability of your organisation towards cyber-attacks. Charges do apply.

- Free training and awareness opportunities to prevent accidental or intentional loss or damage to your business. 

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business. Small to medium sized businesses and third sector organisations in London looking for guidance on how to protect themselves from cybercrime/cyber-attacks and fraud. 

Website: https://www.londoncrc.co.uk/  

Tel: 07585 556159

Email: info@londoncrc.co.uk 

Online contact form: https://www.londoncrc.co.uk/about/contact-us

A fully-funded programme of interactive skills workshops and 1:1 mentoring, enabling small businesses to enhance their bid-readiness. After completing an initial online Bid Capability Assessment Questionnaire to identify gaps in your current tender submission process, eligible businesses can then join specialist webinar sessions to build upon writing skills and business modelling approaches. This is accompanied by support from an experienced adviser to plan further actions and increase your success in winning contracts.

The programme is sponsored by Local Authorities and delivered by Branduin Business Support in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce.

Eligibility: For businesses who have started trading.

Website: https://fittobid.co.uk/ 

Tel: 020 3488 7150

E-mail: info@branduin.co.uk 

If you are looking for resources you can access online, check out Tech.London. It includes information you can use to network and access opportunities in the tech sector and has dedicated sections for newly started businesses, events, jobs, investors, courses, workspaces and incubators.

The resources area includes how-to guides, a community section, mentorship and training, funding tips and opportunities and guidance on doing business internationally.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading within the technology sector.

Website: https://tech.london/

ReLondon Business Transformation provides free advice to small businesses in London to transform the way they do business, creating sustainable value and growth through circular economy strategies and innovations. Their support helps businesses develop, pilot and launch well-designed and innovative circular initiatives which reduce waste, cut costs and generate new revenue opportunities.

Eligibility: Available to start-up and established SMEs.

Website: www.relondon.gov.uk/business

Tel: 020 3963 0675

E-mail: business@relondon.gov.uk

Online contact form: https://relondon.gov.uk/business/contact-us/ 

Brunel University can provide your business with support and advice in a number of areas. The university has specialists in areas such as engineering, digital, marketing, accountancy, healthcare, finance, computer and data science, product design and many more via Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

The university can also provide support with talent recruitment, health and safety courses, facilities and services and you can also be kept up to date on ongoing support and news.

Website: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/business/Business-advice-and-support

Innovate UK Business Growth (was Innovate UK EDGE) is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth. It provides intensive, specialist-led support to ambitious innovation-led businesses to help them grow and scale.

Each high-potential, innovative business is supported by a dedicated innovation & growth specialist local to them. The specialist will consider a business in the round and, working closely with its leadership, identify the most productive ways to accelerate its growth. This could be by working on the core business plan and value proposition or through exploiting innovation, accessing funding and finance, and/or expanding into new markets.

In particular, the specialists can help companies to develop an innovation-driven business plan; understand how to protect and create value from their intellectual property; develop a strategy to fund and finance their innovation, growth and be investment ready; connect to new partners for commercial, technology and R&D collaborations; and discover opportunities in overseas markets learning how to capitalise on them.

Innovate UK Business Growth  also offer the Scaleup Programme for enhanced support, the Global Incubator Programme and the Global Business Innovation Programme.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading (innovative businesses, looking to grow and scale their business in the UK market and internationally) with up to 500 employees (250 in Northern Ireland). It is not suitable for pre-starts, or for those businesses who have no ambition to grow through innovation or internationalisation.

Website: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth/

Online Contact Form: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth-contact/ 

Tel: 0300 123 3066  (National Gateway)

Empower100 is a new programme of support from Virgin StartUp designed to level the playing field for founders growing the businesses they're passionate about.

This programme has been designed to help Black, Asian and minority ethnic founders, women founders and founders with a disability, based in Greater London, unlock the potential for growth and investment in their startups.

Delivered online and in-person over 8 weeks, Empower100 is a free accelerator for founders on the move, who're ready to take on the next stage of growth, raise investment and boost their skillsets.

Eligibility: Specifically for women founders, Black, Asian and minority ethnic founders; and founders with a disability. To apply, you must meet the following criteria: Have a UK business based in Greater London, been trading for a minimum of 18 months, have at least 2 employees, have a minimum turnover of £50k per annum, be raising investment for the first time and have a strong underlying business proposition.

Website: https://www.virginstartup.org/empower-100/

Email: scaleup@virginstartup.org

Are you a London based SME wanting to bid for large contracts but need support to get you there?

This programme aims to help small businesses across London to access large supply chains.  They offer local under-represented businesses support to become 'supply chain ready', through developing internal capabilities to meet the procurement criteria that tend to be required when applying for contracts with larger companies. 

In addition to receiving 1-2-1 support and in depth training workshops, participants can access events to connected with the programme's network of local, regional and national buyers, pitch their business and learn about potential new opportunities.  

Support is fully funded and delivered by Newable, in partnership with London South Bank University.  Further information and details of how to apply are on the website. 

Eligibility: Available to trading SME businesses registered in the UK, with projected turnover above £50,000 for next year. 

Target sectors: Accommodation, Arts, entertainment and recreation, Business services, Construction, Consumer, Creative, Education and technology, Food services and catering, Health, Transportation and storage.

Website: https://go.newable.co.uk/inclusivesupplychain

If you are unsure of how to handle a legal matter, City Community Legal Advice Centre are there to help you.

Book an appointment via email to receive free advice on a range of business and legal matters. The service is run by The City Law School trained student advisers and supervised by professional lawyers to provide free legal advice to small businesses.  They can support a range of topics including business set-up and tax, insolvency and winding-up, contracts and commercial disputes, partnership issues and employment law, data protection, IP, health & safety, and insurance.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Closing date: Term time only (early October to mid-December and late January to early April). During the academic term, the clinic runs every Tuesday evening from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm.

Website: https://www.city.ac.uk/about/facilities/specialist-facilities/city-community-legal-advice-centre

E-mail: clac@city.ac.uk

Need advice on company law, intellectual property or a range of other business topics? The Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre may be able to help.

They offer a free legal service for members of the public and small businesses in London. They can advise on legal matters and assist with contract issues for small companies. 

If the service is able to advise, users are allocated an appointment to attend the centre. Please note you will receive free written advice within fourteen days of your appointment (legal advice will not be provided during the appointment). Appointments are held by a Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre Student Adviser and a qualified lawyer.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading. If you are a company they can only assist you if your turnover is less than £100,000 per year. If you are a social enterprise they can only assist you if your profit making turnover is less than £250,000 per year.

Closing date: The clinic is open for appointments term time only (October - May).

Website: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/lac/

E-mail: lac@qmul.ac.uk

Free legal advice service to small businesses or individuals looking to start a business in England. The Clinic can assist with legal advice on: setting up a business, help protecting your intellectual property, a dispute with a supplier, customer completing forms for incorporating a company, advising on contractual issues, disputes with customers, co-founders or suppliers, business partners, a legal query about your business tenancy, checking the Companies House register and providing other practical support and advice.

To submit your query online: http://probono.bppuniversity.ac.uk/blog/projects/business-legal-advice/

If unable to submit your query online please email: legalhelp@my.bpp.com and cc in enterprise@my.bpp.com

Website: http://probono.bppuniversity.ac.uk/blog/projects/business-legal-advice/

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Additional Information: Individual cases must be suitable for the Clinic and this is assessed on a case-by-case basis after submitting the enquiry or an initial phone interview. Queries submitted online will likely be proceed more quickly than voicemails. Law students will conduct a video meeting with the individual or business to gather further information on the query. They follow up each interview with a detailed letter of advice supervised by a qualified lawyer.

Do you need legal advice? Lawyers for your business is a scheme offering a free half-hour consultation with a member of the Law Society.

The lawyer will not be able to deal with existing legal issues but can help with general legal enquiries about starting a business, employing people, contracts with customers and suppliers, taking on leased premises, business structures, health and safety and raising finance. When contacting a solicitor for a 30-minute free consultation you must advise you are calling regarding the Lawyers for your business scheme and use the named contact on the sheet sent to you from the service.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading up to 12 months including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/

Tel: 020 7320 5650 - If you need help with using the find a solicitor section, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm

E-mail: lfyb@lawsociety.org.uk - please include postcode or town/city in the e-mail.

For solicitors interested in joining the LFYB scheme
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/career-advice/individual-accreditations/lawyers-for-your-business

The Samuel Wilson Loan Trust offers Loans of up to £50,000 to people over 18 and under 40 years old for establishing and developing new businesses, and who are "in need by reason of ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage."

Loan amounts are dependent on the type of business: Loans of up to £50,000 are available for limited companies. Sole traders can apply for loans of between £25,000-£50,000.

Eligibility: Available for businesses who have been trading for less than 3 years, or a just about to start up a business. Please note that the Trust does not loan to any business whose primary trade is the manufacture or sale of alcohol. The process to access a loan can take between 2-4 months.

Website: Samuel Wilson's Loan Trust - City of London

E-mail: SWLT.Enquiries@cityoflondon.gov.uk (contact via e-mail only)

Love Where You Live provides funding up to £1000 for projects that aim to foster a sense of belonging amongst all communities in Brent, where diversity is celebrated and valued and opportunities are available for all. Funding is available to community and voluntary organisations. See the website for more details. 

Website: https://www.brent.gov.uk/neighbourhoods-and-communities/community-funding-and-support

E-mail: lovewhereyoulive@brent.gov.uk

Brent Together Towards Zero is a small grant fund which gives residents and organisations up to £5,000 towards one-off projects and initiatives to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. The aim is to support communities in improving their local areas by making them greener, cleaner and more environmentally friendly.The funding will be for a one-off activity, ideally contributing to a project with a clear beginning and end. Please consider how the community will maintain and manage the lasting effects of the project once it has completed. For businesses that apply, the project proposal must be for something outside of BAU i.e. they will not fund things for which the business may make a profit.

The following are examples of the types of schemes that will funded, but ideas are not limited to this list. Applicants are encouraged to think as creatively and innovatively as possible:

• Re-use and repair projects 
• Local recycling / waste reduction initiatives 
• Community gardens 
• Environmental education programmes or resources 
• Community environmental challenges 

Eligibility: Trading local business (for schemes which benefit the community), social enterprises or community groups with projects based in Brent and meet the assessment criteria. Part of the assessment process is for how well the project reached out and involved members of the community. Projects that demonstrate clearly how they will bring more people in to the climate action movement will score more highly.

Website: https://www.brent.gov.uk/neighbourhoods-and-communities/community-funding-and-support/brent-together-towards-zero-grant

Closing Date: Allocate funding on a rolling basis. 

Email: ecogrants@brent.gov.uk

Brent Council
Tenders and Procurement information including planned tender opportunities, contract lists etc. Via Brent council you can also signup to their local supplier database
https://www.brent.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement#overview

London Tenders Portal
Provides details of the latest tenders that are available throughout London. Registration is free of charge.  Contacts are listed on the site for various areas - see site for more details.
https://www.londontenders.org/?openForm

Grow London Local Events
Portal where clients can search for relevant events by cost, topic, business stage, type of event, location, industry sector, organiser, day, and time. Additional content being added daily.
https://www.businesshub.london/events/

Brent Council
A range of events from Brent Council.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/brent-council-3858297339

Park Royal Business Group
Membership organisation for all sizes and sectors in the North-West London sub-region.
https://westlondon.com/events/

London Chamber of Commerce
A calendar of upcoming events - membership fees apply.
https://www.londonchamber.co.uk/events/events/events-calendar/

Federation of Small Business - FSB
Virtual events, networking opportunities and business surgeries available.
https://www.fsb.org.uk/event-calendar.html

Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre
A range of seminars to help support individuals starting a business and help current businesses expand. Some of the topics covered include online marketing, social media as well as offering the opportunity to network.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/small-business-research-enterprise-centre-2936108893

Business & IP Centre - British Library
Offer a variety of free and subsided events/workshops including beginner's guides to business information, trademarks, intellectual property, patents searching, etc.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/business-ip-centre-london-network-events-21680654615 

Brent - eCommerce Skills Booster
eCommerce Skills Booster programme commissioned by Brent Council. Free for local businesses and those looking to start a business.
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/brent-ecommerce-skills-booster-2875219

Brent Council
Details of current council property for sale or to let.
https://www.brent.gov.uk/business/property-and-land-for-sale-or-let/

London Open Workspaces
Online guide to workspace availability in London with interactive map detailing office, artist and makers space.
https://maps.london.gov.uk/workspaces/