Business support and blossoming partnerships at the first Royal Greenwich Business Breakfast

Some people making connections at a business breakfast networking event.

Friday 7 June 2024

Over 130 local businesses, entrepreneurs and business support providers came together on Friday 17 May for a buzzing Royal Greenwich Business Breakfast.

This kicks off a series of informal networking events which will be held by the Council four times per year for businesses in Royal Greenwich.

The event, held at Woolwich Works, offered a space for businesses to find out about all the support available in the borough to help start and grow their enterprise. It was also a fantastic opportunity to network with fellow Greenwich business owners and entrepreneurs and forge new partnerships.

Following a warm welcome from Pippa Hack, Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Skills at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, attendees heard enlightening presentations by a series of the Council’s business support providers about the programmes on offer.

Audience at Business Breakfast

Business Start Up and Resilience, E-Business and Start-Up Business Week

First, South East Enterprise (SEE)’s Tony Goldstein and GLL’s Start Up Greenwich’s Loretta Awuah presented the Business Start Up and Resilience Programme. This service offers entrepreneurs free start up support to help launch their business, including one-to-one advice, workshops and webinars to help them turn their ideas into businesses.

Email Loretta to find out about Start Up Greenwich at loretta.awuah@gll.org.

With GLL’s Start Up Business Week kicking off on 10 June and offering an exciting programme of events, Loretta also encouraged local entrepreneurs to find out what's on and sign up.

This was also an opportunity to hear more about SEE’s very successful e-business programme, aimed at enhancing local businesses’ digital knowledge and skills.

Supply Chain Support to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Dr Hetty (Wenxian) Sun presented the University of Greenwich’s initiative which helps local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to identify and access opportunities to bid on contracts, as well as other opportunities arising from developments taking place in Royal Greenwich. Find out more about the programme at gre.ac.uk/bus/ebc/knowledge-exchange/supply-chain-support

Generative Business Programme

CNT Associates’ Gary Parker let attendees know about their programme which provides tailored support to up to 40 businesses who are providing services to the local community, with a social or environmental purpose. Get in touch to find out more.

Grown London Local

Tomi Alabi presented Grow London Local, a one-stop platform where micro and small businesses can find out about all the support available nationally, regionally and locally – helping both their business and their families to become financially resilient.

Living Wage Employer accreditation and grants

Finally, Monalisa Saha from the Living Wage Foundation explained the journey to accreditation as Living Wage Employer and presented the business benefits of paying the London Living Wage. This was an opportunity to remind local businesses that we are offering small grants to cover the accreditation fee for businesses in Royal Greenwich.

Find out about becoming a Living Wage Employer.

The first business breakfast received really positive feedback from attendees for shining a light on the huge range and quality of support on offer. We look forward to the next event!