Case study: Talking Business programme

Organisation name: London Borough of Bexley
Programme name: Talking Business
Funding value: £348,000
Programme objective: to provide tailored support to local business in Bexley
UKSPF strand: Borough - Supporting Local Business

The funding has allowed London Borough of Bexley to help small business owners and pre-start businesses access the resources, support and training needed to help them grow, become more resilient and thrive alongside other Bexley businesses.  

In action

The Talking Business team used £348,000 of funding to provide free of charge support to local small businesses and entrepreneurs to offer: 

• advice, guidance and signposting specific to the needs of businesses within the retail and hospitality sector 

• a business support advisor providing one-to-one advice guiding businesses through their growth stages 

• business support providing online webinars and networking groups with a focus on marketing, financing, and creating jobs 

• small grants of up to £500 to help businesses with the cost of upskilling their staff to achieve higher wages and become more valuable to their organisation 

• business startup assistance to help founders create a business plan and develop confidence as well as providing practical guidance on registering a business, sales and marketing, regulatory requirements, and financing.   

“I enquired about accessing Talking Business support with a focus on growing my client base and defining my business plan.   

I was quickly connected with my business advisor, who helped me identify new opportunities for growth for my business. We worked together to review my sales pipeline and lead management processes to ensure that I target the right schools, keep track of outbound sales and stay up-to-date with new opportunities."

- Sarah Canavan, Managing Director, Lingotot Bexley