Projects and opportunities
Current projects
Business Cost Reduction project
Do you want to cut every day business costs from your ever increasing outgoings?
In collaboration with Place Support Partnership, a new project has been launched to help micro and small businesses in the borough to save money on costs including energy, insurance, telecoms and merchant fees, which could allow you to improve your cashflow, improve profitability, free up capital to invest and generally become more cost efficient.
Each eligible business accepted onto the programme will receive 3 hours of business support from an experienced team, 1-2-1 support with expert consultants, advice and guidance on how to save money and manage contracts and a detailed savings report and action plan to support your business including how to optimise the identified savings.
For more information, please visit Place Support Partnership.
SME Sustainability Project
Get hands advice on how to improve the energy efficiency of your business, save money, identify improvements and apply for grants more effectively.
In collaboration with Allia Impact Ltd, Tower Hamlets micro and small businesses will receive 1-1 support to look at ways your business can become more sustainable and reduce your carbon emissions.
Along with the practical advice, each business accepted onto the programme will receive marketing materials to promote your green efforts, a free energy monitor and a £100 amazon voucher to use as you see fit. For more information please visit SME Sustainability Programme.
Start Up support
In September 2024, Tower Hamlets launched a £700k programme to support aspiring entrepreneurs, established businesses and community and voluntary sector organisations:
- Lean Start Up support is aimed at budding entrepreneurs to start a business without financial backing. Rebel Business School are ripping up the rule book so that anyone can start. If you need help getting your business off the ground and are ready to take those next steps, sign up to one of their upcoming courses.
You can find out more information on Lean Start Up support and more on the Rebel Business School website.
- Supported Access to Finance supports aspiring entrepreneurs to create a business. It uses traditional methods that require financial backing. You will create a business plan and graduate from the course knowing how to access more funds if needed. This project will provide the opportunity, if eligible, to apply for a £2500 grant to kickstart your journey. Find out more information on Supported Access to Finance, eligibility and project details.
For both entrepreneurial projects, you must be a full-time Tower Hamlets resident and have a business idea
VCS organisations
Social Enterprise Impact Project will support 50 VCS organisations in Tower Hamlets develop alternate revenue streams through the development of a social enterprise.
The project will support VCS organisations to develop their ideas. It will provide training and support which will result in clear, actionable steps to achieve their social enterprise goals.
LIFT
Leading Inclusive Futures through Technology
LIFT is a three year programme across Camden, Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets that aims to help residents into good local jobs in the knowledge economy including tech, digital, sciences, and creative production, and to support businesses and start-ups in these sectors.
Our vision is to inspire and empower our local communities and build a lifetime of opportunities for our residents and generations to come.
For more information, please visit the Lift Futures Programme website.
Community Toilet Scheme
Join the Tower Hamlets Community Toilet Scheme to boost your business:
- Aids local businesses in providing cleaner, safer, and accessible toilets.
- Increase footfall and revenue by offering these facilities.
- Turn passersby into loyal customers and enjoy free publicity.
- Proudly promote your inclusion, enhancing visibility.
- Support community initiatives and strengthen relationships.
Our primary focus is to provide essential facilities for:
- the elderly,
- women,
- children, and
- people with disabilities wherever suitable facilities are available.
If you have a clean and safe toilet, contact us today for more details.
Email: highstreets@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Previous projects
Tower Hamlets Energy Reduction Programme – March 2024
This project provided an on-site energy audit, tailored reduction plan and access to interactive workshops to help local small business owners, make their business greener.
Business owners were supported with a grant of £2500 to implement their energy reduction plan and make positive steps in reducing their energy consumption.
Creative & Cultural Futures - Ended May 2022
This business support project targeted freelancers and owners of micro and small businesses in the cultural and creative sectors, a sector which largely didn’t benefit from government support during the Covid-19 pandemic.
64 micro and small Tower Hamlets based freelancers and small businesses received up to £1000 to enable them to change their existing operations to generate new income or identify avenues for alternative or additional revenue streams, along with specialist support provided for each business.
Business Adaptation Grant - Ended March 2022
This business support project provided 215 Tower Hamlets based micro and small businesses with a programme of businesses support and up to £1250 in match funding to adapt their business in a post covid environments, and take steps in safeguarding and future-proofing their business.
Pivot Project 1 - Ended March 2021
This business support programme offered £1000 grants to micro and small businesses to pivot their businesses model, to survive and thrive through the turbulent economic period caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This Project saw 50 Tower Hamlets based micro and small businesses benefit from the scheme, each receiving £1000 to pivot their business model which included an average of six hours support each.