Business Support
Business Support Networks in London Thames Gateway are second to none. Gateway to London works closely with local, regional and national organisations to ensure that the best information and support is available to existing and prospective businesses. Outlined below are just a few of the Business Support initiatives available to firms in London Thames Gateway. Further details are available in our Finance section and Recruitment and Training pages.
Bold and Dynamic (Barking & Dagenham Enterprise)
Barking & Dagenham Enterprise (BDE) encourages, promotes and develops individual, community and business enterprise. BDE is implementing an ambitious programme of inspiring the people of the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham to seize the opportunities created by Thames Gateway and the 2012 London Olympic Games regeneration and development. The programme covers more than 30 enterprise initiatives each of which is promoted under the Bold and Dynamic brand.
Business Link London
Business Link London is part of the national Business Link network. Their teams of expert advisers deliver impartial, expert and practical business advice to London's small and medium-sized businesses on every aspect of running a business, from cash flow, finding new customers and staff development to design, IT, environmental issues and export.
Cultural Industries Development Agency
CIDA is a specialist support organisation for the creative and cultural sector. CIDA offers services to individuals, new and existing businesses and not for profit organisations.
East London Small Business Centre
East London Small Business Centre (ELSBC) helps small existing and start up businesses to grow. Since their formation in 1978 they have helped over 8000 people to run their own business in East London. Business Start-up four day training course ELSBC offer free access to their four day business start-up training course as a key part of the start-up support provided to budding entrepreneurs in East London. In addition, if you have just started or are about to start trading ELSBC can offer you access to a subsidised programme which offers one-to-one regular mentoring to help you develop your business. For access to 1.2 million businesses in the east London area ELSBC's Business to business trading portal is worth taking advantage of.
Knowledge Dock
Knowledge Dock is an internet-based support and communication network designed to facilitate the conversion of ideas and research into working business applications. Through its links with research and development organisations and technology networks around the world, Knowledge Dock provides its members with the opportunity for global networking and marketing to help them win new business overseas.
www.knowledgedock.com
London Environment Centre
The London Environment Centre (LEC) plays a key role in economic regeneration projects, encouraging understanding and implementation of sustainable development and providing expertise to strategic bodies and local businesses alike. The LEC is part of the London Metropolitan University. The LEC's Environmental Business Action (EBA) and 1-2-3 Business Environmental Efficiency Projects help small to medium sized enterprises in specific geographic areas, increase efficiency, reduce costs and meet customer requirements. EBA helps businesses benefit from up to one year of free advice tailored to suit individual needs and can focus on ISO 14001 implementation, grant provision (up to £16,000 for capital equipment procurement), resource efficiency, legislative compliance and environmental marketing.
Own It
Own It is a pan London service to help SME's retain exclusivity to new products, designs and ideas. Own It is a partnership between Creative London and the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London.
Thames Innovation Centre Enterprise Team
The Enterprise Team provide a one-stop business advice and support service for start-ups, micro and small businesses. The on-site team of business advisers is well placed to help businesses get up and running, and to plan for the unexpected. The Enterprise Team provides aid and guidance to any small firm looking to expand and flourish in Bexley. The services include financial health checks, access to expert business advisers, links to regional business agencies and much more.
If you're thinking of starting a not-for-profit business venture, they can help too. Thanks to European funding, they can offer quality advice and suport to help local community enterprise get off the ground.
www.thamesinnovationcentre.com/116_TICEnterprise.html
Thames Innovation Centre - Think Big
Think Big is a unique in-house team of multilingual innovation and technology specialists, run from the Thames Innovation Centre (TIC). With over 90 years' accumulative experience in technology and innovation, the TIC Think Big team can provide you with insightful advice on every phase of your development lifecycle, from idea generation to production. Within this remit, TIC Think Big innovation and technology specialists, together with financial consultants provide advice on raising finance (public and private), market and business strategy, and technological road maps, as well as information on exciting networking opportunities and business initiatives.
