A small but thriving part of our business is our Start Up Business Support Service, delivered through the libraries we operate in Bromley, Greenwich and Wandsworth.
We first launched the service in Bromley in 2020 and have subsequently developed a comprehensive business support programme for entrepreneurs and small businesses. In practice this means that we provide business workspaces and meeting rooms, alongside business mentoring and coaching. To date we have received £740k of government funding used to host 350 business support events and more than 450 individual training or advice sessions with aspiring entrepreneurs and small business start ups.
Following the success of our Bromley service, we launched Start Up Greenwich in 2022 and in 2024 we secured £172k from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) enabling us to run a business resilience programme for local businesses. We went on to launch Start Up Woolwich in 2023, which currently helps over 300 small firms.
Most recently we were appointed to run the West Kent Business programme and provide one to one mentoring, business workshops, a grants programme, along with the 2026 West Kent Expo business event. The Expo is expected to attract more than 500 delegates and around 50 local business exhibitors. Free to attend, there will be a host of workshops, exhibitor displays and networking opportunities for small businesses and advisors, including information on grants and wider business support.
A focal point of our Start Up Support Service is our annual Business Week, which is packed with free activities, seminars, workshops and training. Over the past three years, more than 2,000 people have taken part, while we have hosted high-profile speakers including renowned journalist Emily Maitlis and entrepreneur and founder of the Bank of Dave, Dave Fishwick. We currently support approximately 1,400 small businesses.
Making a difference
A case in point is Pit Pro, a barbeque subscription box company founded by Liam Carlton, who decided to follow his dream of launching his own business after being made redundant.
To support his new enterprise, he signed up for the business start up service at Bromley Library, eager to accept any help that came his way. With a background in corporate communications, Liam felt confident in the branding and marketing side of his business but was looking for support in other areas such as planning and finance.
Liam also found the networking events offered a valuable opportunity to share highs and lows with other new business owners, while workshops on pitching ideas to potential investors were especially beneficial. So much so that when he entered a local Dragons' Den-style competition, he won the first prize of £2,000.
‘I've made a lot of mistakes as everyone does when they start a new business,' he muses. ‘But I don't think I would be where I am without the support of GLL's Start up Support Service. I know I can run my ideas past my start up advisers, Imogen and Loretta, whenever I need to. They always give me good advice.'
Holistic support
Across the borough boundary Bianca Sapara-Grant founded Parent Power, a start up in the education and training sector, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Her aim was to promote good mental health and wellbeing for parents and children, to encourage positive relationships and behaviour in adults and young people and to promote the learning of new skills for families and professionals.
She also established a youth empowerment programme saying: ‘We help young people to navigate the path to adulthood. We explore education and employment opportunities and talk about relationships and the digital world. We look at resilience, making positive choices and healthy eating.'
As her business has grown, Bianca has found the help from Greenwich Library's business start up services to be invaluable.
‘The library has been amazing!' she confirms. ‘The business lounge is a really supportive space. They've helped with everything – from putting together a business plan, marketing and getting funding, to offering advice on public speaking and making podcasts and promotional videos. They're currently helping me to think about how to price my services as I move away from relying on grant funding to operating as a private enterprise.'
Libraries for business
Libraries are not typically associated with entrepreneurship and innovation, however since the establishment of our first Business Support Service more than five years ago, creating thriving business communities has become a core part of what we do. In addition to the wide range of workshops and advice on offer, some of our libraries now boast business lounges, co-working spaces and meeting rooms, while service users are invited to regular networking events and given the opportunity to test business ideas and products.
An example of this is Potina, a plant-based drinks brand for children, founded by Adam Wormersley.
Adam attended a host of workshops run by our start up team in Bromley covering everything from marketing and ecommerce to product launches. His hard work paid off and in 2024 he secured a listing for Potina drinks in Tesco stores.
To support the launch, Adam's business manager arranged for free promotional giveaways of Potina drinks to take place at GLL leisure centres in the local area, helping both to raise awareness of the new products and garner valuable feedback.
Looking ahead
Our Business Support Service offer means that libraries are placed at the heart of local communities, not only for recreational activities and study but also for local enterprises and budding entrepreneurs. Offering accessible, welcoming spaces and real expertise and guidance, we are delighted that we have been able to help so many small businesses.
Looking ahead, we are working to expand the service into all our regional library partnerships. We are also working on a new Accelerator Programme, which we hope to introduce later this year. The new service will include an online resource hub and support for social enterprise businesses.
Loretta Awuah is strategic business support manager at GLL
