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Not long until Women’s Enterprise Day!
Don't miss out on Wandsworth’s biggest celebration of female entrepreneurship as it returns for a ninth year!
Women’s Enterprise Day will take place at Thames Rowing Club on Wednesday 29th March and feature an interview with guest speaker Sophie Cornish – co-founder of notonthehighstreet. Sophie will share how she and Holly Tucker started the online marketplace from a kitchen table – along with how to sell on the site.
April Jackson, restaurateur and former contestant on The Apprentice, will be joining the panel discussion with local founders who will share their start up stories. The day will also feature interactive workshops, a networking lunch and the Wandsworth Women’s Enterprise Awards presentations.
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Last chance to nominate a female founder for an award
There are still a few categories open for nominations in the Wandsworth Women’s Enterprise Awards. You can still nominate yourself or someone else for the following categories:
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Rising Star – recognising young women aged 16-34.
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Made in Wandsworth – recognising the talent and creativity of local artists and craft makers in the borough.
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Best Green Business – recognising businesswomen who place environmental sustainability at the very heart of their business.
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Best Charity/Social Enterprise – recognising organisations that are changing the future of their communities for the better.
Final deadline for nominations is midnight Sunday 19th March.
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Vote for your High Street Hero
The ‘High Street Hero’ category for the Wandsworth Women’s Enterprise Awards 2023, is now open for public vote.
The High Street Hero award will shine a spotlight on the independent businesses that help to keep our town centres, high streets, shopping districts and local communities unique. There are 20 nominees to vote for!
Get your nominations in to see your favourite independent retailer crowned as a Wandsworth High Street Hero.
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Have your say on air quality in Wandsworth
The Wandsworth Citizens’ Assembly on Air Quality is well underway as part of the Council’s commitment to improve the air in our borough. The Council will also be seeking the views of businesses and residents in Wandsworth via an online survey tool called Polis, launching on 25th March.
To learn more about the Citizens Assembly, to watch the presentations so far and discover more about how to take part via Polis, please visit the Citizens’ Assembly page here.
They are also hosting a webinar on air quality, Thursday 30th March 19:00 – 20:00.
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Coronation grants for community organisations
The council is offering grants of up to £5000 to local voluntary and community organisations to run community events, activities and celebrations over the coronation bank holiday weekend of 6th - 8th May.
Applications for the King and Queen Consort’s Coronation Grant Fund close Sunday 19th March.
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Boost your online sales
Shapeways.io, the Tooting based technology hub, are running a free in-person and online Digital Tech Week to support small to medium size businesses, early-stage start-ups and entrepreneurs.
The practical sessions which start Monday 20th March, will cover increasing sales by improving your website, using your brand online, using tech to scale and creating engaging videos. There will also be 1:1 digital support drop in sessions.
You can attend some or all of the sessions.
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Find out about affordable workspace in Battersea
In partnership with Wandsworth Council, Peabody are opening a variety of affordable workspaces at New Mansion Square, Battersea in October 2023.
Join Peabody‘s free event to hear from guest speakers and find out about their affordable workspaces near Battersea Power Station, as well as how Peabody can support entrepreneurs and start-ups so that they have the best possible chance of success.
Taking place Thursday 30th March, 09:15 – 13:30 at R.O.S.E Community Clubroom, SW8 4AN.
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Guide published to help SMEs build business resilience
The British Business Bank has published a new guide to building business resilience that contains information and support to help smaller businesses manage their costs, boost their long-term profitability, increase their resilience, control overheads and much more.
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Callout for organisations and artists of African Caribbean and South Asian heritage
Wandsworth Council’s Art Team is seeking organisations and artists to deliver community focused, cultural, arts, and heritage-based activities.
They are seeking people of South Asian heritage to take part in activities to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month in August 2023 and people of African Caribbean heritage to take part in the Council’s Black History 365 initiative between 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024.
The Council is offering between £500 and £2,000 to support the development of content or programming.
Applications for both proposals close 10am Monday 20th March
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Cultural organisations and artists wanted for Creative Heath programmes
As part of Wandsworth’s new Arts for Health & Wellbeing pilot initiative, their partner Breathe Arts Health & Research will be delivering a training session on how to start your creative health journey.
Breathe will share their insights from 10 years’ of delivering impactful creative health programme, covering; programme design, evaluation and research, social prescribing and referral pathways. Hear from a range of experts and practitioners in the field to leave you inspired and ready to start your Creative Health journey.
Wednesday 22nd March, 13:00 – 17:00, Wandsworth Town Hall
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Wandsworth Art Markets: local artists and independent makers host a weekend of markets
In partnership with Citizen’s Art London, Wandsworth Council are delighted to announce a new series of art markets happening across the borough over the first weekend of the Easter holidays.
Over one special weekend, Wandsworth Art Markets will pop up in New Union Square (Nine Elms), St Mary's Church yard (Putney) and All Saints Church (Tooting).
13:00 - 17:00 Saturday 1st - Sunday 2nd April
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Apple chooses Wandsworth for new London base
Tech giant Apple has moved its London headquarters to a new campus in Battersea and is working with the Council to foster new connections with local neighbours in the community including schools, voluntary groups and services.
Apple’s move to Wandsworth will boost Battersea’s growing reputation for business, attracting more start-ups and entrepreneurs to locate in the new design and tech quarter emerging in the borough.
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The Council wants to hear from local groups
The council is carrying out an analysis to understand the current and future needs of voluntary and community groups in order to find out how they can best be supported. Please email for more information.
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World Heart Beat and PPL announce new partnership to record emerging young artists
World Heart Beat and PPL today announce a new partnership; PPL is to become the first ‘Young Artist Recording Sponsor’. The announcement follows the launch of the debut EP from Asa Martinson, the first artist in the programme, at his concert at World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens, on Thursday 2 March.
The sponsorship will enable six diverse young musicians to record for the first time, free of charge.
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Watch: Going for Gold
Did you miss out on last year’s Women’s Enterprise Day but thinking of attending this years? Watch what attendees of the event had to say about it here.
Watch Jacqueline Gold’s (CBE) inspirational talk from Women’s Enterprise Day 2022. As CEO of Ann Summers and Knickerbox, as well as a fierce champion for female entrepreneurship and empowerment, she shares her powerful story and discusses how to renew your purpose and stand out from the competition.
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Business Support Events and Programmes
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Start Up Business Week kicks off next week!
Monday 20th - Friday 24th March
Start Up Wandsworth, in collaboration with Start Up Bromley and Start Up Greenwich, are jointly delivering Start Up Business Week. The week will consist of a mixture of conferences, webinars, expert-led workshops, training sessions, business panels, business mentoring opportunities and the Start Up Business Pitch competition final.
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Demystify social media marketing
Wednesday 22nd March 11:00 – 16:00
The Conquering Social Media Day event, taking place at York Gardens Library in Battersea, will comprise of workshops, talks, and one-to-one consultations focused on demystifying social media, providing marketing tangible tips, and helping entrepreneurs create quality content.
There will also be the opportunity for attendees to have a free professional headshot taken and to enter a competition to create an Instagram reel for York Gardens Library Business Hub, where the winner will be announced on Friday 24th March at the Business Pitch Competition finals.
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Start Up Business Pitch Final
Friday 24th March 14:00 – 16:00
Taking place at Earlsfield Library, the Start Up Business Pitch Final will consist of six Start Up Bromley, Start Up Greenwich and Start Up Wandsworth members, who will deliver a business pitch in front of a panel of judges and a live audience, to win cash investment to develop their business.
The winner of the competition will win £2,000, 2nd place £1,000 and third place £500 to invest in their respective businesses.
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Mission Kitchen: Founders Q&A
Wednesday 22nd March 17:30 – 19:00
Taking place at Mission Kitchen, in this free session you’ll hear from the brains behind the household brands - Stu Macdonald of ManiLife and Pam and James Digva of Sauce Shop - about their journeys from home kitchen to the UK’s biggest retailers
Wayfinder Wandsworth: Connect with trusted expert advice and free support
Ongoing
Wandsworth Council has partnered with the Mayor’s London Business Hub to bring the free Wayfinder service to businesses in Wandsworth.
The experienced Wayfinder team will help match businesses with unbiased expert support on a wide range of issues which include: marketing, business planning, accessing finance and more!
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Chocolate Films: How to grow your creative business
Tuesday 28th March 9:30 – 12:30
Leading video production company Chocolate Films hosts an insightful breakfast seminar on how to grow your creative business. It’s free and will be in the brand-new Nine Elms Studio.
This is their last seminar on how to grow your creative business, so make sure not to miss out! There will be networking opportunities as well, so you can mingle and meet other like-minded people.
Help to Grow Management
Ongoing
Delivered by expert speakers the programme includes your own 1:1 mentor, peer support, networking and ongoing alumni support.
Grow your resilience, efficiency, leadership skills, change capabilities and more with Help to Grow Management.
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Wandsworth Enterprise Hub
Need business support, events or programmes to help start or grow your business? Look no further than the Wandsworth Enterprise Hub.
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My Virtual Wandsworth
Want to promote your business to local residents? My Virtual Wandsworth features more than 600 local businesses – make sure yours is one of them! List it in our online directory.
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Business and Licensing
Visit the Council's Business and Licensing page for information on business licensing, business rates, business premises and much more.
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Cost of doing business support
We have put together a page of support to help your business navigate the challenges of increased costs.
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