Turn your idea into an impactful venture
Start Strong Lewisham is a free 6-week business support programme for Lewisham residents who want to turn an idea into a business or social venture.
Whether you are just getting started or still exploring an early idea, the programme will help you build your confidence, develop your business idea, and take practical steps towards launching. It is designed to support aspiring founders from all backgrounds, especially those who may not have seen themselves reflected in traditional start-up spaces.
What you'll gain:
1. Shape your idea
Get clear on what you want to build and why it matters
2. Build your business basics
Learn how your idea works, who it’s for, and how it makes money
3. Test and improve
Get feedback, refine your idea, and build confidence
4. Get ready to launch
Understand legal setup, next steps, and how to move forward
5. Pitch your idea
Present your idea and compete for a £1,000 grant
This programme is for Lewisham residents who:
We strongly encourage applications from people who don’t usually see themselves represented in entrepreneurship.
Dates: 27th May – 7th July 2026
Format: Mix of in-person and online
Location: Lewisham (Parkside Community Centre + online)
Time commitment: Weekly sessions + optional support
Cost: Free
Whether you're just starting out or already working on a great idea, Start Strong Islington can give you the tools, confidence and network to succeed.
Date: 7th May 2026
Location: Parkside Community Centre, Lewisham
Come along to:
No commitment needed, just turn up and find out more.
For more information on the programme structure, how it works, or if you’re unsure whether it’s right for you: contact our Programme Manager, Kathryn Ore, at the link below.
Up to £5,000 in funding and expert support for businesses ready to grow
If your business has been trading for a year or two, you’ll know this phase well.
You know your business has potential, you just need the right support to grow it.
Tower Hamlets Support for Startups is a free programme designed to help you move forward with clarity, build a plan, and access funding opportunities. This programme is funded by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by the Greater London Authority, and delivered by Allia Impact.
Re-ignite the spark of creativity and passion for your start-up
The Founder Pitstop is a free four-week, in-person programme helping experienced start-up founders navigate the pressure of running a venture. This programme addresses a fundamental truth hurting many businesses: sustaining a venture requires not just operational grit, but the space to reconnect with the curiosity and creativity that fuel long-term resilience.
Combining reflective business support with hands-on creative practice, weekly workshops ran by Allia Impact & Madam Makery offer a different way to tackle the isolation and cognitive load eroding curiosity for so many. These workshops will allow founders to take a step back, think strategically to problem-solve the challenges they face, break routine thinking, and return to the spark that gave them a reason to start their business.
Turn your idea into an impactful venture
Start Strong Lewisham is a free 6-week business support programme for Lewisham residents who want to turn an idea into a business or social venture.
Whether you are just getting started or still exploring an early idea, the programme will help you build your confidence, develop your business idea, and take practical steps towards launching. It is designed to support aspiring founders from all backgrounds, especially those who may not have seen themselves reflected in traditional start-up spaces.
