Business Support

See also Special support services for young people

Economic Development Office - Wandsworth Council -

Services: Wandsworth Council provides a wide range of business support services. The EDO hold various business promotion events and seminars, provide local business information, including vacant commercial property, offer loans and grants for businesses at properties in designated town centres, work with developers to bring forward business space, support independent businesses, particularly in town centres, renew older industrial areas, improve our town centres, help businesses to get contracts at the Battersea Power Station development, help businesses with other Council services and lead the local business support network.

Specialisms: Small business support, town centre management, area regeneration, retailing, business finance for small firms and technology transfer.

Website www.wansdworth.gov.uk/business
General Enquiries: Contact Reima Jumpp Tel: 020 8871 6884
Inward Investment Enquiries: Contact Judith Roscoe, Tel: 020 8871 6205

Town Centre Improvement Scheme (TCIS):

The Council’s TCIS aims to boost trade and encourage growth in Balham, as well as Clapham Junction, Putney, Tooting and Wandsworth town centre. Loans and grants are available for improvements to property, eyesore sites and shared rear access ways. The following are examples of works, which can be supported:
• Shop front restoration or replacement
• Internal renovations
• Creation of new floor space
• Disabled access
• Creation of separate access to flat above
• Basement restoration
• Upgrade to front of building e.g: brick cleaning

The scheme is available to existing, new or expanding businesses or businesses relocating to new premises at eligible addresses.

Support is up to 33% of cost of eligible works to a maximum of £15,000 per business premises, with a minimum support level of £1,000. Assistance will usually be a combination of grant and interest free loans up to 5 years. Properties in Hildreth Street can be considered for financial support at 33% of eligible costs to a maximum of £30,000.

For further details please contact John Ruske on 020 8871 7031

Business Advice

The two main support agencies for micro, small and medium sized businesses in Wandsworth is GLE oneLondon

oneLondon Business Advice Service Wandsworth

1 B (c) First Floor
Yukon Road, SW12 9PZ
Tel: 020 8772 0500
Fax: 020 8675 0952
Email: wandsworth@one-london.com

oneLondon provides a wide range of support to London’s micro businesses and SMEs. Operating from offices in Balham, oneLondon’s services are available to anyone thinking of starting their own business as well as to those who are already trading. oneLondon is able to offer a range of services from Small Business Finance to Business Advice to access to a business angels network. For further details contact: 020 8870 1451, www.gle.co.uk/onelondon

London Business Start Up Fund

Of the many obstacles involved in starting up a business raising the necessary finance can be the biggest of all. Even if you believe 100% in your business plan, lenders won’t necessarily agree with you, where do you turn to next if they won’t back you? Business Link for London have teamed up with One London to help new businesses that have been refused finance by recognised mainstream lenders. They particularly welcome members of the following groups: ethnic minorities, over 45’s, refugees, residents of housing estates, disabled people, women, lone parents or young entrepreneurs.
Contact Vivienne Scantlebury on 020 8870 1451

Wandsworth Business Forum

These quarterly meetings have been held in rotating town centre venues throughout the Borough for over ten years. They are an invaluable tool for communication between the Council (officers and members) and local businesses. They are held to encourage and support new and existing businesses in Wandsworth - especially small and medium sized firms - by providing a platform to consult on the Council's Economic Development Programme and to discuss current local and national issues facing our business community.
For further information and to attend the next forum, please contact Marian Cowler.
Tel: 020 8871 6181
Email: mcowler@wandsworth.gov.uk

For further details contact:
Economic Development Office
Wandsworth Council
The Town Hall
Wandsworth High Street
London SW18 2PU
Tel: 020 8871 6884
Email: edo@wandsworth.gov.uk
Website: http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/Home/CommunityServices/Businesssupport

Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce

Room 3-6, Bedford House,

215 Balham High Road

SW17 7BQ

Tel: 020 8767 2761

Fax: 020 8874 4195

Emails: enquiries@wandsworthchamber.org

website: www.wandsworthchamber.org

Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce is an organisation of local business people set up to further the interests of business and trade within the Borough of Wandsworth. In order to achieve this objective, the Chamber aims to act as a representative body for businesses at local, national and international level and to increase its knowledge of the requirements of local businesses by providing regular networking events for members.  Guests are welcome to attend all networking events.

VACANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Vacant industrial and office premises

South London Business brings this service to you in conjunction with the London Boroughs of Wandsworth, Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton. This commercial online property search facility is free and easy to use. Within seconds of inputting your property requirements, the system searches the comprehensive bank of available properties and compiles a report of the premises that matched your specification.

For further details visit:
http://properties.southlondonbusiness.co.uk

Development sites

Information on large sites that are available for commercial and industrial development is available from Wandsworth Council.

For further information contact:
Brian Bolam
Borough Planners,
Town Hall Extension,
Wandsworth High Street,
London SW18 2PU.
Tel: 020 8871 6646
Email: bbolam@wandsworth.gov.uk

Council Commercial lettings

The council owns a number of commercial properties. Most of these are lock-up shops, light industrial premises or smaller business units in flatted developments. The vast majority of these premises are currently let.

If you wish to receive details when units become available, please send an outline of the type and approximate size of property in which you are interested, along with your name, address and phone number, to the managing agents:

Rory Maxwell-Scott
Lambert Smith Hampton
United Kingdom House
180 Oxford Street
London
W1D 1NN
Email: rmaxwellscott@lsh.co.uk
Telephone: 020 7198 2123

Estate Agents

Property moves so fast that we recommend that you enlist the help of a commercial property estate agent.

Empty property owners

To find out who owns an empty property contact the Land Registry with the address.
Tel: 01952 290 355.

Business support for Young People

Wandsworth Youth Enterprise Centre

Full business start up programme for entrepreneurs aged 17-30. Start up services include:
 Free half day awareness seminar designed young people who are exploring the idea of starting their own business.
 Free one-to-one business counselling to help young people develop a viable business plan, raise finance and launch a business venture. With further counselling up to 2 years after starting a business to help young people establish their business.
 Business planning courses designed to provide young people with core business planning skills and information.
 Subsidised offices, studios, workshops and business support services available for up to two years.

For further details contact:
Wandsworth Youth Enterprise Centre
Broadway Studios, 28 Tooting High Street, London SW17 ORG
Tel: 020 8672 2832
Email wyec@wyec.org.uk
Website: www.wyec.org.uk

The Princes Trust

Support for 18-30 year olds who are unemployed and of limited means to start business. With start-up support from The Prince's Trust, you could get:
 a low interest loan of up to £4,000 for a sole trader, or up to £5,000 for a partnership (the average loan is between £2,000 and £3,000 but varies regionally)
 a grant of up to £1,500 in special circumstances (subject to local availability)
 a test marketing grant of up to £250
 ongoing advice from a volunteer business mentor
 access to a wide range of products and services. Includes our free Legal Helpline
We can help you turn your dream into reality.

For further detail contact:
The Prince’s Trust London Regional Office
3rd Flor, Tribute House
120 Moorgate
London EC2M 6TS
Tel: 020 7382 5100
Email: webinfolo@princes-trust.org.uk
Website: www.princes-trust.org.uk