More than 250,000 of the capital’s entrepreneurs and small businesses have accessed a dedicated support service set up by the Mayor Sadiq Khan to help them grow and thrive.
Grow London Local provides in-person and online support for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) through the capital’s business growth agency London & Partners. Business Support Managers work in communities to help entrepreneurs overcome barriers through skills training, expert guidance, and connecting with other business leaders to foster peer learning.
There are estimated to be more than a million SMEs in London (defined as employing up to 249 people), with one in four currently facing financial vulnerability[1]. Grow London Local helps firms to access the right support at the right time, so that entrepreneurs can become financially resilient and their businesses can thrive.
Since the Mayor invested £8.7m to launch the service in January 2024, Grow London Local has reached more than a quarter of a million entrepreneurs and helped more than 16,000 – almost double the initial targets of 132,580 and 12,484 respectively. While beneficiaries span every London borough, 88 per cent of entrepreneurs supported come from communities who face additional barriers to finding help.
Grow London Local delivers on the Mayor’s 2021 manifesto pledge to create a ‘single front door’ for small businesses, uniting various schemes and resources under one banner, enhanced by the expertise of London & Partners.
The Mayor has been clear that SMEs have a vital part to play in London’s economy, and in how it can help national growth. Ensuring people and businesses across the capital have the skills they need will be a focus of his new London Growth Plan, which he will soon publish alongside London Councils and London & Partners. The Plan will outline measures to improve the lives of all Londoners, drive the capital’s green transition, boost the economy and support prosperity in London and beyond.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The capital’s one million small businesses are the backbone of our economy, delivering services and products we take for granted in our daily lives – but all too often they don’t get the help they need or are entitled to. I’m proud to see Grow London Local helping the capital’s entrepreneurs to not just survive but really thrive. As London’s most pro-business mayor, supporting our fantastic small businesses is a key component of my work to build a better and more prosperous London for everyone.”
Grow London Local’s Managing Director, Michelle Cuomo-Boorer, commented: “Reaching 250,000 entrepreneurs in our first year is a remarkable milestone – and it’s just the beginning. We’re incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made in supporting London’s dynamic and diverse small business community, and excited to build on this success by empowering more businesses to help them thrive.”
Andrea Pickard, a London-based career coach who supports people with dyslexia, said: “Grow London Local has been a game-changer, boosting my confidence and supporting my growth as a new business owner. Their coffee mornings connected me to other entrepreneurs, providing invaluable advice, and a NatWest Bank dinner was an incredible opportunity. As someone with dyslexia, it’s empowering to feel recognised and supported. Their impact has been transformative for both me and my business.”
Mrinal Madin, whose Kingston-based business The Entertainment Sports Agency has also benefited from Grow London Local services, added: “Learning about the digital skills needed and what to focus on was useful. There is still a long way to go to implement all the actions, but having systems and processes is going to be key to our growth.”
Paul Wight, Programme Manager for Allia’s Hackney Impact project – one of 374 providers who have partnered with Grow London Local to deliver support – noted: “Our partnership with Grow London Local has been pivotal in connecting us to nearly 400 Hackney businesses. As an active partner in the SME and social enterprise ecosystem, Grow London Local helps ensure we remain integrated in a broader network of support, which empowers businesses to thrive and contributes to sustainable economic growth across Hackney.”
To celebrate its first birthday, Grow London Local will host four free coffee mornings across the capital on Friday 7 February, where small business leaders can make connections and access support. Events will take place from 10am at Bobo Social in Ealing, Blooming Scent Café in Tottenham, SoLo Craft Fair in Southwark and Unit Six Café in Newham.
