Starting a business?

If you are thinking of starting a business and being your own boss, we have support on offer.

Waltham Forest Council has partnered with the British Library to bring you the Start-ups in London Libraries (SiLL) programme. SiLL provides free support to people from all walks of life to turn their business idea into reality, by establishing a coordinated network of business support. SiLL helps to break down barriers to entrepreneurship, giving people the skills, information, confidence and connections, they need to turn their ideas into viable businesses.

You can also access support from Outset online, which offers a full programme of online business support, including an online community of business owners and mentors.

The Council has invested in a new enterprise hub to benefit businesses at any stage of their development, from early start-ups to established ventures. The hub will strategically partner with the British Library to become London’s first local Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC).

Our BIPC will help local founders to be innovative while offering tailored advice, events and workshops, and linking you to other support in the borough.

You can find out more on the workshops and events on offer through the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) Local.

Being part of a business network can be beneficial to a business at any stage of its development. Find out about local business networks you might be able to join here.

View the councils business support pages for more information on starting and running a successful business.