Start-Up Programme

Our Start-Up Programme helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses for good, through workshops, dedicated co-working space, one-to-one business advice and access to networking events and peer support sessions.

Programme Information

When: 3rd October 2024 – 3rd April 2025

Where: Seeds Hub offices in Wembley, Brent

Cost: Free

Workshops

Entrepreneurs will participate in weekly two-hour workshops, focused on developing practical skills and managing a social business or charity. These sessions will include: 

  • Business planning and implementation: including goal setting, initial market and customer analysis, financial projections and creating a one-page business plan 
  • Pitching and Communication
  • Partnerships and Networking Stakeholder Engagement
  • Brand building: defining the ‘why,’ ‘how’ and ‘what’ of your business, effective branding and harnessing social media 
  • Website and Google tools: including digital presence, WordPress, Google Analytics, responsive design and SEO 
  • Cobra (Complete Business Reference Adviser): practical guidance on using this powerful database, from writing a marketing plan to understanding cashflows  
  • Online Marketing Masterclass: inbound, SEO and email marketing  
  • Legal and Regulatory Compliance
  • Business Finance: cost structure, revenue stream and cash flow management
  • Funding: identifying funding sources and applying for funding 
  • Sales and Customer Acquisition: acquiring customers, sales strategies and CRM

Facilitators

Our workshops are run by experts in their field, who offer unique and highly informative sessions as well as one-to-one mentoring. Meet the facilitators for this year’s Start-Up Programme below:

  • Elsa Caleb
    Elsa is a Social Enterprise of the Year Awards winner, and is currently a board director for the West London Chamber of Commerce as well as a Business Advisor at Seeds Hub. Drawing on years of diverse experience in strategic business development, Elsa runs workshops for Seeds Hub’s start-up programmes, on topics such as business planning, pitching, networking and partnership building.
  • Wendy Foster
    Wendy is a SBREC Manager (The Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre) at City of London Corporation, and has supported SMEs for over 20 years as a qualified business adviser.
  • Hans Gobin
  • Alasdair Inglis
    Alasdair develops and delivers marketing workshops for universities and businesses, including University College London (UCL) and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme.
  • Scott Leonard
    Scott is the founder of The Champion Agency, the UK’s first social impact-accredited creative agency, and is also a Trainer and Mentor at the School of Social Entrepreneurs. He co-created the ‘Make Tea Not War’ campaign, which is now part of the collections at the V&A and Imperial War Museum. 
  • Gus Nyberg
  • Prash Patel
    Currently Managing Director at OneClick Media, Prash has 15 years of experience in digital marketing, and helps founders to enhance their business profile and rank higher in search results. 
  • Michelle Thompson

Apply

To ensure collaboration and personalised support, each Start-Up Programme takes a cohort of 20 entrepreneurs.

Application deadline: 20th September 2024

Applications for this year’s Start-Up Programme are now closed. Keep an eye on our webpage and social media for the next application cycle.

Skip to content