Bexley’s Business & Employment service (BBE)  launched its ‘Talking Business’ programme last week (20 September) at a South East Chamber of Commerce’s Office event held at the Metro Bank in Bexleyheath.

The Talking Business programme will deliver support though a dedicated Business Support Advisor employed by BBE and will work in partnership with professional organisations to offer further specialist support and business outreach. The programme will run up to March 2025. 

Cabinet Member for Growth, Councillor Cafer Munur said:

It is really exciting that BBE are offering this business support programme to our local Small and Medium Enterprises.  Owning and running a business can be tough, especially in the current climate and so we are delighted to offer this free support to our SME community - let’s get talking business!” 

Helen McIntosh, President of the South East London Chamber of Commerce said:

This is a clever support package which will assist Bexley’s SMEs. The provision of a support adviser is so important for the businesses who work with the Talking Business programme. They will be guided through the complex world of specialist support which is there to help.”

The programme has been developed following the London Borough of Bexley’s successful bid for £1.3m worth of direct funding through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). 
 
The UKSPF sits under the government’s Levelling Up Agenda and aims to make improvements to town centres and high streets, and support local businesses.  
 
Bexley’s Business & Employment service (BBE) will use some of the funding to deliver a series of business support activities to Bexley SMEs through online webinars and one-to-one advice.  
 
If you are a Bexley-based SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) and need help to grow your business, you can enquire about support or email talkingbusiness@bexley.gov.uk   
 
Find out more about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)