Discover Lewisham this summer

We are proud as a borough to have launched our Discover Lewisham summer series, highlighting our borough’s unique and wonderful local business community.

Overthe summer months you will hear more about our game-changing independent businesses, award-winning parks, incredible food and pub scene and thriving entertainment and arts scene.

Lewisham truly has something for everyone. Find out more: https://lewisham.gov.uk/discover

Meet the new operators of Catford Food Market

The Council is thrilled to announce the Food Market Company as the new operators of the much-loved monthly Catford Food Market, which came back into at the end of May. Over the last decade this market has attracted visitors from all over London and beyond and has helped put Catford on the capital’s thriving food scene map. The new operators are a brother-sister duo, and creators of various markets, such as the popular weekly Food & Farmers’ market at Beckenham Place Park. They bring unique and extensive experience to creating ‘destination markets’, full of delicious foods, local artisan products and great atmosphere.

With a commitment to ensure a minimum of 50% of all of our traders are based within the borough, as well as a focus on helping grassroots businesses develop and grow – the Food Market Company is doing excellent work to platform excellent local traders.

When: The market takes place on the last Sunday of each month, between 10am-4pm

Where: Adenmore Road (between Catford and Catford Bridge train stations), Catford SE6 4FD

Lewisham Business Support

Lewisham Business Resilience & Growth (BRAG) offers eligible Lewisham businesses access to a range of free business support activities.

Delivered by Goldsmiths, University of London, BRAG provides you with the expert advice and resources you need to help drive transformative growth for your business:

Lewisham Business Resilience & Growth

(https://app.geckoform.com/public/#/ modern/21FO00hps3i047002ouph6ps3m)

BIPC Lewisham aims to extend the provision of business support in the Borough of Lewisham, by helping aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses to increase their entrepreneurial skills and confidence, as well as providing access to business information and resources.

BIPC Lewisham provides expert-led workshops, one-to-ones, and networking events within the local business community. Lewisham Libraries card holders will be able to access Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) services locally including GrantFinder and COBRA.

Mayor

of Lewisham

Business Awards 2024

The Business Awards are a yearly opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding contribution that local businesses make to the borough.

About the Business Awards

The Lewisham Business Awards are a hugely popular local initiative with both businesses and residents alike, and last year the Council received over 7,000 combined nominations and votes for the awards.

Being an award winner can help amplify these businesses, winners and finalists can use the Business Award logo in promotional material and display their award certificate in-store. The Council will promote award winners through our existing channels, such as this website, social media, Lewisham Life and local media.

Award categories include:

• Best high street business

• Best café

• Best restaurant

• Best bar, pub or night time economy business

• Best independent food retailer

• Best independent business

To see all the categories go to https://lewisham. gov.uk/myservices/business/business-awards Nomination process

Nominations closed on Monday 29 July and shortlisted businesses will be notified by early September. The shortlisting panel will be made up of local stakeholders and business development specialists. Following this, the public will get the opportunity to vote on the shortlisted businesses.

Key dates

• public vote open: 2 September

• public vote closes: 7 October

• awards ceremony: 19 November Awards ceremony

This in-person celebration will be held on Tuesday 19 November 2024, at Catford’s iconic Broadway Theatre. The awards will include entertainment and networking opportunities. Details on the awards ceremony and how to register for the event will be available later this year.

Interested in sponsoring, there are varying levels of sponsorship with gold, silver, bronze and supplier package options.

Sponsors will be warmly invited to attend and be involved in the ceremony along with various communications engagements during the awards season.

This is a fantastic opportunity to grow a partnership with Lewisham Council, engage and amplify local entrepreneurs, as well as demonstrate your brand’s high profile and prominence across the borough.

Find out more information about how to become a sponsor by contacting business@lewisham.gov.uk.