Supporting Lewisham Business Community

Investing in affordable workspace and local business community

We have invested nearly a £1million across Lewisham to enhance our high streets, workspaces and enterprise community.

The latest statistics from 2021 indicate that Lewisham has the fifth lowest workspace footprint in London and lowest in southeast. But this is set to change.

In September 2023, the Council launched a transformative workspace grant programme which encouraged local businesses to improve or create spaces that would either help their business, generate new enterprise opportunities for the borough and attract people to work locally.

The grant programme ended in February 2024 with 39 successful applicants with many of the spaces either complete and or close to being in action.

Impact of the programme

Alongside the local businesses, we were able to turn 40 sites into 71,000 square feet of thriving workspaces - equal to 3 cricket pitches worth of commercial space. Proudly, over 100 jobs have been safeguarded with 25 new ones in creation.

A mix of business sectors were supported, and as well, thirty-four per cent of the businesses supported identify as BAMEowned (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) and forty-six per cent as female-owned.

Visit SHAPESLewisham's Space Finder directory (shapeslewisham.co.uk/spaces/) to locate affordable, shared and or creative workspaces in the borough.

Breaking records for annual business awards

With a staggering response of nearly 9,000 votes for ninety thriving local businesses, this year’s Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards is set to be an incredible celebration of Lewisham’s business community.

These awards are a yearly chance to acknowledge the outstanding contribution that local businesses make to the borough and the fourteen award categories capture the breadth and depth of this unique enterprise community.

This is a hugely popular local initiative with both businesses and residents alike, unlocking unique opportunities for winners. Just this summer, past winners were featured on our flagship shop local, tourism campaign Discover Lewisham which saw record high social media engagement, reach through the Evening Standard and billboards around the borough – all of which boost the local economy and civic pride.

Unfortunately, it is too late to be nominated for the awards, but it is not too late to be a sponsor or an attendee. Headline sponsors have already been confirmed but there are still a few smaller packages available.

If you are interested in being involved in this flagship event, please email business@lewisham.go.uk.

Manifesto commitment to help over 1000 people on employment journey reached

Lewisham Works, the Council’s free employment service, has just reached an exciting milestone and manifesto commitment - of helping over 1,000 local people on their employment journey.

Lewisham Works has been helping local unemployed people achieve their goals and build brighter futures with bespoke support. This milestone is a testament to our partners, dedicated advisors and supporters - and reflects a shared commitment to enhancing local employability.

To mark this achievement, the Council hosted a moving celebratory event at Catford’s Broadway Theatre Bar where attendees heard firsthand from those who have been helped along their employment journey.

If you are a business that would like to recruit skilled local talent, please register with the Council on our newly launched Lewisham Works site. You can find support at no cost to your business.

Pushing to become a Living Wage Place

A comprehensive report* has shone light on Central London’s dynamic economy yet unequal labour market.

Pay is a crucial foundation of job quality, and despite London having the highest levels of average pay of any part of the UK, people working and living in Lewisham have the lowest average pay of all central London boroughs.

But this is set to change. We were one of the first Councils to become a Living Wage Employer and now are working to become a Living Wage Place.

The report shows that earning below the London Living Wage results in employees being half as likely to be satisfied with their jobs than those earning above that level. As well, women, ethnic minority, and disabled Londoners are more likely to be in poor quality work. Black Londoners (11%) are twice as likely to be in insecure work as white Londoners (5%);

We are on a mission to improve job quality and ensure employment support focuses on helping people into decent work. This is why we have introduced a grant programme to help accredit local employers looking to become a Living Wage employer.

To find out more information please visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/LondonLivingWage *https://centrallondonforward.gov.uk/publications/