Free Start Your Own Enterprise Course and business clinics

Thrive, Unit 4 Surrey Quays Leisure Park, Redriff Rd SE16 2XU | Starts on Wednesday 10th October 2018, (runs for 8 weeks)

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Book to reserve your slot: info@treeshepherd.org.uk or call 020 3948 3023


The Start Up and Thrive Initiative

For the second year running, social enterprise Tree Shepherd is teaming up with British Land to encourage budding entrepreneurs in the Canada Water area to realise their dreams. Under the Start Up and Thrive initiative, from 10th October 2018 SE16, participants will have the opportunity to learn how to start their own enterprises. The 8-week Start Your Own Enterprise course, is delivered by Tree Shepherd, and funded by British Land.

Tree Shepherd CEO Colin Crooks says, ‘Our programme is designed to help people at the very start of their business journey so please come along to the course. Everyone is in the same boat, so don’t worry if your business is just at idea stage. You’ll learn everything you need to put a basic business plan in place including sales and marketing, finance, presentation skills, people management, networking and all the nuts and bolts of registering a business. On graduating, you’ll belong to a vibrant Enterprise Network and
benefit from free events, business clinics, regular coaching sessions, new trade and collaborative working opportunities.’

Individual business clinic

Alongside the course, with Start Up and Thrive, Tree Shepherd offer free one-hour individual business clinics, available to students and non-students alike.

The course is free and open to all residents over the age of 18 living in SE16 (and the border of SE8). It will start on Wednesday 10th October in THRIVE, a newly re-purposed facility (the old Flame Grill) at Unit 4 Surrey Quays Leisure Park, Redriff Road SE16 2XU.

It will run every Wednesday for 8 weeks, with a half-term break, concluding with a graduation on 5th December 2018. Participants will first be helped to develop their ideas, before designing a business plan, learning about cash flow, and being taught how to make their first sale.

It is the third Tree Shepherd course which has been funded by British Land to facilitate learning and entrepreneurship in this part of Southwark. The types of businesses that have previously come through include everything from catering to creative workshops for children, to photography, gardening services and jewellery.

“I graduated from the course in June 2018 and have since seen my business succeed at stalls at local markets, with a growing number of followers online who seem to genuinely like what I make! Love Lil’Mo started out as a hobby but when friends who were expecting babies needed gifts I realised I could get in touch with my creative side and make my own baby gifts which would be handmade and unique. Since then my product line has grown to include teething necklaces and dummy clips, crinkle sheets and I hope to include matching Mum and Bub headbands soon. The name Love Lil’Mo came from the nickname we gave our first baby. Having British Land support entrepreneurs?like myself and give me the confidence to take this business froma dream to a reality has been amazing and I can’t wait to see where this venture takes me!

Student Amira Rowland graduated from the course in 2018 and has since started a successful baby gifts business, Lil’Mo

British Land’s support for the Tree Shepherd programme forms part of their legacy strategy for Canada Water. Their vision is that the Masterplan becomes a place where businesses old and new can thrive side-by-side, and they are committed to ensuring that the Masterplan delivers benefits for everyone who lives, works and spends time in the area. To find out more and register your interest on a course, visit:

Tree Shepherd Logo

Tree Shepherd is a social enterprise which helps people across London reach their full potential and start their own businesses, through a series of business courses, one-to-one mentoring and business clinics. Since 2013 Tree Shepherd has helped over 1500 people start their own enterprises London-wide. Graduates share business skills, trade together and form extensive networking platforms across London.

[button link=”www.treeshepherd.org.uk” size=“large” icon=”fa-external-link-square” side=”left” target=“blank” color=”b70900″ textcolor=”ffffff”]www.treeshepherd.org.uk[/button]

Find out more about British Land’s work in Canada Water and the masterplan for the area at

[button link=”http://www.canadawatermasterplan.com/” size=“large” icon=”fa-external-link-square” side=”left” target=“blank” color=”b70900″ textcolor=”ffffff”]www.canadawatermasterplan.com[/button]

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