Start Up Business

GLL Start Up Services aims to help aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and more established businesses reach their business goals. With a business community of over 1,950 members we are supporting the economic development of local communities through the expert led workshops, webinars, one-to-one information and advice sessions, networking events, mentoring, business clinics, market places, networking events and much more through our library services.

GLL's Social Enterprise Accelerator Programme, is part of GLL Start Up Services and is a specialist business support offer designed to help social enterprises, co‑operatives and CIC organisations by offering a range of information, tools and support for those interested in developing or growing a social business.

The programme aligns closely with GLL’s social enterprise and co‑operative values and builds on the success of GLL’s national Start Up services delivered through GLL libraries. We encourage social impact businesses to access support through Start Up Bromley, Start Up Greenwich and Start Up Wandsworth workshops and events which will provide support for the growth and development of social impact businesses.

Find a Start Up near you

Whether you dream of starting your own business or need advice about running your company, discover our business support services near you

Start up Bromley

Start Up Bromley has a thriving business community of over 900 aspiring entrepreneurs, start ups and more established businesses. Start Up Bromley is able to support its business community through the provision of: workshops, webinars, training events, market places, expert led 121's, opportunities to test business ideas and business lounge facilities at Central Library, Orpington Library and Biggin Hill.

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Start up Greenwich

Start Up Greenwich supports a community of over 500 aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses to build their entrepreneurial skills and confidence, as well as giving them access to business information and resources. Entrepreneurs can tap into a variety of expert-led workshops, webinars, busy networking events, business clinics, 1-2-1's, usage of the Start Up Greenwich business lounge in Woolwich library and much more.

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Start up Wandsworth

Start Up Wandsworth provides free support, advice and guidance to over 400 aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses in the borough. Entrepreneurs can access practical workshops, 1-1 advice sessions with a business manager, networking events, webinars, business clinics as well as the opportunity to use paid co-working desks, office space and meeting rooms in York Gardens and Putney library.

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Proud to partner with the BIPC

We're proud to work with the Business and Intellectual Property Centre at the British library, along with Bromley Council, Greenwich Council, Wandsworth Council, and Dudley Council to provide facilities and services that benefit start up businesses across our libraries. From free to use computers and printing services to workshops and advice, find what you're looking for at your local library.

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Your package of support

Once you have registered to become a Start Up member, you can access the following support:

121 business support sessions

You can request a 1-2-1 session with a member of the GLL Start Up Business team to discuss any particular challenge you are experiencing, ideas, business model plans, and much more. The 1-2-1s are also an opportunity to meet with a Business Manager to get an understanding of the Start Up Business services and how it can support you today, and in the future. These sessions can be both in-person or remotely to meet your needs.

Find your local service

Expert led business workshops and webinars

GLL Start Up Business prides itself on bringing our members the right experts to facilitate our workshops and events. We work with local entrepreneurs and businesses who have multiple years of experience in their industries and sectors to ensure our members receive the most effective and easily implementable knowledge and tips to upskill them and support them to head further into their business journey with confidence.

Our experts work within all business roles and aspects from accountancy, marketing, branding, Intellectual Property, health and wellbeing, sales, finance, Artificial Intelligence, Film, Photography, retail, funding and much more.

Start Up Eventbrite

Room hire

As a GLL Start Up member, you can book business rooms (e.g. meeting rooms, office space, co-working desk space etc) across our libraries which can be booked by members and external organisations/businesses to conduct business activities i.e. meetings, workshops, seminars, product/service launches etc. There is also access to free business lounges at Bromley Central Library, Woolwich Library and York Gardens Library. For enquiries to use free and paid business space, please email your relevant start up service in the location you wish to use the space.

Hire a room

Collaborate with us

We are always looking to create strong links and partnerships with established businesses, industry experts and to collaborate with the communities we work within, whether that’s discovering new facilitators for our workshops, promoting and sharing community and business events, or working together on new projects.

If you are interested in working with us across our locations, please email startup@gll.org

Collaborate with us

British library webinars and workshops

Offering a variety of short and full-day workshops, both online and in person, giving you practical support at different stages of your business: Browse the full list of workshops on the British Library BIPC Events calendar

In addition, as the London GLL Start Up Services are members of the British Library BIPC London Network, quarterly 2 day kickstart your business workshops takes place in Bromley, Woolwich and Putney. Click here to sign up to upcoming workshops.