Shifting London fellows “a crucial part of London” says Deputy Mayor

On Thursday 30 January 80 brilliant social entrepreneurs celebrated their graduation at City Hall. These new fellows were students on SSE’s Shifting London Start Up and Trade Up Programme – a 12-month incubator funded by the UK government, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The event also featured a round table on the future of London’s social economy and keynote by Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, who said:

“Social entrepreneurs are a big part of our capital, and they’re in our plans for the future economy.”

“Social enterprise will be a big part of our growth.”

Images: You Press

The aim of the programme was to support a diverse community of social entrepreneurs to grow opportunities within the local, social economy. This was done through an intensive programme featuring learning days, peer coaching, networking opportunities and financial support including our Match Trading™ grants.

These enterprises have strengthened their financial resilience, created jobs, entered new markets, and developed innovative products — helping to shape a stronger, more inclusive local economy.

As part of this programme, 80 social entrepreneurs were supported through an intensive 12-month programme featuring learning days, peer coaching and networking opportunities. Leaders in the early stages of start up could receive a grant of up to £3,000, and trade up businesses up to £7,000 in a Match Trading™ grant.

SSE engaged with hundreds of other London social entrepreneurs via a social enterprise festival, workshops and 1:1 business coaching.

“Congratulations to all 80 leaders – you are generating the best kind of growth for your communities, your city and our country. Now is the time to invest support in businesses that are building a more cohesive, resilient and equal society.”

 

Robin Chu, SSE director of partnerships and policy

SSE in London

Including Shifting London, SSE’s London programmes in the last 5 years have supported 516 London-based social ventures across 115 cohorts. Our students received a total of around £3m in grants alongside capacity building support, leading to an average increase in skills of 34% and an increase in their trading income of 35%. We have also worked with an additional 475 London based social ventures on our shorter programmes and workshops during this time.

“…it’s social entrepreneurs that are driving the welcoming, inclusive, supporting environment that people have come to know.”

 

Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth

Panel discussion ‘What’s Next for London’s Social Economy?’

A highlight of the event was a panel discussion chaired by Howard Dawber, featuring distinguished figures in London’s social enterprise space:

• Amy Harrison, National Partnerships Lead at SSE. “When you take into account the landscape and the issues we’re facing as a sector, especially in terms of funding, SSE sees that it’s not just the quantity of money available it’s getting the right money at the right time.”

• Ademola Adeyeba, Founder and CEO of 1000 Black Boys and Shifting London Trade Up Fellow. “I know it’s possible to create something out of nothing. You have an idea; you go for it and sometimes it works. Social enterprise gives us more flexibility and allows us to be creative.”

• Amir Rizwan, Director of London Social Ventures. “We need to collaborate to make social enterprise the heart of the change we want to make. We have a very real opportunity to create more jobs and drive more economic growth. We can unleash much more prosperity for London.”

Why ‘shifting’, not just ‘fixing’ London?

Systemic change requires a deeper and more sustainable approach than a short-term quick fix. Shifting London aims to make small but targeted changes that can yield significant impacts.
This is more than just a programme—it’s a movement. Together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive future for London’s social economy.