The Greater London
Authority (GLA)
The Business Support Agency Ltd. on behalf of the Greater London Authority (GLA), delivered an innovative business support programme designed to help established business owners identify opportunities, develop ideas, and build profitable businesses. With expert guidance, workshops, one-on-one support, and an accountability partner, the programme empowered established business owners to navigate and thrive in a changing business landscape.
Client Requirements
The Greater London Authority (GLA) requires an experienced business support organisation to deliver a targeted programme for pre-start and early-stage entrepreneurs across London. The focus is on providing high-quality, practical guidance through workshops and 1:1 support, helping new founders build confidence, validate their ideas, and develop strong foundations in areas such as business planning, finance, marketing, digital adoption, and operational readiness.
The programme places particular emphasis on engaging underrepresented groups, including women, disabled founders, and entrepreneurs from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. Delivery partners will also be responsible for participant recruitment, data collection, and regular reporting to ensure the programme reaches diverse beneficiaries and meets GLA requirements.
Overall, the aim is to improve business readiness, strengthen early-stage resilience, and support inclusive entrepreneurship across the capital.
Impact
+ success
The programme delivered strong outcomes by equipping pre-start and early-stage entrepreneurs with the confidence, skills, and resilience needed to progress their business ideas. Through targeted workshops and 1:1 guidance, participants strengthened their understanding of business planning, finance, marketing, and digital tools, leaving better prepared for sustainable growth.
We successfully engaged a diverse cohort, including strong representation from women, disabled founders, and BAME entrepreneurs. Of the 22 businesses supported, 20 received resilience training, 20 received business model adaptability training, and 20 accessed COVID-19 business support, ensuring they were well-equipped to navigate ongoing challenges.
Participants completed the programme with improved readiness, clearer strategies, and connections to ongoing London Business Hub support. Monitoring and evaluation confirmed positive results, demonstrating the programme’s contribution to a more inclusive and resilient entrepreneurial landscape in London.
Our
Approach
Our approach to delivering the GLA’s Pre-Start and Early-Stage Programme is centred on providing practical, expert-led support tailored to the needs of new and aspiring entrepreneurs. We combine focused 1:1 guidance with engaging workshops that cover core areas such as business planning, concept testing, market research, finance, and marketing, ensuring participants gain clear, actionable steps to develop their ideas.
We prioritise inclusive engagement, actively reaching women, disabled founders, and BAME communities to ensure the programme reflects London’s diversity. Our delivery model blends online and in-person sessions, fostering both accessibility and strong peer connections. A structured monitoring and reporting process underpins our approach, enabling us to track progress, improve programme quality, and meet all GLA data requirements.
Case
Studies
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Delivered by Hustle & Heels in partnership with the GLA and LEAP, this London Business Hub programme offers vital support for pre-start and early-stage businesses. Participants will explore opportunities, refine ideas through market research, and gain hands-on experience by shadowing business owners. With expert guidance, you'll assess your business’s viability, refine your growth plan, and be pitch-ready, leaving the programme confident with a solid business concept, delivery model, and presentation deck.
Client Requirements
Our impact through the Haringey Business Support Programme has been significant, empowering local businesses to navigate challenges, drive growth, and build resilience. By providing intensive, tailored support, we have helped existing businesses strengthen their foundations while guiding new entrepreneurs as they launch their ventures. Our focus on personalised, actionable guidance has enabled businesses to create jobs, retain staff, and increase revenue, even in a challenging economic climate. Participant feedback reflects high satisfaction, with consistently positive ratings on the usefulness and relevance of our support. The programme has not only strengthened individual businesses but has also fostered a more connected, collaborative business community in Haringey, contributing to the borough’s economic vitality.
Impact
+ success
Hustle+Heels' innovative programme offers comprehensive support for pre-start and new businesses through group workshops, one-to-one guidance, webinars, and an accountability partner system. Our approach encourages continuous action and diverse perspectives, drawing on years of experience working with businesses across London. Participants will gain tailored solutions to their challenges, refine profitable business strategies, and build confidence. By the end, you'll be pitch-ready with a solid business concept, presentation deck, and the tools to succeed in a dynamic marketplace.
Our
Approach
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Case
Studies
Peer Network Groups
1989
Businesses supported
30
Jobs
Created
47
Jobs
Safeguarded
713
