Growing your business together
The City of London Corporation partners with a wide range of organisations who can give support when starting and growing your business. Explore the list to learn more about each partner and the resources they can provide.
Strategic partners
Our strategic partners help us deliver our SME Strategy, and we work continuously with them to develop our in-house support as well as connections to other support in London and the UK.
The Association of Business Mentors (ABM) is the voice of professional business mentoring in the UK. They are an active and skilled community of professional business mentors that share the goal of improving our professional skills. They are global leaders in promoting and maintaining the highest standards in professional business mentoring and championing its impact on the business community.
What is business mentoring?
Business mentoring is a vital part of the business support landscape. A professional mentor supports business leaders as they work their way through the highs and lows of running a business. Mentors combine skills, expertise and experience to help their clients find the right way forward for them and their business.
Working with a professional business mentor is increasingly recognised as a powerful resource for ambitious business leaders, driving growth and success.
Why choose an ABM Professional Business Mentor?
The ABM provides an essential link to reassure business leaders that their ABM mentor is experienced and knowledgeable.
When you work with an ABM member, you are engaging with an experienced business mentor who abides by the highest standards of professionalism with the level of skill and competency that business leaders expect from a professional business mentor.
ABM members are experienced business leaders in their own right, spanning all business sizes and sectors. Each member goes through a rigorous application process and has business ownership or c-suite experience, as well as a personal commitment to continuous learning and development.
Find your ABM Professional Business Mentor
For further information about the ABM membership application process, or to find a professional business mentor, visit the ABM website or email enquiries@associationofbusinessmentors.org
British Business Bank is a government-owned Economic Development Bank, managed independently. They work closely with the finance sector and entrepreneurs, striving to make finance markets work better so that businesses in the UK can survive, thrive and grow.
FSB is a dynamic and inclusive not for profit membership organisation, dedicated to supporting and empowering small businesses across the UK. They're committed to fostering an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive, innovate, and succeed. Their members are supported through expert advice, competitive benefits and discounts, and a powerful voice in government.
Whether you’re a hairdresser, wholesaler, mechanic or any kind of small business owner, Grow London Local gives you access to expert business support. It’s online or in person and designed for small businesses just like yours!
They can help you with:
- Learning how to access the business finance you need
- Finding marketing support to help boost your sales
- Upskill your team or yourself if you are not sure where to start
- And anything else to grow your business
Access for free today on Grow London Local's website.
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is a key hub for the business community in London. They support members’ businesses through a range of services and advocate on behalf of London’s business community in forums of policy debate. They work to accelerate the growth of their members by providing valuable support, facilitating new business connections, and leveraging their network to generate greater shared prosperity for London.
The Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs is a Livery Company in the City, who welcomes entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and all professional sectors who share their mission to promote entrepreneurship in the City of London and beyond.
Aside from the fellowship their Freeman enjoy with like-minded people, they support many organisations, charities, and academic institutions that work with budding entrepreneurs, especially those within underserved communities.
Further business support
If you're looking for a specific type of support, one of our business support service partners might be able to help. They offer mentoring, advice, and training in specific areas of entrepreneurship.
The Cyber Resilience Centre for London is part of a network of 9 regional centres across the country whose role is to support small and medium-sized businesses and third sector organisations reduce their vulnerability to cyber-crime. The CRC for London is a not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, The City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police. They offer a range of services to help demystify the cyber security landscape and provide access to national intelligence data, free guidance and affordable help to protect your business online.
Free, specialist advice from digital and business experts - tailored for your business
Digital Boost is a non-profit online platform that connects you with thousands of expert volunteers for free 1:1 personalised support.
Don't struggle alone - get tailored help with the challenges that are keeping you awake at night:
- Need to improve your website? Get input from a web designer
- Overwhelmed by SEO? Let an expert take a look
- Need support on your fundraising strategy? Have a chat with a pro
From strategy to social media, operations to HR (and much more), Digital Boost expert volunteers are ready to help you.
We also offer Masterclasses and personalised learning recommendations to help you continue your learning journey.
Request your first Digital Boost mentoring session today!
Business Builder is a completely free online tool which is entirely self serve and can be accessed 24/7 through the dedicated online portal. Designed to support entrepreneurs and business owners to up skill and develop themselves and their business at a time and pace that suits them.
The Business Builder has been developed to support businesses and entrepreneurs at all stages (whether just starting out or an established business looking to make a change). It’s completely free and you don’t even have to be a NatWest customer to join.
Business Builder supports:
- Idea validation helping users to explore and validate of new business ideas or pivot their existing business
- Business essentials giving users the knowledge, tools & techniques to put the business processes in place
- Entrepreneur development helping users to develop themselves at the same time as their business
- Growth strategies supporting users to put sustainable growth plans in place, identifying risks and opportunities
To discover how you and your business can access the power to start, scale and succeed, visit NatWest Business Builder.