Last Tuesday, our community packed out Dock Shed in Canada Water – a stunning space kindly lent to us by British Land. It truly and beautifully set the tone. Warm room, good conversations, plenty of familiar faces, and a few new ones, too. People swapped ideas, compared notes, and left with fresh contacts and next steps.
The heart of the evening was, of course, the stories. Tobi talked about making original clothing with real craft behind it. Janet showed how practical AI can be when it’s used to grow a business- keep an eye out for a Tree Shepherd & Our Time AI Hackathon on the horizon. Rita’s cakes have been a sell-out at our markets, and her Covid hobby is now edging toward a permanent spot. Mal and Victoria spoke about their therapy practice, offering accessible, compassionate support that helps people in the community look after their wellbeing. Four different paths, one shared thread: real businesses, steady graft, and a community and team that backs them.
Sandra then pulled the year together. Two affordable workspaces, a busy monthly market, relocation plans, and steady mentoring and workshops kept people moving forward. The forums’ networking events did what they are meant to do- bringing founders into the room to learn, trade, and feel part of a community.
Peckham Business Forum also had a strong year, with activity across events, outreach, and practical support. The focus now is simple: keep the momentum and strengthen the forum so it can stand on its own feet.
We were honest about the pinch points, too. Early-stage founders are still feeling the squeeze. Finance is hard to reach, thin credit files get in the way, and some groups see fewer doors open than others. Food and drink traders face extra hurdles. These truths shape our next round of workshops on finance, AI, relocation and procurement, and access to affordable childcare.
Much of what we’ve achieved this year has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the BL, Trust for London and Southwark Council. Their funding has enabled us to deliver targeted mentoring, inclusive forums, and practical workshops that respond directly to the systemic barriers our clients face. It’s helped us build spaces where businesses can grow, connect, and feel seen- and where ambition is matched with opportunity.
To get to where we need to go, there are longer-term targets to guide us. We plan to secure a permanent, affordable coworking space by 2030, build a simple route into procurement so more clients can tender, grow workspace membership by about a third by 2029, and double our volunteer mentors by the end of 2025. We’ll increase training, keep networking regularly, and develop both an accredited programme and an online training hub by 2029. Ambitious, yes – and practical when taken step by step.
What made the night special was the mood in the room. Honest, hopeful, and kind. Sandra said it best in her note to our speakers: “Thank you for the real, honest and heartfelt stories. You showed what it means to keep going, get creative, and lean on the community when it counts.”
If you joined us, thank you for bringing the energy. A big thank you to Zionly Manna for the simply delicious food, Scene Covered Media for capturing the night on film, Lumin Casks for being a fantastic bartender, and everyone who helped make it such a warm, joyful evening. If you couldn’t make it, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Book a free mentoring session or join the workshop wait list. Apply for a stall at the Thrive Mini Market or come along to support local traders at Surrey Quays. Ask about the workspace at Thrive in Canada Water or GLOWS in Tulse Hill or register your interest in the next Peckham Business Forum events. We’d love to see you soon.
