Free London business support: consultations, 1,148 resources and a trading pitch

City Hall now provides a single route into business support: instead of searching for a random paid adviser, a founder can begin with Grow London Local, the official London & Partners platform supported by the Mayor. The initial diagnosis and consultation are free for London small businesses.

What is free

The first option is a one-to-one appointment with a Business Support Manager. The adviser does not award money or write an application, but identifies the business's main need and connects the founder to a suitable programme or approved support provider. It is relevant to someone testing an idea, trading as a sole trader or running a small London company.

The second option is the online Business Success Check. A short questionnaire produces personalised programme, event and learning recommendations that can be saved as an action plan. Topics include finance, marketing, sales, planning, legal issues, digital tools, staff training and sustainability.

At the time of checking, the Grow London Local search contained 1,148 items: 381 services, 175 skills resources, 111 programmes, 86 webinars, 75 training offers and 21 events. This does not mean everything is free. The consultation and diagnostic cost £0 and most resources are free or low-cost, but third-party providers can set their own prices. Read the terms before registering.

The platform says more than 49,200 entrepreneurs have accessed support and more than 5,200 have attended community events. City Hall invested £7 million in Grow London Local from 2022 to 2025 and a further £4.7 million for 2025/26 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Urgent: a free trading pitch in Trafalgar Square

Grow London Local is offering two exhibition spaces at Diwali on the Square, running from 1pm to 7pm on 25 October in Trafalgar Square. The platform confirms that the required trader's licence will be covered by the organiser.

An applicant must be over 18 and the business must be:

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• a South Asian-owned small or micro business;
• registered in London;
• offering a product celebrating Diwali;
• not selling food or drink;
• available for the full six-hour event.

The published deadline is 11:59pm GMT on 13 October 2026. London is still on BST that day, so the literal conversion would be 12:59am BST on 14 October. Because the timezone label is unusual, submit by 10:59pm BST on 13 October to avoid risk. It is a competition, not a guaranteed pitch: only two businesses will be selected.

19 October: free session for female founders

Small Business Series: Meet the founder takes place from noon to 2pm on Monday 19 October at St Anne's Church Soho, 55 Dean Street, London W1D 6AF. The price is £0, but a ticket is required and arrival is requested by 11:45am.

The agenda covers business visibility, SEO and GEO, when paid advertising makes sense, choosing an SEO partner and practical AI ideas. It includes Q&A, networking and refreshments and is aimed at female founders across London.

28 October: free cyber support for small firms

Kingston Council, Kingston Chamber of Commerce and the Cyber Resilience Centre for London are running Cyber Resilience for SMEs from 9:30am to 11:30am on 28 October in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The exact venue is provided during booking. Attendance and refreshments are free.

The session is for sole traders, micro and small businesses and third-sector organisations; no technical knowledge is required. It covers everyday cyber risks and Cyber PATH, which provides fully funded vulnerability assessments, staff training and Microsoft 365 configuration reviews to smaller organisations.

Can City Hall help a small firm win contracts?

It can open the route, but cannot guarantee a contract. The GLA Group has set a target for at least 20% of spend to go to SMEs and diverse-owned businesses by the end of the 2025–28 delivery-plan period, directly and through supply chains. Group organisations are expected to publish upcoming lower-value procurements and flag those suitable for SMEs through the Central Digital Platform and other portals.

In practice, register on the official procurement platform, prepare a concise service description, insurance evidence and examples of completed work. A Grow London Local consultation may connect a firm to supplier-readiness support, but does not guarantee a tender win.

What about grants and funding?

City Hall's support page is a navigator, not a cash desk. Grow London Local helps a founder find grants, loans, training and borough schemes but does not promise free money to every applicant. Separate offers include Grow London for high-growth firms, the Good Work Standard for employers, Challenge LDN for innovation and City Hall's grant search.

National figures and rules — including the £500 to £25,000 Start Up Loan at a fixed 7.5%, local grants and tax reliefs — are covered in our separate guide to UK business finance.

Five actions to take now

1. Complete the free Business Success Check and save the recommendations.
2. Request a free Business Support Manager consultation, stating the borough, stage and exact problem.
3. Filter the directory by borough, sector, £0 price and support type.
4. If eligible for the Diwali competition, submit on 13 October and do not rely on the unusual GMT label.
5. Book the free 19 or 28 October event if it fits the business.

All three dates have been added to the ONLYWAY.NEWS calendar. Check the organiser before travelling: free tickets can run out and venue or registration conditions can change.