BBE Events and Training

Current events

Bexley Linkup – Connecting with businesses

These are free networking events, open to all Bexley-based businesses, a perfect opportunity to grow your network, share ideas, and celebrate local success.

  • Bexley Linkup October Meeting - Sporting Club Thamesmead, Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, SE28 8NJ on Wednesday 14 October at 6pm. Booking details coming soon.
 
  • Bexley Linkup November Meeting - Copper House Blackfen, 31, Wellington Parade, Blackfen Rd, Sidcup DA15 9NB on Wednesday 11 November at 6pm. Booking details coming soon.
 
  • Bexley Linkup Christmas Special - Royal Standard, 39 Nuxley Rd, Belvedere, DA17 5JN on Wednesday 9 December at 6pm. Booking details coming soon.

Refilling the Well – free wellbeing workshops

Refilling the Well workshops are designed to equip people with the skills, insights and understanding they need to manage their health and wellbeing.

What the workshop includes:

  • enhanced wellbeing
  • increased self- confidence
  • raised motivation
  • increased social contacts
  • manage health and wellbeing to progress into employment
     

The focus is to make people feel included and successful in establishing new habits and developing life-long wellbeing practice."

Workshop details:

June 2025 to March 2027
  • Duration: 11 weeks
  • Schedule: 4 hours per week
  • Dates: Courses are due to start on a variety of dates between June 2025 and March 2026
  • Time: 10am to 2pm (with light lunch included) 

Eligibility criteria:

Attendees must be unemployed and living in the borough of Bexley.

Location:

Ground floor of the Civic offices.

Contact Information:


Don’t miss this opportunity to improve your health and wellbeing.

Complete the form

Refilling the Well in association with The Proper Blokes Club

Free wellbeing workshops and walks to help men talk

This course offers wellbeing workshops teaching you new habits to look after your physical and mental health as well as group walks with the Proper Blokes Club. Just ordinary blokes going for a walk, sharing banter, and helping each other deal with life’s pressures. Don’t suffer in silence. Join us today and let’s get walking and talking.

What the course includes:

  • enhanced wellbeing
  • increased self confidence
  • raised motivation
  • increase social contacts
  • manage health and wellbeing to progress into employment
  • access to work experience placements
  • mental health walks with the "Proper blokes club"

11 week programme, 4 hours a week

Course details

  • time: 10am to 2pm (with a light lunch included)
  • email: contactBBE@bexley.gov.uk
  • phone: 020 3045 3800
  • location: 2 Watling Street, DA6 7AT
  • start date: The course is starting with a walking session/coffee morning on 16 September

 

Eligibility

Attendees must be unemployed and living in the borough of Bexley.

Step ahead

Looking to boost your skills and get into work? Join our Step Ahead employment and we will help you achieve:

  • Level 1 Business Administration and Retail
    • the course is 2 days a week (Wednesday and Thursday) for 6 weeks 9.30am to 1pm
    • portfolio based/ no exams
Topics covered:
 
  • letter and report writing
  • sending and compiling business emails
  • designing leaflets and posters
  • using equipment
  • Health and Safety at Work/Company legislations
  • general administrative duties
  • customer service skills
  • administrative Planning Aids

What else?

  • you will also be given the opportunity of gaining a recognised IT qualification too!
  • you will be supported by an experienced Employment Advisor who will help you to update your CV and apply for jobs
  • you will be introduced to our Employer Engagement
    team who are working with local employers to fill
    their vacancies
  • you will be supported to take part in a 30 hour work experience placement with a local employer *
  • you will have access to some financial support to help you start work, e.g. travel and clothing assistance
  • you will receive in-work support once you start work


Courses start 18 June 2025 with further courses and employment support available up to March 2027.

Call: 020 3045 3800
Email: contactBBE@bexley.gov.uk

*You must be able to complete the 30-hour work placement.

CNT Associates – Supporting SMEs

Health & Wellbeing Live

Join CNT Associates for Health & Wellbeing Live in Bromley. Connect with local businesses, CICs & charities, explore grant funding advice, and hear expert talks. On Tuesday 20 October 2026 from 11am to 1pm. Taking place at Community House, South Street, Bromley, BR1 1RH.
 

Enterprise Nation - Business support, webinars, events and expert advice

Enterprise Nation hosts a wide range of webinars, workshops and networking events designed to help entrepreneurs and small businesses learn, connect and grow. Browse their events calendar to find upcoming sessions and opportunities.

Book a space

Small Business Britain – Supporting and celebrating small business success:

  • Are you a female founder wearing many hats? Applications are open for the UK Female Founders List with Small Business Britain! Get national PR, speaking gigs and a powerful network. Closes at midnight on Wednesday 30 September 2027.

Apply now

  • Does checking your business bank balance fill you with dread? Join Small Business Britain & Lloyds Bank Academy for a free webinar: ‘Money Mindset for Founders’ with Kim Masters to tackle financial avoidance & build confidence. Taking place on Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 11am to 12pm.

Apply now

  • Spreadsheets don’t bite. Join Small Business Britain and Lloyds Bank Academy for ‘From Fear to Financial Fluency’. Demystify the key numbers that matter for your SME, in plain English, zero jargon. Taking place on Wednesday 30 September at 1pm to 2pm.

Apply now

South East London Chamber of Commerce – free SME business events

The South East London Chamber of Commerce is hosting an evening of business networking at The Kings Arms, Bexleyheath on Wednesday 30 September (6pm to 8pm). 

This informal event offers small and medium-sized business representatives a casual environment to connect with new contacts, suppliers, and potential clients

Register now

  • Kick off #LondonCircularWeek with South East London Chamber of Commerce at LSEC Greenwich Campus, 94–95 Plumstead Road, London, SE18 7DQ. Join ‘Empower Your Business: Build Resilience with the Circular Economy’ for practical tools, workshops & networking for SMEs. Taking place on 12 October 2026 from 9am to 2pm.

Book your place

  • If AI touches your data, accountability sits with you. Join South East London Chamber of Commerce for ‘Cybersecurity Workshop: AI Under Control’ covering shadow AI, UK GDPR, risk mapping & compliance for leaders. Taking place on 15 October 2026 from 9am to 12pm at London South East Colleges – Greenwich Campus,  94 Plumstead Rd, SE18 7QH.

Book your place

Wenta

Join the Watford Enterprise Agency (Wenta) for free webinars on website development, tax, and bookkeeping and other essential business skills.

For entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small business owners looking to build core business knowledge. Browse their events calendar to find upcoming sessions and opportunities.

Find out more about the webinars

Talking Business Live – Funding for Business

 Bexley Business and Employment (BBE) and CNT Associates are joining forces to bring local businesses an informative Talking Business Live: Funding for Business event. Join expert speakers and event sponsors for practical advice, guidance, and support on accessing finance, applying for grants, managing business finances, and discovering funding opportunities across the area.

Meet the Sponsors and Speakers:

  • Allica Bank: Practical guidance on identifying and applying for SME funding, preparing successful loan applications, and managing business finances

  • Greenwich and Bexley Credit Union: Overview of affordable financial products for the local community, including personal loans and the proposed Community Development Fund

  • DJH Bexley: Insights into key financial metrics, avoiding costly mistakes, and using financial data to support long-term growth
  • CNT Associates: Strategies for finding, applying for, and securing business grant funding
  • Bexley Business and Employment (BBE): Details on council support, local resources, and upcoming funding opportunities

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, 23rd September

Time: 11am to 1pm (includes networking session)

Venue: The Engine House Bexley, 2 Veridion Way, Erith, DA18 4AL

Extras: Light refreshments provided

Who Should Attend?

Start-ups, entrepreneurs, and established SMEs looking for grants, finance options, or expert financial advice while networking with local business peers.

Places are limited, advance booking is required.

Book your space

Academy of Success – Empowering aspiring entrepreneurs to turn everyday ideas into thriving businesses

Trade Ready is here to help 10 young founders aged 18 to 30 to launch their business, delivered with The London Borough of Bexley (BBE) & Bexleyheath BID. Get: 

  • £150 start-up grant
  • paid trading insurance
  • 4 weeks free market trading 
  • 1-to-1 launch support


The Trade Ready programme starts on Monday 5 October 2026. Book an info session on either 1, 8, 15, 22 or 30 September 2026.

Book your place

HMRC Webinars – support for businesses and the self-employed

Self-employed webinars

  • VAT - the basics and the VAT return
  • VAT accounting schemes
  • VAT - using the Flat Rate Scheme
  • Residential property income for individuals - an introduction
  • Car expenses for the self-employed
  • Record keeping for the self-employed
  • Capital allowances for the self-employed
  • Starting your online tax return:
  • The employment section of your online tax return:
  • The self-employment section of your online tax return:

Employer webinars

  • Company directors - payroll and you
  • Expenses and benefits for your employees - trivial benefits
  • Expenses and benefits for your employees – travel
  • Expenses and benefits for your employees - social functions and parties
  • Expenses and benefits for your employees - company cars, vans and fuel
  • Expenses and benefits for your employees - if your employees have more than one workplace

ILX Group - Global project management training specialists

  • Looking to sharpen your project management skills? ILX Group are hosting a free webinar: 'Government guidance in practice: How PRINCE2 best practices support effective project delivery'. Taking place on Wednesday 23 September 2026 from 11am to 12pm. Free online webinar.

Book your place

Springpod - Virtual work experience and careers platform

  • How can businesses scale work experience while proving real social impact? Join Social Value Portal & Springpod for a free 1 hour webinar exploring modern youth engagement and a framework to measure quantifiable social value. Taking place on Thursday 24 September at 12:30pm.

Book your place