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 November Meeting - Copper House Blackfen, 31, Wellington Parade, Blackfen Rd, Sidcup DA15 9NB on Wednesday 11 November at 6pm.

Bexley Linkup Christmas Special - Royal Standard, 39 Nuxley Rd, Belvedere, DA17 5JN on Wednesday 9 December at 6pm.

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.

Small Business Britain – Supporting and celebrating small business success:

  • You don't need to be an IT expert to keep your business safe. Join BT and Small Business Britain for a free webinar: '7 Things You Can Do Today to Secure Your Business'.
    • Tuesday 27 October 2026, 10am. Learn simple habits to protect your accounts, devices and data.

Book your free place

  • Small Business Saturday UK's free daily webinars are back from Monday 2 November to Wednesday 2 December 2026.
    • Monday to Friday at 11am. Learn about marketing on a budget, finance, time management and more.
    • Attend 10 or more sessions to get a free Sweet Grind coffee and biscuit treat box.

Book your webinars

South East London Chamber of Commerce – free SME business events

  • How will the 2026 Budget affect your business? Join South East London Chamber of Commerce and DJH Bexley for a practical post-Budget breakdown for SMEs and owner-managed firms.
    • Wednesday 4 November 2026, 10am. Free webinar on Zoom.

Book your free place

  • South East London Chamber of Commerce is hosting Bexley Chamber After Hours, a networking event at The Star at Sidcup Place. Open to members and non-members.
    • Wednesday 25 November 2026, 6pm to 8pm.

Book your place

  • Celebrate the end of the year at South East London Chamber of Commerce's Annual Christmas Lunch at The Star at Sidcup Place. Includes pre-lunch drinks, a 3-course meal and festive networking.
    • Thursday 10 December 2026, midday to 3pm.
    • £50 plus VAT for members, £60 plus VAT for non-members.

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 – AI for SME’s

Bexley Business and Employment (BBE) is partnering with CNT Associates, Grow London Local, and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to present Talking Business Live: AI for SMEs.
 
Hosted and sponsored by Metro Bank at its Bexleyheath branch, this practical, in-person evening session is designed to help local businesses adopt AI safely, explore real-world use cases, and prepare for upcoming business funding opportunities in 2027.
 
Event details:
Date: Thursday 26 November 2026
Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Venue: Metro Bank, 66–68b The Broadway Shopping Centre, Bexleyheath, DA6 7JN
 
Light refreshments kindly provided by host and sponsor, Metro Bank.
 
What to expect:
  • Sybil Mayard (CNT Associates): AI Tools: Risks, Responsibility & Good Practice – practical guidance on compliance, data privacy, and adopting AI safely
  • Grow London Local: Essential guidance on upcoming regional AI funding
  • Nigel Davies (PIN Creative): The Prepared CEO – real-world insights from an FSB award-winning business owner on integrating AI into day-to-day operations
  • FSB: Learn about local enterprise support, member benefits, and council programmes
  • Dedicated Networking: Connect directly with fellow local business owners, speakers, and enterprise partners
     
Who should attend:
SMEs, startups, sole traders, and managers looking to save time, reduce admin, and get funding ready.
Places are free but strictly limited.
 

HMRC Webinars – support for businesses and the self-employed

Self-employed webinars

  • How to get ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax if you're a sole trader or landlord without an accountant or bookkeeper
  • Business expenses for the self-employed
  • Capital allowances for the self-employed
  • Car expenses for the self-employed
  • How to get ready for Making Tax Digital if you are a business
  • Record keeping for the self-employed
  • VAT - the basics and the VAT return
  • VAT accounting schemes
  • Residential property income for individuals - an introduction
  • How to apply the VAT reverse charge for construction services

Self Assessment webinars

  • The employment section of your online tax return
  • The self-employment section of your online tax return
  • The UK property section of your online tax return
  • Other income and tax reliefs on your online tax return
  • Finishing your online tax return
  • Your Self Assessment calculation and payments
  • Starting your online tax return
  • New to Self Assessment - an introduction
  • New to Self Assessment - budgeting and payments

Employer webinars

  • Employer filing obligations
  • Getting payroll information right
  • Statutory Sick Pay
  • Company directors - payroll and you
  • 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
  • Expenses and benefits for your employees - social functions and parties
  • Expenses and benefits for your employees - travel
  • Expenses and benefits for your employees - trivial benefits
  • Expenses and benefits for your employees - phones, internet and homeworking

We Innovate - Imperial College London accelerator for women-led startups

Applications are open for WE Innovate 2027! A 6-month programme for women-led startup teams, offering mentoring and a share of a £30K equity-free fund. 

Open to Imperial College London students/alumni (last 2 yrs). Application closes 16 November 2026 at 9am. 

Apply now

Grow Local London - Supporting SME's in London

Struggling to stay on top of your finances? Join Grow London Local on Tuesday 10 November 2026 from midday to 12:30pm for a free online webinar on bookkeeping basics. Get practical tips to save time, improve cash flow and grow with confidence.

Book your free place

Find out how extended reality (XR) can support mental health at work. Join the Health Innovation Network on Monday 2 November 2026 from midday to 1:30pm for a free online webinar on XR approaches to workforce wellbeing, with NHS leaders and health tech innovators.

Book your free place

Ready to start or grow your business? Join Successful Mums on Thursday 19 November 2026 from 10am to 11:30am for a free, practical session on building a business alongside motherhood. Learn simple planning, marketing tips, how to manage your numbers and how to balance family life.

Book your free place

Technical skills start your business, but relationships help it succeed. Join Owen Smith Coaching on Friday 27 November 2026 for a free 30-minute online taster session on emotional intelligence. Find out how to keep clients, handle difficult conversations and improve engagement.

Book your free place

BT’s Cyber Prepared UK - Helping small businesses prepare for cyber threats

  • How would your business handle a cyber-attack? Join BT's free Cyber Prepared UK simulation to test your response under pressure and learn from security experts.
    • Tuesday 3 November 2026, from 9:30am at BT HQ, London E1 8EE.

Book your free place

London Business Partnership Limited – Property advice services

  • Need expert advice on commercial property for your business? Join London Business Partnership's free webinar on business rates, rates relief and leases.
    • Tuesday 17 November 2026, 10am. Online.

Book your free place