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.

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.

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 - Powering Local Businesses

Applications are open for Enterprise Nation and EDF free Christmas pop-up shop in London. Showcase your products on the high street, from 30 November to 12 December 2026 with zero retail overheads. Ideal for retail & maker SMEs. The deadline to apply is 11 October 2026. 

Apply now

Small Business Britain – Supporting and celebrating small business success:

  • Small Business Britain has launched Great British Pitch Europe on 11 November 2026, taking place in Central London for #InternationalTradeWeek. Featuring live pitching to European buyers, export insights & networking

Register your interest

  • Small Business Britain has launched a free 2-part webinar series supported by BT: 'AI & the Future of Your Business'. 
    • Part 1: Protect It (Wednesday 14 October 2026)
    • Part 2: Scale It (Wednesday 21 October 2026). Learn how to use AI safely and scale your SME.

Register your interest

South East London Chamber of Commerce – free SME business events

  • 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 – 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

  • 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

  • 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

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

Re-London - London’s circular economy partnership

  • Join RE-London at the Made Smarter workshop on Thursday 15 October 2026 at Makerversity, Somerset House, Victoria Embankment, London WC2R 1LA. A workshop for London’s makers and manufacturers to cut resource costs, discover digital tools to boost efficiency, and unlock grant funding. This workshop is Free for eligible London SMEs who have been trading for 1.5+ yrs.

Register now

  • Circular Economy Week returns 12 to 18 October 2026. Hosted by ReLondon, explore 50+ free events covering textiles, food, construction, packaging & more to build a low-carbon, resource-efficient future. 

Check the programme and sign up for free

Grow Local London - Supporting SME's in London

Calling London female founders! Join Grow London Local on Monday 19th October 2026 from 12 pm to 2 pm in Soho, London for this FREE ‘Meet the Founder’ event. Gain marketing, SEO & AI insights from guest speakers Joyce Ong & Dr Suela Pirushi, plus founder networking.

Secure your tickets on the Grow Local London website