Top prize for “pop up” small business initiative

pop upSutton Council has scooped joint first prize in the Best Programme of Support for Small Businesses category at the annual London Council Small Business Friendly Borough Awards.

The popular Entrepreneurs Pop-Up Sutton programme was praised for being “a new and innovative project to stimulate business start-ups that enables entrepreneurs to get a foot on the business ladder.” The programme encourages new business start-ups by providing support and guidance through a structured series of workshops. Once a month a free stall is provided to give entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their products or services to a ready made audience at the popular Pop-Up Sutton market on Sutton High Street.

Cllr Jayne McCoy, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee at Sutton Council, said:

“The Entrepreneurs Pop-Up Sutton project has helped some really innovative ideas get off the ground. We’re ready to assist any creative, ambitious Sutton residents who have a great business idea for our high streets.

“I’m really proud that Sutton Council has supported this project, and I encourage anyone who’s not yet had a chance to enjoy the market itself to get down to Sutton High Street on Saturday 6 or Sunday 7 May and support local traders.”

The Pop-Up Sutton programme has been developed by Opportunity Sutton, the council’s business development arm, and delivered by the Successful Sutton BID (Business Improvement District).

Since the scheme launched in Feb 2016, the project has supported 88 local entrepreneurs through the business support programme and monthly market. 5 new businesses have been created through pop-up Sutton and over 90 hours of business support training has been provided. Significant positive feedback has been received with 100% of respondents saying they would recommend the programme to others.

The Best Programme of Support for Small Businesses prize was shared with Lambeth Council, with the panel being unable to pick a winner between the two boroughs.

Find out more about the Entrepreneurs Pop-Up Sutton programme on the Successful Sutton site here.
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