A recent report from the Pensions Commission has reignited an important national conversation: millions of people across the UK are not saving enough for retirement. For entrepreneurs and small business owners, this issue can feel even more significant. Unlike traditional employees, many business owners do not have access to workplace pensions, employer contributions or structured financial support. When you run your own business, responsibility for both your business and you

Earlier this year, Portobello Business Centre launched a new initiative with a simple goal: help one London business take the next step towards becoming B Corp certified. Working alongside purpose-led consultancy transformacy, PBC created a fully funded B Corp certification package designed to remove one of the biggest barriers facing small businesses - cost. The initiative invited London SMEs already operating responsibly across areas such as sustainability, governance, peop

If you’re heading down to the market today, make sure you stop by and support Silvia at her stall Silvia is the founder of May I Hot Chocolate, serving rich, organic hot chocolate made using just three premium ingredients: coconut sugar, cacao and thickener. In Silvia’s own words: “May I Hot Chocolate isn't just a drink. It's an experience.” This is exactly what our market programme is all about giving small businesses and founders the chance to get in front of real customers

Could you be our next market stall success? As the days get longer and summer approaches, there’s no better time to step forward and get your business in front of real customers. Every other Friday over the next few months, we’re inviting our clients to trade at one of London’s most iconic markets, Portobello Road Market. This isn’t just a place to sell. It’s where your business meets real people, face to face. In a crowded online world, it’s easy to spend time refining

Could you be our next market stall success? As the days get longer and summer approaches, there’s no better time to step forward and get your business in front of real customers. Every other Friday over the next few months, we’re inviting our clients to trade at one of London’s most iconic markets, Portobello Road Market. This isn’t just a place to sell. It’s where your business meets real people, face to face. In a crowded online world, it’s easy to spend time refining

We’ve officially moved and we’re open for business in our new home at Workspace Group | Canalot Studios ✨ This move marks an exciting new chapter for us, giving us the space to grow, collaborate and continue delivering the support and services our community relies on. You can now find us at Canalot Studios 222 Kensal Rd, W10 5BN, where we’ll be continuing everything we do best just from a fresh new base. If you’re nearby, the team and Ludo would love to welcome you in. hashta

A few months ago, we started exploring new ways to support the founders we work with especially at a time when traditional funding is becoming harder to access. That led us into new conversations, new communities and a different way of thinking about what support can look like. So it’s a proud moment for us to now be featured in The Bitcoin Collective – Bitcoin Business Network newsletter. Not just for the visibility, but because it reflects that shift. What’s been most valua

In a rapidly changing marketing landscape, understanding what actually drives engagement and trust has never been more important. Our Operations Manager has shared their perspective on how shifting conditions are impacting the way organisations communicate, and what this means in practice for businesses navigating today’s environment. We wanted to share this with you as part of our ongoing commitment to keeping our community informed, supported and equipped with practical ins

In a borough like Kensington and Chelsea, contrast is part of everyday life. From the global spotlight of Notting Hill to communities facing real barriers to opportunity, the gap is visible and growing. At Portobello Business Centre, this isn’t something we observe from a distance. It’s what shapes our work. Supporting our local community isn’t separate from what we do it’s the reason behind it. So when we heard about plans to start a football team at Morley College London,

We are leaving Morley College after three happy years and relocating to Canalot Studios , still in the heart of the North Kensington community we’ve served for over 30 years. As part of this move, we’re also developing our partnership with Workspace Group PLC . As Workspace’s official business support partner in London, we will be delivering expert business advice, training, events and programmes to their customers across a network of locations, supported by their high-qu

For over 30 years, Portobello Business Centre has supported London’s entrepreneurs and continues to evolve to meet the needs of today’s business landscape. We’re proud to be featured in this conversation with Jordan Walker , exploring how we are embracing new approaches to funding and financial inclusion. What does the future of entrepreneurship funding look like? In this episode, CEO Dr Sheela Sharma shares why we’ve started accepting Bitcoin and what this means for suppor

We are pleased to welcome Michael Hughes to the Board of Portobello Business Centre Michael Hughes brings over 45 years of experience in the UK real estate development sector, with a distinguished career leading major regeneration projects. Throughout his career, he has delivered large-scale developments that have created lasting impact for both communities and the built environment. Based in London, Michael is recognised for his strong commercial insight, sector expertise an

We are pleased to welcome Annabel Fox-Martínez to the Board of Portobello Business Centre . Annabel brings over 30 years’ experience in public relations, alongside recent entrepreneurial success as co-founder of De Nadas Empanadas . Launched in North Kensington in 2022, the business has since expanded to five locations across London and continues to pursue ambitious growth plans. She also played a key role in the growth of W Communications, serving on the Board for five year

At Portobello Business Centre, we believe young people should have the tools, confidence and support to turn their ideas into something real. That belief came to life with the 2026 launch of NextGen Elevate Student Entrepreneurship Programme , a hands-on entrepreneurship programme designed to help students explore business, build confidence and develop ideas they can take forward. Over the course of the programme, students progressed from early-stage ideas to structured busi

Last week we brought together six exceptional businesses at Vox Studios for something we care deeply about at Portobello Business Centre. Not just growth or innovation, but building businesses that are genuinely responsible, sustainable and fit for the future. In partnership with Workspace, one of London’s leading providers of flexible business space, and Transformacy, a specialist B Corp consultancy, this competition was designed to support SMEs who are either on the path

Help other local businesses choose the right support If we’ve supported your business, we’d love your feedback.Leave a review this month and you’ll be automatically entered into our prize draw. How to enter If you’ve attended a Portobello Business Centre session in the last 12 months, simply leave a Google Review to be entered. Your review can include: • What support you received • How it helped your business • The impact it made We welcome honest feedback. Your revie

It comes from the people you help. Recently we ran the “Make Your Website Work Harder” workshop at Portobello Business Centre in collaboration with East Sussex County Council and East Sussex Growth Hub and received this fantastic Google review from an attendee. Reading feedback like this is a reminder of something important. You don’t always need to tell people how great you are. Sometimes you just need to focus on delivering real value and let the results speak for

International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate the achievements of women around the world and recognise the important role they play in business, leadership and innovation. At Portobello Business Centre, we work with many inspiring entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs and contributing to their communities. To mark International Women’s Day, we came across an interesting article from Capital Space that shares practical advice for women starting and gr

When Sharea became a mother, everything changed, including the way she understood communication. After giving birth to her daughter, she began to worry. Her daughter was not speaking or progressing in the way she and her family had expected. Like many parents, she questioned herself. Was she doing enough? Was she missing something? She wanted to find a way to support her child before frustration or delay became a barrier. That search led her to learn British Sign Language.

This morning we spoke with 160 Year 12 students at Featherstone High School (GUMAT) in West London as part of our Schools Talks initiative. The objective is clear: broaden young people’s understanding of what success can look like. Entrepreneurship is not a fallback option - it is a proactive pathway that builds confidence, resilience, commercial awareness and long-term independence. By engaging students early, we help shift the narrative from “waiting for opportunity”