One of the most common concerns we hear from business owners is: "I've got a great product or service, but I'm struggling to find customers." According to Senior Business Advisor Greg Thomas: "One of the first things I ask is how people currently discover the business. Many owners feel they need to be active on every social media platform, but before investing time and resources into marketing, it's important to understand who your customers are and where they look for inform

One of the most common questions we hear at Portobello Business Centre is surprisingly difficult to answer: "What business should I start?" Recently, one of our advisers met with someone who was keen to become self-employed but wasn't yet sure what form that would take. They wanted more flexibility, more independence and the opportunity to work for themselves. What they didn't have was a clear business idea. It's a situation many aspiring entrepreneurs find themselves in. The

You never know who you're going to meet when you put your business out into the world. Today, one of Sylvia's first customers was a traveller from Australia who was spending her final day in Europe before heading home. After stopping for a hot chocolate, she told Sylvia how delighted she was to have discovered the stall and how much she enjoyed the drink. It was a simple interaction, but one that left both customer and business owner smiling. Moments like these are easy to ov

Today, we attended a networking event at Workspace Group Canalot Studios, bringing together businesses from across the community to connect, share ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration. We also had the opportunity to hear from our CEO, who delivered a talk on the work of Portobello Business Centre and the importance of supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive. Events like these are a great reminder of the value of building relationships, exchanging

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