Local Entrepreneurs Make An Impact!
We’re thrilled to introduce the ten brilliant local entrepreneurs who will take part in GROW 2025.
Each of them brings passion, skills and a vision for making our borough even better. They’ll get a £10,000 grant, coaching and peer learning, and access to social investment from £25,000 to help them grow their business.
We had 53 applications to GROW 2025. A group of local business experts helped us select 17 finalists. Then at a high-energy showcase around 100 residents helped us choose the final 10 winners.
We’re incredibly proud to support this talented group who together show that business can be about people, place, and profit.
- Lucy and Charlotte from Well Social CIC, offer creative wellbeing activities that build confidence and connections. This includes cooking and gardening, arts and crafts, meditations, movement and more.
- Danielle from Final Checks Academy CIC, helps young people gain the skills and confidence to build careers as professional makeup artists and hair stylists in theatre and TV.
- Jeorgina from JDS Striving for Excellence CIC, a youth-led social enterprise dedicated to improving the lives of young people in Barking and Dagenham through personal development, wellbeing, and early-stage entrepreneurship.
- Nassaba from Elevate Together CIC, a grassroots social enterprise dedicated to improving health, wellbeing, and community connection especially for deprived or marginalised communities.
- Sadé from BraidedbySadé Ltd / Hair Me Out! is turning a salon into a space for inclusion and connection.
- Ryan from Basic Ball Group Ltd, building a stronger, more connected community through football.
- John from Ideate Ed Ltd, works with local young people, artists, and communities to reimagine education – moving away from textbook style learning, towards real life.
- Titi from Tailored Futures CIC, supports people on probation by offering personalised guidance on finding jobs, securing housing, continuing education, managing addiction, and rebuilding family relationships.
- Shay from SENspired Ltd, provides high-quality, inclusive early years education that supports children’s development and enables parents to return to work or study.
- Christina from Think Pieces Ltd, uses puzzles to introduce real-world money skills to children and parents in a way that is engaging and easy to understand.
These entrepreneurs show exactly why supporting home-grown talent matters!
What’s Next?
The GROW Business Development Programme starts in September, and we’ll be tracking and sharing their progress. Follow our social media or sign up to our newsletter to follow their journey.
As our Programmes Manager, Jack Webb, often says GROW is about more than money, we’re building a community of entrepreneurs and business owners that are committed to inclusive, sustainable business.
If you’d like to learn more about the GROW Circle, sign up here. And watch this space for business events, entrepreneurial insights, and more funding opportunities.
Let’s GROW something incredible together!
