Firm Futures

The relationship with the mentor was the key thing for me - he gave me confidence and practical support which helped me believe in myself and take my business forward.

Firm Futures is an initiative that helps people in Islington and the surrounding area, who are not in permanent, full-time employment, set up their own businesses.

Through a series of monthly workshops, Firm Futures builds the confidence and skills needed to set up a business and provides a free package of support including a grant, mentoring and subsidised workspace.

Firm Futures is delivered through a unique partnership between three Islington organisations that are working together to support local people in becoming self-employed: law firm Slaughter and May, St Luke’s Community Centre and enterprise experts B Consultancy.

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THE 2019/2020 INITIATIVE ARE NOW CLOSED

There are two stages:

Level 1 comprises monthly workshops open to an unlimited number of participants (32 in 2018), including those who may not know if self-employment is for them. The aim is to develop confidence, business skills and self-employment know-how.

Level 2 provides subsidised workspace at St Luke’s, mentors and more in-depth workshops to guide the participants through the process of creating a detailed business plan and launching their business. 10 individuals receive a grant of up to £2,000 to cover start-up costs.

There would be an assessment at the end of level 1. Your
commitment and active participation in Level 1 of the project cycle can then take you onto level 2 of the initiative.

The project was first launched in 2013 and has seen single parents, young entrepreneurs and those not able to find full-time employment secure a place. Of the 27 businesses that received support, 67% are still trading or are close to trading.

The businesses that have taken off as a result of support from Firm Futures include a branding business, a bakery, baby massage, yoga teaching, personalised embroidered gifts, mobile beauty business, a freelance photographer and a florist stall.

To Apply: Applicants must live in Islington, or in one of the following postcodes: EC2, EC3, EC4, E1W, E1, E2, N4, N5, N6, N7, N16, N19, NW1, WC1, and WC2.

The next round of the 2019/2020 initiative will commence in September 2019. APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

The first workshop (for registered members of the initiative only) is scheduled to take place on 24th September 2019.

Firm Futures Timeline - Level 1

**FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY**

Date and time	Workshop topic(s)	Location
25 July 2019 10:30-4pm	Open Day. Drop-in session for anyone to register and find out more	St Luke’s
24 September 2019 10-2pm	An introduction to self-employment and developing your business idea	St Luke’s
23 October 2019 10-2pm	Market identification, research and testing	St Luke’s
27 November 2019 10-2pm	Business and financial planning 30 mins coffee/networking to end	Slaughter and May
21 January 2020 10-2pm	Marketing and creating a digital presence	Slaughter and May
12 February 2020 Time	Moving from benefits into business (1 hr) 30 mins break Meet the bank manager (1 hr)	St Luke’s
24 April 2020 10:30-2:30 pm	Legal issues: The basics Postponed due to the current uncertain situation regarding COVID-19. We will keep you updated and apologise for any inconvenience.	Slaughter and May
27 May 2020 10-2pm	Presenting, pitching and networking Developing your personal brand. Postponed due to the current uncertain situation regarding COVID-19. We will keep you updated and apologise for any inconvenience.	Slaughter and May
June 2020 Date TBC	Final session for filling in applications for L2 Level 1 assessment - everyone is invited to submit an application for level 2	St Luke’s
July 2020	Application judging
August 2020 Date TBC	Confirm L2 participants and mentors / L1 celebration event	TBC

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

For more information about the initiative, please contact us on [email protected] / Tel 020 7549 8181.

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About the centre

We own a large Community Centre on the edge of the City of London, a diverse area containing extremes of wealth and poverty. Our modern Community Centre provides a space for local people to gather and socialise, and for us and other organisations to deliver services and activities for the local community at little or no cost.
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With its own private entrance and exclusive use of a terrace garden, this spacious and flexible room offers the perfect setting for conferences, seminars, training events and parties. It is a blank canvas to create the right setting and configuration for your event, and benefits from neutral, stylish décor and lots of natural light.
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The Loft occupies the whole third floor of the Community Centre, and has exclusive use of an entrance (ante) room, kitchen area and toilet, within this spacious and versatile area. It is bright and airy, and ideal for meetings, conferences, training, seminars or less formal events. Its exposed Victorian steel beams and skylight windows offer wonderful views over the roof tops of London.
What we do and who we help

We own a large Community Centre on the edge of the City of London, a diverse area containing extremes of wealth and poverty. Our modern Community Centre provides a space for local people to gather and socialise, and for us and other organisations to deliver services and activities to the local community at low or no cost to them. We also work outside in the community supporting other groups and running community events.
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The Studio is a bright and exciting space for any occasion. Truly unique, this spacious room with its high ceilings and distinctive red walls will provide a striking backdrop to your conference or party. It includes a wall of mirrors with a professional barre for dance classes.
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About the Cookery School

Our stylish, contemporary Cookery School in central London opened in 2012 as a self-funding facility to enable St Luke’s to deliver free or low-cost cookery classes and projects to benefit our community, which are funded by the private hire of the School.