BIG, BUSINESS INNOVATION
GROWTH PROGRAMME

Supporting South London start-ups, SME's and community-interest companies in Health & Life Sciences, Net Zero & Nature, Experience & Visitor Economy and Creative & Digital sectors.

A fully funded programme of support for South London-based start-ups, SMEs and community ventures which are innovating in the areas of health and life sciences, net zero and nature, experience and visitor economy or creative and digital industries.

Access world-leading academic expertise to undertake a project that will take your business forward, from developing a new product or service to implementing a new technology, this programme is here to take you to the next level of growth.

About the programme

Are you a South London business ready to grow, innovate, and lead? Backed by the UK government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and led by London South Bank University (LSBU), the BIG, Business Innovation Growth Programme, is here to help you unlock your full potential.

This dynamic initiative is split into four tailored clusters, each focused on high-growth sectors:

  • Health & Life Sciences

  • Net Zero & Nature

  • Experience & Visitor Economy

  • Creative & Digital

Each cluster offers access to cutting-edge facilities, expert-led support, and practical tools to accelerate your growth. Whether you’re a start-up, SME, or Community Interest Company, you can tap into world-class academic expertise from one of the five partner universities: LSBU, Kingston, St Mary’s, Roehampton, and University of the Arts London.

You will receive between 30 and 40 hours of support, which you can use to undertake a range of projects from product or service development and evaluation or research into sustainability, to new tech adoption, and bold business innovations – we’re here to help you make it happen.

This programme welcomes start-ups, SME’s and community-interest companies in the following London boroughs: Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, and Wandsworth.

You can find out more about each cluster below.

HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCES

Support for businesses from all areas of health and life sciences, including but not limited to digital health, social care, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, mental health and medical devices.

Register your interest

NET ZERO AND NATURE

Develop your product or service and boost biodiversity, botanical, sustainable, low-carbon and other net-zero and nature industries.

Register your interest

EXPERIENCE AND VISITOR ECONOMY

Take advantage of dedicated expertise to develop or evaluate an existing or new product or service in the sport, cultural, retail, hospitality, activity, experience, and accommodation sectors.

Register your interest

CREATIVE AND DIGITAL

Get access to support for your South London-based film, art, design, theatre, production or content start-up, SME or community-interest company.

Register your interest

Upcoming Events

From Numbers to Results: Making Data Work for Your Business

18 September 2025, 09:00 – 15:00, London South Bank University, 116 London Road, Elephant and Castle, London, SE1 6LN
These workshops give you and your team the confidence to make data-driven decisions that actually move the needle.

In today’s competitive market, gut instinct isn’t enough. This insightful workshop will give you and your team the confidence to make data-driven decisions that actually move the needle. Whether you’re looking to boost customer satisfaction, secure funding or reduce costs it’s time to stop guessing and start growing.

This hands-on workshop transforms data from a headache into your competitive advantage. You’ll learn how to truly understand your customers, track what’s actually driving results, and identify the opportunities to fuel your next phase of growth.

We’ll cut through the technical jargon and give you practical, immediately usable tools to start collecting and using data that directly impacts your bottom line. You’ll leave with clear strategies tailored to your own challenges.

Limited spaces available – register now to transform how you understand, measure, and grow your business.

Register now

Register your interest


The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s improvement agenda and provides funding for local investment. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. Find out more

BIG is a collaboration between