Business support and advice

Small grants (up to £2,000) for immediate repairs, for businesses in the areas most affectedare available under the Town Centre Improvement Scheme (TCIS).  The streamlined scheme will provide small businesses with up to £2,000 to fix shop fronts.  Uninsured businesses can apply for a grant of up to £2,000 - those with insurance cover can apply for a loan of £2,000 to be repaid from the insurance settlement when received.  All of Wandsworth's riot-hit businesses can apply for Council grants and loans up to £15,000 (see our business grants page for a list of other more general support) but the approval process for applications above the £2,000 threshold will take longer. 

Businesses wishing to apply for support through the scheme should contact John Ruske on 020 8871 7031, email jruske@wandsworth.gov.uk or complete our online enquiry form.  

More generally the Council is liaising with businesses to assist with the re-profiling of business rates and providing assistance with claims for compensation under the Riot Damages Act.  For more information on business rates telephone our business rate service (020 7378 5941) or email brates@wandsworth.gov.uk or view our Business Rates pages.

Businesses which have suffered lossshould report the criminal damage to the police to obtain a crime reference number.  Once you have a crime reference number you may be entitled to claim compensation.  The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have also advised businesses to take more recommended actions following the recent period of civil disorder.

More information about these schemes and eligibility is available from Business Link. 

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Ask us a related question using our online enquiry form.

Services from the Economic Development Office 

We provide a wide range of business support services. We hold various business promotion events and seminars and provide local business information (including vacant commercial property). We offer loans and grants for businesses at properties in designated town centres, work with developers to bring forward business space, support independent businesses (particularly in town centres) renew older industrial areas and improve our town centres. We also help businesses to get contracts at developments such as Battersea Power Station, help businesses with other council services and lead the local business support network. Read more about our services.

Wandsworth as a business location

Wandsworth is an ideal location for business and is home to international companies as well as very many small and medium sized businesses. The rate at which new businesses are being set up in Wandsworth is among the highest in the UK. Here there is established positive support for business led by the Economic Development Office working in partnership with other business support agencies. Find out about Wandsworth as a business location.

Winning the Contract: A free online course to help businesses learn about public procurement and how to bid for public sector contracts. 

The Glover Report of November 2008 identified barriers experienced by SMEs looking to supply goods and services to the public sector and made 12 recommendations to help make the marketplace and procurement more transparent.  Winning the Contract is part of the wide ranging programme of initiatives being undertaken by the Government. 

The course is hosted by learndirect Business and sponsored by BIS.

Find out more about the course at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/contracts/freecourse