Empowering Small Businesses
to Become Supplier-Ready

Heart of the City, in collaboration with MSDUK and the Southwark Council, is delighted to offer the Southwark Supplier Readiness Programme. This is a free dynamic support programme designed for Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Government (B2G) businesses based in Southwark looking to build the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to navigate procurement processes and position themselves as credible, contract-ready suppliers. The programme will provide practical, actionable support to help your business grow.

This hybrid programme blends in-person workshops with online mentoring to introduce participants to the fundamentals of public and private sector procurement, and running a responsible business. It will also support the development of essential transferrable skills such as pitching and bid writing. Participants will work on a tailored business growth plan, supported by peer-to-peer mentoring and expert-led surgery sessions with large corporate and public sector partners.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for fully funded support through the Southwark Supplier Readiness programme, your business must:

Be based in Southwark
Be registered in the UK
Meet the Micro and Small enterprise criteria (see here)
Have a minimum projected turnover of £50,000 in the next 12 months
Have a minimum of 3 employees (including part-time or freelancer collaborators)

We particularly welcome applications from business owners from a diverse ethnic background.

Programme

The programme comprises 4 modules and a minimum of 18 contact hours, and is delivered as follows:

1 Online Onboarding Session
4 Workshops:
- Introduction to Procurement
- Introduction to Successful Bidding
- Social Value
- Net Zero for SMEs
2 Online Mentoring Sessions with Peers
1 Online Net Zero Surgery
3 Growth Plan clinics
Additional benefits: invitations to networking, capacity building and knowledge sharing events

The first cohort of this programme is currently underway. Applications for the second cohort are now open — see below for details.

Key Dates

Current Cohort (1):

Recruitment; ~~Closing Friday 19 September~~ Extended to Friday 26 September!
Places confirmation to participants; w/c 22 September
Onboarding session; w/c 29 September – Online
Module 1: Introduction to procurement; Wednesday 8 October 10.00 – 15.00 – In person in a Southwark based location
Peer to peer session; Wednesday 22 October 10.00 – 11.00 – Online
Module 2: Social Value for SMEs; Wednesday 12 November 10.00 – 13.00 – In person in a Southwark based location
Module 3: Net Zero for SMEs; Wednesday 19 November 10.00 – 12.00 – Online
Peer to peer session; Wednesday 26 November 10.00 – 11.00 – Online
Net Zero Surgery; Wednesday 3 December 10.00 – 11.00 – Online
Module 4: Introduction to successful bidding; Wednesday 10 December 10.00 – 15.00 – In person in a Southwark based location

Upcoming Cohort (2):

Recruitment; open now! Closing on Friday 20 February
Places confirmation to participants; w/c 23 February
Onboarding session; w/c 2 March – Online
Module 1: Introduction to procurement; Wednesday 11 March 10.00 – 15.00 – In person in a Southwark based location
Module 2: Social Value for SMEs; Wednesday 18 March 10.00 – 13.00 – In person in a Southwark based location
Peer to peer session; Wednesday 25 March 12.00 – 1.00 – Online
Module 3: Net Zero for SMEs; Wednesday 15 April 10.00 – 12.00 – Online
Peer to peer session; Tuesday 21 April 12.00 – 1.00 – Online
Net Zero Surgery; Wednesday 22 April 12.00 – 1.00 – Online
Module 4: Introduction to successful bidding; Wednesday 29 April 10.00 – 15.00 – In person in a Southwark based location

Registration

Ready to grow your business through procurement?

Apply now and join a community of businesses building the capabilities and confidence to win contracts and make a difference to people and planet.

Applications for the second cohort of the Southwark Supplier Readiness programme are now open!

Please register your interest for the cohort starting in March 2026.

For any queries, please contact us at info@theheartofthecity.com.

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