The South Bank Works Incubator Programme is a structured set of classes, mentoring, peer-support, networking, and more! The incubator is arranged around three different sprints to validate (test your idea and understand it’s viability), build (understand how to build the business or freelancing operations), and grow (learn more about the investment landscape). It’s FREE!
South Bank Works
Validate your idea, build your business, and grow as an entrepreneur.Work. Innovate. Excel.
MORE OPPORTUNITIES MORE OPPORTUNITIES
SOUTH BANK WORKS INCUBATOR
Express your interest in joining a cohort of founders and freelancers with the space, structure, and support to work on your idea.
Read more Read moreStart-Up Funding
£500 for your new business – on us. Get reimbursed for expenses.
Read more Read moreHost a Stall
Sell your product or get feedback from users. Express your interest.
Read more Read moreHelp & Support
You bring the idea; we’ll bring the support! Book a 1-2-1 appointment.
Read more Read moreValidate, Build, and Grow
Excel as a founder, freelancer, side hustler, and dreamer with South Bank Works.
LSBU's Incubator Programme offers expert-led masterclasses, personalised mentoring, a vibrant community, and a central co-working space to energise your progress.
The application deadline to join the 2024/2025 cohort has passed. But you can express your interest. Complete the form to connect with us and to learn about opportunities to onboard into the programme.
£15K Value
Free For You!
The South Bank Works Incubator Programme offers £15,000 worth of structure, support, and space so you can achieve your milestones...for FREE!
💡 £7K/Year of Programme and Personal Support, Including Masterclasses, 1-2-1 Expert Mentoring, and Peer-Lead Masterminds
🏢 £7K/Year Use of Co-Working Space and Meeting Rooms in Central London
WHAT YOU GET
Validate Sprint (October - December 2024) | |
| Weekly | Peer Supported Mastermind - Get together with your community and check-in on your weekly goals. |
| Week 1 Mon. 7 Oct. | Masterclass & Programme Intro: Setting you up for success |
| Week 2 | Masterclass: Discovering your customer |
| Week 3 | Masterclass: Validating your customer |
| Week 4 | Masterclass: Business models |
| Week 5 | Masterclass: Your entrepreneurial journey |
| Week 6 | Masterclass: Practical ways to get your first two customers |
| Week 7 | Demo Day - Meet the Founders |
| Week 8 | Masterclass: How to package your value as a business |
| Week 9 | Masterclass: Marketing with no budget |
| Week 10 | Masterclass: Is your business worth doing? |
| Week 11 | Masterclass: Business Model Canvas variants and actionable one-page business plans |
| Ongoing | Personalised support and appointments with industry experts and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. Setting and checking in on your milestones and goals. |
Build Sprint (January - April 2025) | |
| Weekly | Peer Supported Mastermind - Get together with your community and check-in on your weekly goals. |
| Week 12 | Create Lab: Creating your brand and visual identity in a day |
| Week 13 | Create Lab: Creating your website in a day |
| Week 14 | Masterclass: Getting out of jail for free and 'preparing for directorship' |
| Week 15 | Masterclass: Social media selling and paid advertisements |
| Week 16 | Demo Day - How I'll grow my business with £100 |
| Week 17 | Masterclass: How to form and manage teams (co-founders, hiring, and delegating) |
| Week 18 | Masterclass: Sources of finances and getting investment |
| Week 19 | Masterclass: Scale up methodology and processes |
| Week 20 | Masterclass: Utilising AI for start-ups |
| Week 21 | Masterclass: Pitching for investment |
| Week 22 | Masterclass: Perfecting your pitch |
| Week 23 | Demo Day |
| Ongoing | Personalised support and appointments with industry experts and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. Setting and checking in on your milestones and goals. |
Grow Sprint (July 2025 - July 2026) | |
| Ongoing | Personalised support and appointments with industry experts and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. Setting and checking in on your milestones and goals. |
Download the South Bank Works Brochure PDF
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Masterclass: Business Model Canvas Variants And Actionable One-Page Business Plans
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Who is this programme for? Who can apply?
All LSBU students and alums with a business or developed business idea are invited to apply to the South Bank Works Incubator Programme.
What type of business do I have to have to join this programme?
The South Bank Works Incubator is open to all types of businesses and entrepreneurs! You may be a registered limited company, sole trader, freelancer, charity, or non-profit…just to name a few.
How will the South Bank Works Incubator Programme help me or my business?
The South Bank Works Incubator is a year-long programme to support your business idea development, help you gain customers, and elevate your enterprise.
The programme will reserve your time, give you space, and meet with like-minded innovators. Work towards personalised milestones to see your business idea grow. Network with other start-up founders, freelancers, social entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurially minded individuals who are also dedicated to your success.
What do I get from the South Bank Works Incubator Programme?
The South Bank Works Incubator Programme provides a number of benefits including:
- Access to mentoring and coaching towards your personalised milestones and goals.
- Exclusive masterclasses to inform, educate, and challenge you on start-up business knowledge.
- Support from peers in the mastermind sessions, where you will speak to your goals, challenges, and problems – and look for next steps to develop together.
- Co-working space at the Clarence Centre, on the LSBU Southwark campus
- Networking and community of like-minded entrepreneurs
- Opportunities for start-up funding.
- And more….
What do I need to do to apply for the South Bank Works Incubator?
To apply, please complete the application form and share information about your business, your existing skills, and what you hope to gain from a year-long programme. You will need to provide details including:
- Your information, including contact details,
- Your UK business registration number (if registered) or unique tax reference (UTR) number if you are self-employed,
- A description of your idea or business; help us understand the problem you are solving and how,
- Information about your current business set-up and customers,
- The business and professional skills you hope to gain in a year.
How do I get help applying or answering more questions about South Bank Works Incubator?
We are fully committed to removing barriers for people with additional needs, disability, learning differences, or medical conditions. If you need help with your application, please reach out to the us. If you have additional questions, please email studententerprise@lsbu.ac.uk.
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More Accelerator and Incubator Opportunities
Accelerators and incubators offer you a chance to test your idea, network with other innovators and industry experts, gather feedback on your business, build entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and more. Below are a few external accelerators and incubators opportunities for the LSBU students, alums, staff, and/or community members. Stay up-to-date on all opportunities by connecting with us on LinkedIn.
EWA Accelerator
European Women’s Association is dedicated to advancing women's economic empowerment; the EWA Accelerator helps support female entrepreneurs with skills, knowledge, and community.
Cost: Free
Benefits: The two-month intensive structure is designed to equip participants with essential skills in data rooms, financial modelling, and pitch deck creation. Through immersive experiences, personalized feedback, and live pitch rehearsals, startups emerge prepared to navigate the complexities of fundraising and secure future funding opportunities.
Eligibility:
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the program:
- Include female founders or ventures with at least two founders, one of whom is a female co-founder.
- Showcase a tech-driven startup with innovative agnostic solutions, incl. AI, Sustainability, or Blockchain.
- Possess a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and demonstrate readiness for fundraising, ranging from Seed to Round A.
- Have plans to raise capital within the next 6 to 9 months.
- Exhibit a Minimum Viable Team with relevant industry expertise.
- Advanced proficiency in the English language
- Show thoughtful preparation of initial investment documents.
Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk about this opportunity.
For more information, please visit https://ewaaccelerator.com/
Health Innovation Network - Accelerating Femtech
This 10-week support programme supports small / medium-sized companies (SMEs), university spinouts and academic entrepreneurs from across the UK that have early-stage innovations addressing current challenges in women’s health.
Cost: Free
Benefits: The programme will provide companies with bespoke support through expert-led workshops and mentoring while also supporting them to develop their product offering, understand the challenges in the women’s health space, grow entrepreneurship skills and engage with key stakeholders. Innovators will also prepare for a special closed call funding opportunity.
Eligibility: Applicants must be an early-stage UK small / medium-sized companies (SMEs), university spinouts, or academic entrepreneurs working to address a current challenge in women’s health.
Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk about this opportunity.
For more information, please visit https://healthinnovationnetwork.com/projects/accelerating-femtech/
Royal Academy of Engineering - Enterprise Fellowships
Enterprise Fellowships supports talented researchers and graduates to transform breakthrough engineering innovations into disruptive spinouts and graduate startups.
Cost: Free
Benefits:
Work with experts in commercialising engineering research into successful, scalable businesses to receive:
- an equity-free grant of up to £75,000
- 75 hours of training
- connections to our network of 100+ investors
- subsidised access to our diversity and inclusion platform Culture+ for engineering startups
- 1:1 business coaching and mentoring from our unrivalled network of the UK’s leading engineers and Royal Academy of Engineering Fellows
- lifetime access to our co-working spaces in London and Belfast
Eligibility:
Applicants must be aspiring entrepreneurs who are either:
- University researchers wishing to spin out from UK or Irish universities and research institutes.
- Recent graduates who want to found a startup
- Non-UK nationals who are about to complete, or have recently completed, their PhD at a UK university
Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk about this opportunity.
For more information, please visit https://enterprisehub.raeng.org.uk/enterprise-fellowships
Connect with South Bank Starters
South Bank Starters is here to guide, support, inspire, and motivate you. Find ways to connect with the team and your community of entrepreneurial minded individuals. You can email us at studententerprise@lsbu.ac.uk.
