Focus on Lewisham

Sponsor the 2025 Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards

Lewisham Council invites you to sponsor the 2025 Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards, celebrating the achievements of local businesses.

The awards are hugely popular with businesses and residents and last year saw over 1,000 nominations and votes. This year, nominations have already surpassed 2,200 –nearly doubling the 2024 total.

Winners will be announced in November at the Broadway Theatre in Catford. Sponsors will benefit from brand exposure, networking opportunities and a stronger partnership with the Council.

• Sponsor enquiries: raymond.kinsella@lewisham.gov.uk

• More information: lewisham.gov.uk/businessawards

Breathing new life into empty properties

High Street Rental Auctions pilot

To tackle the number of vacant commercial properties on our high streets, the Council is participating in the government’s High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA) pilot. This initiative empowers councils to compel landlords to rent out long-term empty units, helping to revitalise town centres and support local economic growth. The Council are currently identifying suitable properties and engaging with landlords and community stakeholders to bring these spaces back into productive use, aiming to create more vibrant, accessible and inclusive high streets.

Empty property grants relaunched for businesses

The Council have relaunched their Empty Property Capital Grants scheme this year. Ten grants of £10,000 each are available for local businesses to refurbish empty spaces and bring them back into use. This scheme is supported by the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and administered by the Greater London Authority. Local businesses must apply for the grant before Monday 4 August.

Lewisham Careers Fair

Over 1,000 people attended the Lewisham Careers Fair in Catford, where residents explored new career paths, connected with employers and training providers, and took steps toward meaningful employment.

If you are an employer or partner organisation, please contact LewishamWorks@lewisham.gov.uk if you would like to know more about upcoming opportunities.

Supporting young people

Youth Guarantee Trailblazer –Full Potential

Activities are underway for the launch of the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer, known as 'Full Potential' in Lewisham, which is expanding our employment support offer for care experienced young people. As part of this, the Council's will be funding coaching and mentoring with Drive Forward Foundation, to support more young people to engage with the support available. It will also be funding functional skills and creating paid internships in the Council and externally.

If you are working with care experienced young people or are a care leaver yourself, please contact LewishamWorks@lewisham.gov.uk to get involved.

Jobs and skills hub – Elevate 100

The Council continues to support youth employment through its youth hub in Downham, Elevate 100, which provides place and space for young people (aged 11-25 years) to find support and explore career paths, learn more about wellbeing and discover their aspirations.

For Youth Employment Week, Elevate 100 hosted a series of practical workshops including CV support, mental health drop-ins, business advice and apprenticeship insights.

Want to partner or collaborate with Elevate 100? They can support you with:

• promoting your jobs to a pool of trained and job ready young people

• promoting your support services and referring your programmes and activities

• coordinating focus groups of young people to help you improve your services

• co-location opportunities as an outreach location for your organisation workshops and training space

Partnership enquiries: elevate100downham@gmail.com.

Service receives national recognition

This year, the Council’s Economy Jobs and Partnerships Service was shortlisted in the Economic Development award category at the 2025 LGC Awards.

The submission focused on how the service has tackled entrenched inequalities and are delivering bold, transformative change in Lewisham.

Key achievements include:

• a £24 million investment in revitalising the town centre

• a 70% increase in creative sector jobs

• £1 million invested in affordable workspaces

• support for 250 start-ups this year alone

The Council also showcased how Lewisham Works is leading the region in employment support, achieving record-breaking job start performance. Strategic partnerships, hyperlocal investment and innovative data use all contribute to the wider goal: to build a resilient, resident-centred economy and a borough committed to growth.