Shifting London Festival
Notice: This event has now passed
Welcome to the Shifting London Festival, an exciting free event that aims to empower under-represented communities and drive innovation in important and growing sectors. The Shifting London festival is taking place on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 September 2023 at Lift in Islington from 10.30am – 3pm.
Join us as we spark change and create opportunities for growth in areas such as adult social care, housing, food, technology, low carbon and environmental goods, engineering, and skilled trades.
The festival will help you develop your ideas for businesses for good and explore new opportunities, giving you the tools and knowledge you need to succeed. Discover accessible pathways to entrepreneurship, learn from inspiring social entrepreneurs, give power and agency to local leaders, be part of a vibrant community of changemakers and unlock your potential to make a positive impact.
Join our inclusive community of changemakers, where new ideas thrive and together, we’ll shape a brighter future for London.
- Drop in and visit our social marketplace featuring established social entrepreneurs, who will share their journey and offer support and advice for yours.
- Book your 1-2-1 informal advice session with SSE staff who will be on-hand to offer their support and guidance to attendees.
- Participate in one of our learning sessions.
- Meet others who are following a similar journey to yourself and network with other budding social entrepreneurs.
Learning sessions
Please note that each sign-up link will take you to the same form where you can sign up to as many sessions as you like. You can also use this form to sign up to the online pre-festival sessions.
Day 1:
Wednesday 20 September 11am – 12pm Where do you start when starting up?
Who’s it for? Anyone in the early stages of setting up a social or environmental impact project, social enterprise or charity
What it’s about? An introduction into the world of social enterprise in London, discussing community-led challenges and establishing a foundation for starting a social enterprise that tackles a need.
Wednesday 20 September 12pm – 1pm What is the difference you want to make?
Who’s it for? Anyone in the early stages of setting up a social or environmental impact project, social enterprise or charity
What it’s about? An introduction into the world of social enterprise in London, discussing community-led challenges and establishing a foundation for starting a social enterprise that tackles a need.
Wednesday 20 September 1pm – 2pm Lunch and Learn – Supporting Youth Enterprise in London
Day 2:
Thursday 21 September 11am – 12pm Building your support network
Who’s it for? Anyone in the early stages of setting up a social or environmental impact project, social enterprise or charity
What it’s about? Many hands make light work! How to create a sustainable support team to help increase your impact. What to look for in volunteers and paid team members and how to build on your own wellbeing and resilience.
Thursday 21 September 12pm – 1pm Funding your idea
Who’s it for? Anyone in the early stages of setting up a social or environmental impact project, social enterprise or charity
What it’s about? Building confidence around understanding your potential costs and looking at the different streams of income that could benefit your cause.
Thursday 21 September 1pm – 2pm Lunch and Learn – London and the social circular economy
Sign up for learning sessions
The Shifting London learning programme
Find out about the Shifting London start up and trade up learning programme that is currently open for applications.