Power Up London Accelerator Programme

Power Up London is an accelerator and grant programme supporting early-stage social and environmental impact organisations in Greater London. We help organisations grow their income and strengthen their long-term sustainability, with a focus on inclusion, equity, and lived experience.

Since 2023, the programme has supported 40 enterprises with a combination of capacity-building, business development, and tailored grant support.

Power Up London is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Hear from Woodshop of Recycled Delights one of our 2023 participants:

What’s new for the 2025 cohort?

For our third cohort, the programme and grant (up to £10,000) application processes have been combined, so you only need to apply once.

If you’re accepted into the programme, you will also be awarded a grant, subject to:

• Meeting the grant eligibility criteria (see below)
• Providing the required follow-up documentation (e.g. bank details, company registration)

This change enables participants to receive the grant during the accelerator programme, giving you the resources to implement your ideas and accelerate your growth while still receiving support.

Please note that only 20 places are available and we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so we strongly encourage early submissions.

• Application Deadline: 10 September 2025 (we may close applications earlier)
• Programme starts: Late September 2025 (exact date TBC)
• In-person programme workshops: Fridays 10:00–12:00 in Central London

2025 Application Criteria

We are looking for early-stage impact-first initiatives and organisations that wish to develop or grow their traded income and can clearly communicate how the Power Up London accelerator programme will help them become financially sustainable and grow their impact.

Participant Criteria:

• Informal teams, charities, or companies with an impact-first structure*
• Have a social purpose, a profit cap, and an asset lock
• Based in and impacting Greater London
• Registered for less than 5 years by 30 June 2025
• Have a maximum annual income of £500,000
• Be looking to generate new or grow existing trading income activities

*Individuals and unincorporated organisations are eligible to participate, but will need to register as a company or charity to access the grant funding at the end of the programme.

Our Priorities

We’re seeking to support impact-first initiatives and organisations which reach the most marginalised communities and promote inclusion in Greater London.

We will prioritise initiatives and organisations that:

• Are led by, or working with people from marginalised communities in Greater London, that fall into one or more of the below categories:
  • People from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic
  • People with disabilities
  • Women
  • LGBTQIA+ communities
  • People with lived experience of a social challenge
  • People experiencing socio-economic disadvantages
• Are led by people with direct experience of the issues they are seeking to support
• Exist for the primary purpose of increasing environmental sustainability or are looking to improve their work on environmental issues
• Have an existing social impact track record, or social impact potential
• Have a plan for growing and developing new products and services
• Are in the early stages of development and would benefit from help to build structures to grow
• Intend to hire new staff members within the next 6 months

How to apply

1. Check the criteria above
2. Download the application support packs: Application Guidance and Relevant Questions PDF:
   • Application Guidance here
   • Questions for Informal teams or Individuals here
   • Questions for Registered Organisations here
3. Apply below
4. We’ll be in touch with an update on your application by the 15^th of September 2025.

Other useful information

• We will host Q&A sessions on the 29th of July and the 1st of August at 11am. Please email csv@bigissueinvest.com if you would like to attend.
• Watch the recording of the Q&A session from cohort 1.
• If you have any questions and would like to get in touch with our team directly, you can email us at csv@bigissueinvest.com.

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