Business Launchpad·Programmes·Business Lab
6-week starterNot sure if self-employment is for you? Start here.
Business Lab is a free 6-week programme for 18–30-year-olds in London who are curious about working for themselves but aren't ready to commit to anything big just yet. No business idea required. Just bring your curiosity.
You don't need a plan. You just need to be curious.
You don't need a business plan. You don't need experience. You just need to be curious about what's possible.
- You've had a business idea but you're not sure it's good enough yet
- You're curious about working for yourself but don't know where to start
- You've heard about entrepreneurship but it's never felt confident to go for it
- You want to try something before committing to the Pathways programme
- You're between things, finishing education, between jobs, figuring it out
- You're 18–30, based in London, and ready to show up for six weeks
Every week, you'll come together.
In a real space, with real coaches, doing real work. A group of young people asking exactly the same questions you are.
Clarity
Figure out if self-employment is actually for you and what your next step looks like.
Real insight
Hear from BLP alumni and business partners who've been where you are and made it work.
Confidence
Build your voice, your ideas, and your belief in yourself. Practise in a room that's on your side.
Next step
Leave with a clear next step. Whether that's Pathways, a job, or something else entirely.
Six sessions. One per week.
In-person, in the daytime, in a space designed to help you think, create, and connect.
Mindset and Goal Setting
Figure out what you actually want. We talk about initiative, adaptability, and self-motivation, and what those words really mean for your life.
Communication and Peer Feedback
Practise sharing your ideas with the room. Give and receive honest feedback. Start building your voice.
Planning and Problem-Solving
Turn your thinking into something real. Work through a simple business or project plan in a small group.
Industry Exposure and Adaptability
Hear from BLP alumni and partners about what running a business actually looks like. Gain perspective from people who've done it.
Presentation and Confidence
Deliver a short, light-touch pitch. It's not scary, it's practice. Leave with coach and peer feedback that helps you grow.
Consolidation and Next Steps
Wrap up, reflect on how far you've come, and leave with a clear roadmap for what comes next, Pathways, a job, or your own path.
Business Lab is just the beginning.
If you develop a clear idea and the confidence to go further, you'll have a direct route into Pathways — BLP's flagship 12-week programme with 1:1 coaching, a £5,000 prize, and a community that lasts beyond the programme.
Not everyone leaves Business Lab heading straight into Pathways, and that's completely fine. Some participants move into employment. Some need a bit more time. Some discover that running a business isn't for them right now — and that's a valuable thing to know. Whatever your next step, you won't leave without a plan.
The Walcot Foundation
Business Lab is free for every participant thanks to long-term funding from the Walcot Foundation — a Lambeth-based foundation supporting young people across South London.
Ready to find out
what's
possible?
Applications for the next Business Lab cohort are open. Spaces are limited to 20 participants. If you're 18–30, based in London, and curious about what self-employment could look like for you — this is your invitation.
Not sure? Email us at communications@businesslaunchpad.org.uk