Bringing young people and employers together through communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and curiosity. Overview We continue on our promise of bringing more regular events by delivering exciting events that educate, engage and connect our community. This time, our event focused on supporting young people into work. Young people are
Lola first came to us with a clear ambition but limited confidence in how to make it happen. Today, she is the owner of a franchised optician practice in Croydon. Taking the first day We first met Lola in autumn 2024. She was working as an optician and had decided
A proud moment for UP, recognising the impact of UP CREATIVE and our growing community of young people, educators and industry partners across South London. We are delighted to share that UP has received the Employer Recognition Award for Outstanding Commitment to Inspiring Future Talent in Creative and Digital at the Youth
Praveen is one of UP’s trusted local facilitators. In this article, he explains why business protection and pension planning are important for business owners, particularly those who are just starting out. As a business owner, you have invested significant time and effort into building your company. While growing the business
Economic challenges are real, but so is the determination of entrepreneurs to adapt, create jobs and keep moving their communities forward.
There is a particular kind of energy that appears when entrepreneurs stop asking whether they are ready and start acting as if growth is already in motion. That energy was present at UP this week as we launched Engine Room, a new pilot programme designed to help entrepreneurs turn clarity
On 28 May, the room at UP filled with people ready to think differently. There were familiar faces from Croydon’s business community, new connections being made over drinks, conversations starting before the programme had officially begun, and a sense that this was not going to be a typical evening. Working
Some programmes finish with a report. This one finished with something more tangible: new confidence, new connections, stronger decisions, and real progress for businesses across Croydon. The Croydon Business Support Programme, delivered by UP, formerly Start-Up Croydon, ran from November 2025 to March 2026 on behalf of the London Borough
When people talk about business support, they often focus on workshops, webinars or advice sessions. But the real story is always what happens afterwards. It is what changes for the founder who finally feels clearer, the small business that starts reaching new customers, the team that becomes more confident using
At Julian’s Artisan Bakery, growth has come from doing simple things well, consistently. Built on craft, quality and strong trading performance, the business has developed a solid reputation and a loyal customer base. But as demand has increased, so has the pressure that often comes with founder-led growth. When the
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