South Bank Works

Validate your idea, build your business, and grow as an entrepreneur.
SOUTH BANK WORKS INCUBATOR

Express your interest in joining a cohort of founders and freelancers with the space, structure, and support to work on your idea.

Start-Up Funding

£500 for your new business – on us. Get reimbursed for expenses.

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Competitions

Validate ideas, practice pitching, build networks, win ££.

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Host a Stall

Sell your product or get feedback from users. Express your interest.

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Help & Support

You bring the idea; we’ll bring the support! Book a 1-2-1 appointment.

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Validate, Build, and Grow

Excel as a founder, freelancer, side hustler, and dreamer with South Bank Works.

LSBU's Incubator Programme offers expert-led masterclasses, personalised mentoring, a vibrant community, and a central co-working space to energise your progress.

The application deadline to join the 2024/2025 cohort has passed. But you can express your interest. Complete the form to connect with us and to learn about opportunities to onboard into the programme.

£15K Value
Free For You!

The South Bank Works Incubator Programme offers £15,000 worth of structure, support, and space so you can achieve your milestones...for FREE!

💡 £7K/Year of Programme and Personal Support, Including Masterclasses, 1-2-1 Expert Mentoring, and Peer-Lead Masterminds
🏢 £7K/Year Use of Co-Working Space and Meeting Rooms in Central London

WHAT YOU GET

Validate Sprint (October - December 2025)

WeekTheme

Introduction
Mon., 6 Oct.

Programme Induction
Setting You Up For Success

Week 1

Identifying the Problem

Week 2

Validating the Problem with Customers

Week 3

Defining Your Solution

Week 4

Validating Your Market Size

Week 5

Analysing Your Competitors and Defining Your Competitive Advantage

Week 6

Analysis of Your Competitive Advantages and Barriers to Entry

Week 7

Communicating Your Solution Visually.
Build a Website in a Day.

Week 8

Adoption and Willingness to Pay for Your Solution

Week 9

Business Models

Week 10

Internal Demo Day

Ongoing

Weekly Peer-Supported Mastermind Sessions.
Personalised Support and Appointments with Industry Experts and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence.
Setting and Checking-In on Your Milestones and Goals with LSBU Start-Up Manager.

Build Sprint (January - April 2026)

WeekTheme

Week 11

Unit Economics Fundamentals

Week 12

Intellectual Property and Protecting Your Innovation

Week 13

Tax Accounts and Legal Entities

Week 14

Building Your Product Roadmap

Week 15

Digital Marketing Strategies to Reach Your Market

Week 16

Creating a Go-to-Market Strategy

Week 17

Scale Up Strategies and Measuring Success

Week 18

Preparing Your Pitch Deck

Week 19

Funding Your Product

Week 20

Demo Day

Week 21

Demo Day Review

Ongoing

Weekly Peer-Supported Mastermind Sessions.
Personalised Support and Appointments with Industry Experts and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence.
Setting and Checking-In on Your Milestones and Goals with LSBU Start-Up Manager.

Grow Sprint (July 2026 - July 2027)

WeekTheme

Ongoing

Personalised Support and Appointments with Industry Experts and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence.
Setting and Checking-In on Your Milestones and Goals with LSBU Start-Up Manager.

Download the South Bank Works Brochure PDF

Download the South Bank Works Programme Overview PDF

Download the South Bank Works Programme FAQ PDF

Learn more about Masterclasses, Events, and Opportunities at LSBU

What is the South Bank Works Incubator Programme?

The South Bank Works Incubator Programme is a structured set of classes, mentoring, peer-support, networking, and more! The incubator is arranged around three different sprints to validate (test your idea and understand it’s viability), build (understand how to build the business or freelancing operations), and grow (learn more about the investment landscape). It’s FREE!

Who is this programme for? Who can apply?

What type of business do I have to have to join this programme?

The South Bank Works Incubator is open to all types of businesses and entrepreneurs! You may be a registered limited company, sole trader, freelancer, charity, or non-profit…just to name a few.

How will the South Bank Works Incubator Programme help me or my business?

The South Bank Works Incubator is a year-long programme to support your business idea development, help you gain customers, and elevate your enterprise.

The programme will reserve your time, give you space, and meet with like-minded innovators. Work towards personalised milestones to see your business idea grow. Network with other start-up founders, freelancers, social entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurially minded individuals who are also dedicated to your success.

What do I get from the South Bank Works Incubator Programme?

The South Bank Works Incubator Programme provides a number of benefits including:

- Access to mentoring and coaching towards your personalised milestones and goals.

- Exclusive masterclasses to inform, educate, and challenge you on start-up business knowledge.

- Support from peers in the mastermind sessions, where you will speak to your goals, challenges, and problems – and look for next steps to develop together.

- Co-working space at the Clarence Centre, on the LSBU Southwark campus

- Networking and community of like-minded entrepreneurs

- Opportunities for start-up funding.

- And more….

What do I need to do to apply for the South Bank Works Incubator?

To apply, please complete the application form and share information about your business, your existing skills, and what you hope to gain from a year-long programme. You will need to provide details including:

- Your information, including contact details,

- Your UK business registration number (if registered) or unique tax reference (UTR) number if you are self-employed,

- A description of your idea or business; help us understand the problem you are solving and how,

- Information about your current business set-up and customers,

- The business and professional skills you hope to gain in a year.

How do I get help applying or answering more questions about South Bank Works Incubator?

We are fully committed to removing barriers for people with additional needs, disability, learning differences, or medical conditions. If you need help with your application, please reach out to the us. If you have additional questions, please email studententerprise@lsbu.ac.uk.

Product of South Bank Marketplace

Sell your products or services. Reach new customers. Get feedback or do user testing. All from your Product of South Bank Marketplace stall.

Express your interest

More Accelerator and Incubator Opportunities

Accelerators and incubators offer you a chance to test your idea, network with other innovators and industry experts, gather feedback on your business, build entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and more. Below are a few external accelerators and incubators opportunities for the LSBU students, alums, staff, and/or community members. Stay up-to-date on all opportunities by connecting with us on LinkedIn.

EWA Accelerator

European Women’s Association is dedicated to advancing women's economic empowerment; the EWA Accelerator helps support female entrepreneurs with skills, knowledge, and community.

Cost: Free

Benefits: The two-month intensive structure is designed to equip participants with essential skills in data rooms, financial modelling, and pitch deck creation. Through immersive experiences, personalized feedback, and live pitch rehearsals, startups emerge prepared to navigate the complexities of fundraising and secure future funding opportunities.

Eligibility:

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the program:

  • Include female founders or ventures with at least two founders, one of whom is a female co-founder.
  • Showcase a tech-driven startup with innovative agnostic solutions, incl. AI, Sustainability, or Blockchain.
  • Possess a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and demonstrate readiness for fundraising, ranging from Seed to Round A.
  • Have plans to raise capital within the next 6 to 9 months.
  • Exhibit a Minimum Viable Team with relevant industry expertise.
  • Advanced proficiency in the English language
  • Show thoughtful preparation of initial investment documents.

Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk about this opportunity.

For more information, please visit https://ewaaccelerator.com/

Health Innovation Network - Accelerating Femtech

This 10-week support programme supports small / medium-sized companies (SMEs), university spinouts and academic entrepreneurs from across the UK that have early-stage innovations addressing current challenges in women’s health.

Cost: Free

Benefits: The programme will provide companies with bespoke support through expert-led workshops and mentoring while also supporting them to develop their product offering, understand the challenges in the women’s health space, grow entrepreneurship skills and engage with key stakeholders. Innovators will also prepare for a special closed call funding opportunity.

Eligibility: Applicants must be an early-stage UK small / medium-sized companies (SMEs), university spinouts, or academic entrepreneurs working to address a current challenge in women’s health.

Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk about this opportunity.

For more information, please visit https://healthinnovationnetwork.com/projects/accelerating-femtech/

Connect with South Bank Starters

South Bank Starters is here to guide, support, inspire, and motivate you. Find ways to connect with the team and your community of entrepreneurial minded individuals. You can email us at studententerprise@lsbu.ac.uk.