Tree Shepherd

Time is ticking! Deadline for applications is the 24th!!!! APPLY NOW for a grant of up to £5,000 to make your business stronger by using ‘stuff’ wisely.

Whether you're a restaurant, takeaway, shop, hairdressers, laundrette or other high street business, find out more on ReLondon’s website, and sign up for a free workshop to learn what you could do with a grant.

Link in bio

Remember that every Wednesday we have benefit drop in sessions. will be running their benefit support sessions again at

Big Local Works are experts at benefits advice and information providing essential Welfare Benefits support & information - all confidentially and 121.

Sessions are every Wednesday from 10- 4 and you need to book. Drop an email to [email protected] or follow the link in our bio.

Life's a journey, and sadly, it doesn't come with a map. Where we get to is down to our decisions - and sometimes taking risks.

If you're an entrepreneur or are thinking about taking on the challenges of starting your own enterprise then you know what we mean about taking risks - and we want to congratulate you on taking on and facing the challenges associated with running your own gig. They're worth it!

Just because there isn't a map that doesn't mean that there aren't paths (no shortcuts I'm afraid) or that you have to go it alone.

There's certainly no limit to people who have been where you are and faced many if not all of the same challenges that you have experienced. Lucky for you we have a few of these talented and generous individuals on our mentoring and coaching team.

If you're feeling lost or uninspired or just need someone to talk to who understands what being self employed means and the support you need then why not reach out and see how one of of the team could help you get from A to Z (Z being the successful space that we know you can reach).

Drop us a DM or visit our website for more info.

Oh, and the service is FREE, so what are you waiting for!!!

At Tree Shepherd we empower individuals, enabling them to actively be engaged in, and enrich their local economy.

We aim to cultivate a world where marginalised voices not only gain confidence and self-belief but also gain access the necessary tools and networks to thrive economically.

We foster self-employment opportunities and career pathways.

We aspire to uplift those previously overlooked, granting them newfound avenues for sustainable livelihoods.

Our success- and importantly the success of our clients lies in our time tested offerings-

Over the coming months we will be facilitating numerous workshops and activities supported by our Trust For London grant all with the shared purpose- to help indivuals reach -and sustain- their potential.

Why not get in touch and see how we can help you reach your business goals, we can't wait to see what you can achieve.

Our traders love meeting you and talking about their products - and why wouldn't they, they are two of their favourite things!

What they don't like so much is when people try and knock them down on their prices.

Our traders are just like you, they love a bargain - but they are equally feeling the pinch of the current financial climate - maybe even more so and literally every penny counts- to them it cold be the making or breaking of their business.

Please try and keep this in mind when you're asking for a discount and don't be offended when they respectfully turn your offer down.

It's wonderful that you are supporting small and local, this small act can have a massive and lasting positive impact on all of us in the Tree Shepherd family.

.kiddos

👋🏽 So you know we're here on Insta- but did you know that we're also on Tiktok 🎵 and 🔗 Linkedin?

We love all of our our Insta family but why not come and join us on all of our platforms so you don't miss any of the action🚀 - info in our Linktree.

🕶️ See you there!

Mini Market - Our super popular mini market is back tomorrow.

Join Thrive Sat June 28th as we host our hugely popular Monthly Mini Market at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, (just outside the Range).

Come along and support our local entrepreneurs! 💪🏾

If you want to have a stall yourself then please reach out to [email protected] or follow the link in our bio to our contacts page.

****Thrive membership is necessary to secure a space at our mini market. Membership is a yearly fee of £30.00

Membership benefits:
Discount rates at our monthly markets
Free mentoring session (as many as they wish)
Workshops
Networking events

PLUS!!!!!
It's that time again - 🗓️ let's get out there and show our support to all the Black-owned businesses in our communities. 💪🏾 Remember, shopping and buying from Black-owned businesses is not just about making a purchase; it's about driving meaningful change within Black communities and by supporting these amazing small and independent businesses, we contribute to their growth, success, and the uplifting of the entire community. 🚀

How well do you know about the legal structures that apply to businesses? Not much? Well don’t worry, you certainly aren’t alone. That’s why we have created this handy guide to all things business structures. You can read the entire article on our website. Link in bio.

This month in our community interview series we have had the pleasure of sitting down and speaking with the inspirational creator behind the Nubian Princesses dolls and educational products.

Rene has created a unique range of products with the goal of not only celebrating the rich and diverse history of Africa but also ensuring that all young children feel represented and valued regardless of their heritage.

What does community mean to you?
Is it your friends and family?
Is it the people with whom you have a shared past or heritage?
Is it the people that live near you or that you work with?
Maybe it's all of the above!

Community at it's most basic is having a shared purpose, sharing experiences and importantly, supporting each other.

Community is about support.

At Tree Shepherd we believe that the importance of community can't really be overstated- and this is something we don't just say, it's something that we truly live

We have , we have , We have our workshop and mentoring families, we have the groups of individuals that we help, educate or network with, creating strong and lasting bonds, and of course we have the .

By nurturing these different but related groups, and working and living each day striving to support each other, we in turn are building a community that is strong, resilient and a powerful resource for every individual.

So, the question is, what are you waiting for, why not get in touch to learn about our Tree Shepherd community, we'd love for you to join us. Together really is better.

Do you have a business plan?
You may have a successful business, but not everyone has an actual business plan. Maybe your thinking about starting an enterprise but don't really know what all you should be thinking about beyond selling your product!

This is where a business plan comes into things.

Planning what you want to do and how you want to get there in your business is an important part of making it a success, think of your business plan as your roadmap, guiding the direction your business takes, and helping to keep you on track and measure your success.

If you would like some help creating - or reviewing you business plan why not book in with one of our amazing coaches or mentors. They are absolute experts when it ocmes to helping you achieve your business goals. Drop us a DM to find out how to book in- of, and the service is FREE!!!!

School's out (almost) for summer.....And we want your hints and tips for surviving!

As we are in the last half term of the school year we are already looking ahead to the summer- and the impact that can have on the self employed who have school aged children.

Have you ever struggled with this?

Have you found any creative ways to balance your sanity / your business and your children's needs?

We are looking for some REALISTIC and DO-ABLE practical activities / distractions / clubs / centres that can help anyone who finds those 6 weeks to be long and difficult.

We would love to have your suggestions for keeping them busy- and keeping yourself sane!

Drop us a DM or email [email protected] or tag any groups / individuals who we need to know about!

will again be with us at offering advice and support.

If you aren't familiar with Big Local Works, they are experts at benefits advice and information providing essential Welfare Benefits support & information - all confidentially and 121.

This Wednesday (and every) Wednesday we have free benefit drop in sessions available to book.

Services covered are :
Universal Credit
Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

The sessions are every Wednesday at Thrive from 10- 4 and you need to book.

Drop an email to [email protected] or follow the link in our bio.

Mini Market- Our super popular mini market is back tomorrow-

Join Thrive Sat June 1st as we host our hugely popular Monthly Mini Market at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, (just outside the Range).

Come along and support our local entrepreneurs! 💪🏾

If you want to have a stall yourself then please reach out to [email protected] or follow the link in our bio to our contacts page. ****Thrive membership is necessary to secure a space at our mini market. Membership is a yearly fee of £30.00

Membership benefits:
Discount rates at our monthly markets
Free mentoring session (as many as they wish)
Workshops
Networking events

PLUS!!!!!
It's that time again - 🗓️ let's get out there and show our support to all the Black-owned businesses in our communities. 💪🏾 Remember, shopping and buying from Black-owned businesses is not just about making a purchase; it's about driving meaningful change within Black communities and by supporting these amazing small and independent businesses, we contribute to their growth, success, and the uplifting of the entire community. 🚀

Prevention is better than cure- and this is especially true when we're talking about your mental well being.

Do any of these apply to you?
Long hours?
Multi-tasking?
Financial worries?
Welcome to the world of self employment!

It’s not all doom and gloom but starting or running your own business can be a pressured time (a report by the London Business School found that entrepreneurs are 50% more likely than the general adult population to report having a mental health condition) so let’s be honest, you need to take steps to protect your mental wellbeing.

This month we talk about the things that can impact on your mental health and importantly some of the practical and manageable steps you can take to protect it.

You can read the piece on our website, the link is in our bio.

Spotlight on - DART FM

New Community Interview series.

Every month we're reaching out and chatting with some of the inspirational people in our Tree Shepherd family, individuals or groups of people who remind us ever day just why it is that we do (and love) what we do.

These are a chance for us to find out what goes on behind the scenes in the lives of entrepreneurs, what drives them- good times and bad- and of course their hopes and dreams.

When we were thinking of who to start with we were unanimous in that there is no better team to start with than the DART team, a firm favourite of all of us at Tree Shepherd.

Andre, one of the partners has success firmly in his sights, and boy oh boy, do we believe he’s going to get there.

DART FM Ltd is a newly established facilities management company based in South London.

They specialise in commercial and residential development, maintenance, and cleaning services and pride themselves in being competitive, transparent, and flexible to meet the unique needs of each client.

Founded in December 2024, DART FM Ltd was born from the collaboration of two separate companies: Leon & Co, a painting and decorating company, and Totally Clean, a residential and commercial cleaning company.

With support from charity Tree Shepard, DART FM were connected to ELBA, a charity collaborating with one of the UK's largest property development and investment companies.

We sat down with Andre to learn more about their business venture. You can read the entire interview on our website- link in bio. .fm

Next Thursday (*23rd May), the Southwark Pioneers Fund is hosting a session on the ways you could use 'stuff' more wisely to cut costs; win new customers, grow sustainably and thrive.

Calling Southwark’s high street businesses!
Improve your environmental impact and benefit your
business.
Get started by joining a 'beyond waste' workshop to
find out how your business could make better use of
'stuff' and go on to apply for a grant of up to £5k to help you cut waste and bring your ideas
to life.

To be eligible, your business must:
• be a Southwark-based, small or medium sized enterprise
(fewer than 250 employees)
• be an established business; registered on Companies House
with turnover greater than £10,000
• have a physical, bricks-and-mortar presence
• fall into one of the following categories:
o Food & drink businesses – eat in (restaurants, cafes, pubs)
o Food & drink - takeaway (takeaway shop, kiosk, butcher,
baker, deli)
o Retail businesses (shops selling clothes, electricals, food)
o High street services (hairdressers, nail salons, dry
cleaners, opticians, pharmacies)

Check out the link in our bio to sign up.

What's your story? We want to know- and so does our community!

We are looking for entrepreneurs just like YOU to take part in our interview series.

This is an amazing and simple way to share your story, celebrate your accomplishments and importantly promote yourself !!

It's a really simple process- we send you some questions, you choose which ones you want to answer and then we do the rest!

Drop us a DM or email [email protected] if you'd like to take part- oh, and if this isn't for you but you know someone who would be perfect then please SHARE!

We all learn so much from hearing other people's stories. xx

BIG NEWS-
will be running their benefit support sessions again at .

Big Local Works are experts at benefits advice and information providing essential Welfare Benefits support & information - all confidentially and 121.

Services covered are :
Universal Credit
Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

The sessions are every Wednesday from 10- 4 and you need to book.

Drop an email to [email protected] or follow the link in our bio.

Collaboration - When people work together amazing things can happen.

Do you work on your own? Have you ever considered the benefits of collaborating with another business- one run by someone who you admire and are inspired by?

Why not look around your area and see if there is someone that you are really inspired by and reach out to them about collaborating- remember, collaborating doesn't just mean selling something together, it can mean bouncing ideas off each other and sharing skills and contacts!

You may remember that last year we ran a series of workshops for women called Women in Enterprise. We were able to deliver these thanks to the very generous support of our partners Mazars.

The programme was a massive success, which is praise in itself enough but it has been so gratifying to see our work recognised in the Mazars Sustainability Report as well as seeing our work highlighted and recognised alongside women in India and young people in Nottingham and Leeds.

You can read the report by following the link in our bio- please do, we're so proud-of what we have achieved but we also want to share the wider incredible projects that Mazar's has supported.

Mini Market - Our super popular mini market is back tomorrow-

Join Thrive Sat May 4th as we host our hugely popular Monthly Mini Market at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, (just outside the Range).

Come along and support our local entrepreneurs! 💪🏾

If you'd like to have a stall, yourself reach out to us to secure your spot!

Are you looking for help to up your businesses' social media game? Are you considering a market stall? Is networking something that you've considered but would like to know more about?
Well we have just the workshops for you - and they are totally FREE!!!!

Starting May 1st we will be re-running our successful workshop series designed to help you to take your enterprise to the next level.

Our short (but POWERFUL) sessions will help you to address some of the most common issues that individuals just like you encounter when trying to harness the AMAZING power or social media, finding a way to try our running a market stall or finding your 'network'.

REMEMBER- These courses are totally free of charge ,and are designed to help you achieve your self employment goals.

Link in bio for registration details. Last time the spaces went fast so register now to ensure you have a place.

One of the most crucial aspects of running a successful business is ensuring that you understand and look after your finances. It doesn’t matter how great your idea is, or how hard you work if you either don't have the funds to support it, you don’t make the appropriate provisions for tax, or you end up in a situation where you are drowning in debt.

Understanding all the literal ‘ins and outs’ when it comes to your operation’s finances not only helps you to understand where your business is now but also what the future may hold.

This month we wrote a bit about what financial management is and introduce some of the basic financial lingo.

You can read the full blog on our website- the link is in our bio.

Work hard BUT dream big - it's kinda self explanatory isn't it. Dreams can come true but the reality is that most don't just happen, they come from hard work and determination.

By going out there every day, dedicating yourself to the 'dream' one day you may just wake up and find that it's time to have a new dream as you're currently living the old one.

Be consistent
Be resilient
Be patient
Be kind to yourself
Be gracious
Be the success we know that you can be.

Maximising your earning potential is always a good thing, and sometimes that can come from slightly changing things up - or finding new ways to make the most of what you have already. That is called diversifying- little actions that can have a big impact on future security and growth potential.

A few ideas to consider:

Do you have a shop of your own? Can you host events or rent out a corner to a likeminded person who's goods compliment what you're selling?

What about hosting private parties- a bit like the old Tupperware parties of the past (Google them!!!). The host gets a small commission and you get to make new connections - and sales!!

If you sell your own goods have you considered wholesaling them?

If you are interested in finding out more about diversifying your business why not book in with one of our mentors or coaches to discuss the possibilities. They have decades of experience helping individuals just like you navigate all the different paths that self employment can take you on. Drop us a DM or email us at [email protected]

Our super popular mini markets are back tomorrow-

Join Thrive Sat April 13th as we host our hugely popular Monthly Mini Market at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, (just outside the Range).

Come along and support our local entrepreneurs! 💪🏾

If you'd like to have a stall, yourself reach out to us to secure your spot!

Date for your diary
Sat May 4th

What's your WHY?

A simple three letter word but what it lacks in letters it makes up for in importance.

Knowing why you want to be doing what you're doing helps you to figure out many of the other super important questions like:

What- What exactly are you planning on achieving? Are you thinking big or small?
Who- Who are you trying to provide a service for. Knowing your customer is a biggee.
How- How do plan on you achieving your WHAT.
When- How long do you think things will take- and don't think this is a straightforward question but one that is more a rough timeline of events or goals.
Where- Where are you going with your plans or where do you plan on doing business?

The answer to these questions aren't set in stone, and chances are they will change often and sometimes across the entire board BUT it is important to revisit them. Knowing the answers will go some way to help keep you on a steady and SUCCESSFUL path.