LAIN announces first small businesses chosen for debut supply chain mentoring programme

Seven London-based businesses will be onboarded as the first cohort of LAIN’s (London Anchor Institutions’ Network) new supply-chain mentoring programme, designed to support London’s small and diverse businesses to become supplier ready for London’s anchor organisations. 

In the last five years over £3.4bn has been awarded to small and diverse-owned businesses as part of LAIN’s commitment to support inclusive growth by buying more goods and services from smaller enterprises.  

Now, through this new six-month mentoring programme, in partnership with Transport for London, the London Fire Brigade and their suppliers Siemens Mobility and Willmott Dixon Interiors, the chosen businesses will be supported with bid writing tips, advice on demonstrating social value, and support with how to find contract opportunities.  

The businesses taking part in the cohort include; 

• One Point Consulting Ltd – a technology consultancy that delivers AI solutions 

• The Good Coffee Project UK Ltd – a female founded company passionate about doing good with ethically sourced coffee

• Pax Foster Ltd – which designs and delivers practical environmental and sustainable solutions across waste management and social value solutions 

• Feed Me Good – which develops and delivers health and wellbeing solutions for women and communities most impacted by health inequalities  

• Tisserin Engineers Ltd – a structural and civil engineering practice passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of architects and engineers

• OLT ERP Limited -  delivering a Campus Management System and AI-powered student wellbeing analytics 

• TF Energy Ltd – specialising in end-to-end energy efficiency installations for public, commercial and residential buildings 

Over the next six months, these businesses will gain valuable insights and skills on how to win contracts with London’s anchor organisations, with each business benefitting from 1:1 mentoring sessions from Siemens Mobility and Willmott Dixon Interiors and advice from Data Gardner.  

On Wednesday 25 March, the first cohort came together for the first time at Willmott Dixon Interiors’ offices to meet their mentors and learn more about the programme.  

Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor for Business & Growth said: “Through the London Anchor Institutions’ Network - supported by the Mayor of London - leading organisations across the capital are working together to open up new opportunities for small and diverse businesses.  

I am delighted that Transport for London and the London Fire Brigade have partnered with Siemens Mobility and Willmott Dixon Interiors to support SMEs in accessing public sector supply chains. This programme reflects LAIN’s mission to build a fairer, greener and more prosperous London, while supporting our commitments as part of the London Growth Plan to expand access to contract opportunities for small and diverse businesses.” 

Read more about how LAIN is harnessing the power of procurement here.