Businesses based in the London boroughs of Ealing and Hillingdon were out in full force this week at the launch of the London West Innovation Network, as they celebrated qualifying for competitive business grants that will help them achieve high growth and increased employment locally.

The London West Innovation Network (LWIN) brings together solution seekers, solvers, and scalers to collaborate and innovate for a more impactful and sustainable future. The LWIN launch event was hosted at the Central Research Laboratory in Hayes this Tuesday 28 March, and was attended by grant-winning Ealing and Hillingdon businesses as well as dignitaries including LWIN Co-Chair Seema Malhotra, MP, and council representatives including Andrea Laffey from Ealing Council, Nigel Cramb from Hillingdon Borough Council, and Steven Wilding from Hounslow Council.

In 2021 and 2022, West London Business was commissioned by the Boroughs of Ealing and Hillingdon to devise and manage a business support competition to deliver grant funding to local SMEs to support accelerated growth and local employment. The programme was carried out through the new London West Innovation Network and at the end of a rigorous and competitive application process, 34 diverse businesses across Ealing and Hillingdon were awarded grants totalling over £3 million, aimed at delivering innovation from sectors including Health & Wellbeing, Creative & Media, Aviation & Logistics, and Food & Drink.

Andrew Dakers, CEO, West London Business and Co-chair, London West Innovation Network (LWIN) said:

“It is an astounding group of highly innovative companies that we have been able to support to date. Post-launch, LWIN is now focused on long-term development funding and mobilising business support for the 2000+ fast growth businesses across its geography, including our recent grant winners.”

The network’s first interactive workshop on early-stage fundraising will take place on Wednesday 19 April, and aims to help businesses understand the funding options available to them and learn from a panel of experts representing leading venture capitalists, active Angel networks, plus universities, and explore the different kinds of flexible capital support available from the banking sector.