Uplift Ventures grew from one simple belief: the remarkable cooking traditions of women in Newham’s diverse communities are not just cultural treasures - they’re platforms for economic independence. We’re based in East London and were founded to create opportunities rooted in heritage, craft and social change.
We train, support and connect women, particularly those who’ve been excluded from work or digital opportunity, with the tools to turn their home-cooked meals and culinary heritage into viable income streams. We provide food-hygiene accreditation, business basics, digital skills, and access to a marketplace where culture meets commerce.
Why us?
In communities across Newham, women carry foods, recipes and cooking methods passed down through generations. From spice-rich curries and stews to breads, sweets and traditional dishes shared at gatherings - these recipes hold stories of migration, adaptation and resilience.
We believe that celebrating this heritage is a powerful way to build business and place-making.
How we make change
We offer inclusive training tailored to multilingual, immigrant and minority-ethnic women who want to earn from home.
- We facilitate home-based food businesses in compliance with regulation, hygiene and digital marketing.
- We create a platform where these women’s food enterprises reach local markets and beyond.
- We nurture peer-networks, mentorship and community-ownership, so the women decide how their heritage becomes value.
When a woman can turn a family recipe into a growing business, the effect ripples: more control of her finances, a stronger sense of identity, and an empowered community that values its cultural roots.
The richness of Newham’s cooking heritage becomes the starting point for real economic uplift.
Who we serve
We focus on women from economically inactive backgrounds, especially those from the Global Majority communities in Newham. Many have rich cooking traditions but lack access to jobs, digital tools or business networks. Uplift Ventures meets them where they are, with respect, practical training and a belief that their heritage is an asset.
Our vision
We envision a future where home-based food enterprises driven by cultural tradition are recognised, profitable and scalable. Where women don’t give up heritage to succeed, but use it. Where food culture becomes an engine of social mobility, local renewal and enterprise.
Why now
Food is more than just meal, it’s culture, community and commerce. Amid rising food costs, diverse demographics and the growth of digital markets, there has never been a better moment to unlock the potential of home-based culinary business. By combining heritage cuisine with digital access and business skills, we aim to shift the narrative from “tradition as nostalgia” to “tradition as enterprise”.
From kitchen to commerce
Reaching women through awareness campaigns
Women trained every year in multiple cohorts
Women will start trading through our platform
Our Vision
A future where no woman is left out of the digital economy, and where local talent becomes local opportunity.
Let’s cook up change, together.
Office 12592
182-184 High Street North
London E6 2JA
hello@upliftventures.co.uk
+44 7404974 742
© Copyright 2025 - 26 Uplift Ventures CIC - Community Interest Company limited by guarantee, No - 16002919
UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN): 10099949.