Croydon Builds on success

Published by Chris M for Croydon Economic Development Company Ltd in Local Government

CROYDON ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME BUILDS ON SUCCESS

Croydon Enterprise is introducing a raft of changes that build on the programme's successes in helping local businesses start and grow. This will ensure that the programme remains fresh and relevant in today's challenging economic climate.
These changes follow an independent review of the programme's performance over the last two years, as well as the introduction of the delivery strategy which sets out new priorities and targets.

The Croydon Enterprise programme delivers services through three-year agreements with delivery partners that end in March 2009. Some of these have reached a natural conclusion after contributing to the programme, while others have been reviewed and will either be redeveloped or recommissioned, to ensure they remain up-to-date.

This review process aims to ensure that the programme minimizes duplication and avoids leaving gaps in coverage. It will also ensure that the programme is developed to best meet the needs of business clients. Where significant changes are needed to meet the programme's new requirements, projects will be closed and new services commissioned. In these cases the existing delivery partner will be welcome to submit a bid for the revised project, when it is advertised.

Said Croydon Council's cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Councillor Tim Pollard: "This is all about taking the Croydon Enterprise programme forward so that it keeps on delivering the improvements in the local economy we are looking for. Over the last two years the programme has delivered real improvements that include helping almost 300 businesses start up, but these are challenging times and we cannot afford to stand still."

The changes being introduced are not solely about economic performance; they are also about keeping in step with central government's plans to simplify the way business support is delivered. This aims to provide a more coherent and joined up service and will drastically cut the numbers of different publically-funded business support schemes - from about 3,000 to under 100 by 2011.

Over the last two years, in addition to the new business start-ups Croydon Council, and its private, voluntary and public sector partners in the Croydon Enterprise programme, supported almost 5,000 businesses to plan for growth and provided enterprise training workshops for more than 3,000 local people.

Ends

Notes for editors
The Croydon Enterprise programme is empowering creative and talented people to improve their skills, access job opportunities and, if they choose, become self-employed or start a new business.

The programme is also supporting existing businesses to improve performance and be better placed for success in the current economic climate.

Work in schools and colleges is designed to give young people skills and business awareness. This latter initiative is one of a number designed to ensure a sustainable and enterprising future for Croydon.

More information about the Croydon Enterprise programme and delivery strategy is available on the web: www.croydonenterprise.com

Outcomes to date include:

- 10,100 people considering going into business
- 300 new start ups as a result of the programme (195 in neighbourhood renewal areas)
- 4,788 businesses assisted to improve their performance - in 2008/9 business growth will be measured as a result of this support
- 47 businesses attracted to Croydon

Key outputs include:

52 schools have been delivering enterprise activities
6,685 clients contacted via outreach (includes hotline and prestart workshops)
2,821 calls to hotline
256 workshops delivered to 3,073 attendees
Financial support
120 clients receiving Test Trading Grants
45 clients receiving loans
20 existing businesses receiving loans
661 clients completed a variety of courses
225 businesses receiving support from the Business Crime Project - advice/target hardening measures
236 clients accessing property brokerage service
Fast track assistance offered to 113 business planning applications and 34 applications granted for vacant units