Croydon Enterprise launch pads ready

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

CROYDON ENTERPRISE LAUNCH PADS READY FOR TAKE-OFF

Today's opening of the first Enterprise Opportunity Centre in Croydon town centre has ushered in a new era of business competitiveness for the borough.

Further Enterprise Opportunity centres (EOCs) are planned by the Croydon Enterprise programme in key locations outside the town centre.

The Park House EOC,in Park Street, makes good use of a private-sector town centre re-development project that has been temporarily delayed.It offers new and growing businesses, and social enterprises, a mix of facilities and services to help them take off. The mix includes: furnished office space, meeting rooms, access to a photocopier, telephone, broadband ... and even a kitchen sink. Training support is also available.

Speaking at the opening, Croydon Council's cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Councillor Tim Pollard said: "The Park House Enterprise Opportunity Centre is the first of five such centres that will be rolled out in Croydon's districts where they will provide the right environment and support for businesses to start and grow. In doing this they will become engines of the local economy helping to make enterprise and entrepreneurship an important part of the local scene. The Park House EOC is therefore a Croydon Enterprise pioneer project that will provide the template for those centres that follow its lead."

The Park House EOC is conveniently located in the heart of Croydon town centre, 10 minutes from East Croydon railway station. It is being managed by Croydon Business Venture Ltd (CBV) - an organisation with long and successful experience of providing similar start-up operations.

The next EOC to open, later this month, will be on the site of the former Croydon General Hospital as a key part of the Healthy Croydon Resource Centre. Croydon Enterprise has invested into the centre specifically to provide designated office units for local social enterprises. In addition to practical office space, this EOC will also provide business planning and training support for voluntary and community organisations, helping them develop social enterprises as a way of ensuring a sustainable income.

Due to open in October 2009 is a bigger EOC as part of the Wandle Village in Broad Green. This will eventually offer 43 fully-equipped offices to local start up ventures and young companies. It is being created as part of a Barratt Homes housing development and, like Park House, will be set up and managed by Croydon Business Venture Ltd. It will provide business support services as well as the business units.

In addition, a New Addington EOC will be built as part of the new Tesco's development, scheduled for late 2010. It will offer around 20 business units.

No date has been set for the South Norwood centre, but a site on Portland Road has already been identified and work on a planning application is well under way.

Ends

Press Contact: Chris Myers, 020 8090 1695. chris.myers@croydonenterprise.com

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