Croydon on target

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

A new climate of ‘enterprise, entrepreneurship and employability’

Ambitious new targets to ensure that the Croydon Enterprise programme stays on course to create a new ‘climate of enterprise, entrepreneurship and employability' have just been published.
The latest Croydon Enterprise Delivery Plan - for 2008/9 - also demonstrates how the programme has been refocused on hard ‘outcomes' that show the impact services are having on the borough's economy. This is a shift in focus, from setting up new projects that encourage business start-ups and growth, to focussing on other indicators of Croydon's economy, such the net increase in the number of local businesses and the numbers of those that are growing.

"This is the right approach, as hard outcomes such as the number of businesses we help start that continue to grow are much tougher measure of our success," said Cllr Tim Pollard, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration.

"We've always insisted on targets and local indicators to help measure the programme's performance," added Cllr Pollard, "but this is a natural refocusing, as the programme has matured and we're successfully engaging with our target groups and communities, some of whom had very low levels of economic activity."

New targets for this year include, a ten per cent increase in new businesses starting up with Croydon Enterprise support, and a target of 300 VAT-registered businesses that are becoming more successful and are growing. VAT-registered businesses are those with a turnover greater than £67,000 a year, which tends to rule out sole traders.

The programme continues to have tough targets to attract potential entrepreneurs from target groups and communities, including women, young people not in education, employment or training, BAME groups and lone parents.

The programme also invests in anti-crime work and other activities to boost business in the borough's districts. This year a survey will tap into that work, by carrying out a poll to measure residents' satisfaction with their local neighbourhood.

The programme's support and services will continue to be delivered by a mix of public, private and voluntary partner organisations, but their work will be subject to an independent evaluation to measure performance and value for money.

The full Delivery Plan 2008/9 report is available on demand from the programme's commissioning team, and on the web here.