Businesses will find out more about investment, growth and job creation for the borough at a networking and question and answer event, which includes the launch of the council’s new action programme for economic development.

The council is joining forces with the local Federation of Small Businesses, The Institute of Directors and business advisers, Growth Accelerator, to host The Future for Croydon Businesses on 25 April at Braithwaite Hall.

There will be questions from attendees to members of the panel, which includes cabinet member for communities and economic development, Councillor Vidhi Mohan. Launching the council’s Economic Development Plan for 2013-2018, he will explain the council’s priorities for generating investment and supporting enterprise and growth.

Among the projects already started are:

the proposed redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre;

• the Connected Croydon programme, providing improved transport and better pedestrian and
• cycle links within the borough;
• working more closely with partners such as Develop Croydon and Croydon BID to market Croydon
• a business rate relief scheme for eligible small and medium enterprises;
• an innovation centre to open near East Croydon station, an enterprise centre at WandleVillage and an enterprise hub that will be on London Road, West Croydon;
• "Build to Compete", which has so far secured £4m of contracts;
• Croydon Enterprise Loan Fund, which paid out just over £900,000 in 92 business loans.

These projects highlight the overall priorities for the next five years, which include:

• marketing Croydon regionally, nationally and internationally to generate commercial and residential investment;
• capitalising on the planned Whitgift Centre redevelopment and Connected Croydon improvements for local jobs and further inward investment;
• assisting start-ups, micro, small and medium businesses by identifying and promoting suitable buildings for them;
• creating collaborative work environments – enterprise hubs – to share resources and ideas and to encourage localised supply chains;
• coordinating business-to-business mentoring; encouraging business networking;
• supporting residents to develop the right skills to secure employment;
• helping young people to be employment-ready through work experiences and enterprise awareness.

Cllr Mohan said: “The Economic Development Plan is the result of consultation with Croydon’s business community, so I’m looking forward to reporting on the progress made already and answering questions about what the council is doing to regenerate our town centre and districts. The considerable investment that Croydon is attracting for retail, business, leisure, office accommodation and new homes will benefit our existing businesses. Croydon is re-positioning itself as the premier place for businesses in the south east.

“The investment in and subsequent growth of retail and development activity in Croydon will see more jobs created in the borough and the Hammerson/Westfield joint venture to redevelop the Whitgift and Centrale shopping centres is one of the key things at the heart of this. This work will support the borough to ensure our residents are skilled in the right areas as outlined in the plan.

“There is also considerable infrastructure investment and work already taking place in the borough, with the council being clear that contractors and sub-contractors must focus on employing local labour and offering apprenticeships. This will support local businesses, particularly small and medium-sized ones, to win more contracts and generate employment locally.”

Businesses should book here as places are limited.

The free event starts at 6pm at Braithwaite Hall, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street.

Also on the panel is John Walker, immediate past national chairman of the FSB; Shaun Frohlich, former senior director at Microsoft, and a yet to be announced representative from the Institute of Directors. The Panel will be chaired by chairman of Croydon FSB and committee member for the IOD Surrey branch, Jeremy Frost

He said: “It is gratifying that we have been able to engage not only the council, but also two such large and diverse business organisations as the FSB and IOD in this process. I am really looking forward to an interesting and profitable evening.”