COUNTDOWN BEGINS TO ENTERPRISE OPPORTUNITY CENTRE LAUNCH
| Published: 3rd March 2008 20:33 |
Officially known as Enterprise Opportunity Centres (EOCs), they will offer a unique mix of the services that new businesses need to thrive and are being created in a unique partnership with businesses. Crucially, they will offer space to trade at a subsidised, affordable, rent.
They are in Croydon town centre and Broad Green.
The town centre EOC uses office space in Park House made available by property company Minerva plc. The Broad Green EOC, in Wandle Village, is being created as part of a Barratt Homes housing development. Both are being set up and managed in partnership with Croydon Business Venture Ltd.
But they are just part of the programme of new Enterprise Opportunity Centres in Croydon. Last year it was announced that a new EOC would be built as a key part of the Healthy Croydon Resource Centre in Broad Green and will provide accommodation and support for social enterprises. It is due to open in August this year.
Future plans include two further EOCs in South Norwood and New Addington.
Said cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Councillor Tim Pollard: "Enterprise Opportunity Centres are the most exciting of all the Croydon Enterprise programme's initiatives, because this will ensure that Croydon builds a strong enterprise future for its communities.
"Croydon already has a reputation as the most enterprising place in London, largely thanks to the Croydon Enterprise programme and its achievements, but this new move is the one that will ensure that enterprise and the enterprise ethic becomes part of the fabric of Croydon's communities."
Each EOC will offer a mix of facilities and services including, affordable space to start a new business, support, training, office services and much more. The plan is to support the centres until they are able to stand on their own feet.
The first to open, in late March this year, is on the fourth floor of Park House, central Croydon. It is an interim project to make use of the building which is awaiting redevelopment. It will provide home for around 56 desk spaces.
The Wandle Village EOC will be take shape on the site of the old gas works on the Purley Way, in the Broad Green ward. It will provide business support services as well as the business units. Building work has already started. This project is being led by Croydon Business Venture and will run along the same lines as their successful operation in Cherry Orchard Road, East Croydon.
The New Addington centre will be build as part of the new Tesco's development, scheduled for late 2010. It will offer around 20 business units.
No date has not yet been set for the South Norwood centre, but the site on Portland Road has already been identified.
Croydon Business Venture Ltd (CBV), based in East Croydon was chosen to lead on the Park House and Wandle Village centres because of their proven and excellent track record of working with the Croydon Enterprise target groups. They are a recognised and accredited centre of excellence in helping new business to start and thrive. CBV is also the sole provider in Croydon of subsidised short-term business accommodation and on-site business support.
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