Develop Croydon’s Tech Sector Round Table, which was facilitated online by White Label, on 8 June had leading figures in Croydon’s tech sector call for action to ensure growth continues post-COVID-19 – with a focus on increasing the skills provision and flexibility from landlords in the wake of the pandemic.
The round table, chaired by Associate Director of White Label and Develop Croydon Bonnie Stephensmith, examined how COVID-19 impacted Croydon’s tech sector, how Croydon could entice and support growth, what is needed for it and how could those needs be supported locally.
In the past five years Croydon’s tech sector has grown by 41% and it now employs more than 8,000 people. In 2018/19 alone, there were 2,450 start-ups in the borough – which itself is a top 10 start-up destination, according to research by UHY Hacker Young.
Looking at attracting new tech companies to Croydon, the group agreed a hybrid model would be preferred going forward and that cultural and leisure opportunities were as important as skills and office space in being able to attract people to Croydon.
An importance on the skills provision for the sector and how it could be met locally was also brought up during the round table discussion.
Looking ahead, flexibility from landlords was key to supporting the rise of incubator hubs and the tech sector in Croydon as a whole.
You can read the full report of the Tech Sector Round Table, written and designed by White Label, here.
Develop Croydon’s Tech Sector Round Table was made up of:
- David Aldrich, Chief Human Resources Officer, DotDigital
- Stuart Austin, Director – Office Agency, JLL
- Vanessa Clark – Founder, Sinclair Clark
- Chris Giddins – Founder & CEO, Uniqodo
- Dr Vijak Haddadi – Digital Innovation Lead, LSBU
- Mo Hussain, Director of Values, Bapei
- Opama Khan, Head of Digital Services, Access & Reach, Croydon Council
- George Meressa, Director, Clearads
- Una Foster, Senior Economic Development Officer, Croydon Council
- Marcus Chidgey, CEO, Loqiva
- Saffron Saunders, CEO, StartUp Croydon
- Neil Williams, Chief Digital Officer, Croydon Council
- Chair, Bonnie Stephensmith, White Label/ Develop Croydon
