Croydon named in top 10 areas for tech start-ups

Croydon has been named as one of the top digital destinations in the country with thousands of new tech start-ups making the borough their home.

The most recent figures from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) show Croydon saw 2,450 digital start-ups register in the borough over a year, the 10th highest number in the UK and seventh highest in London.

Croydon Council has run a host of networking, idea sharing and skill-development sessions to help digital businesses thrive, creating job opportunities for residents.

Like other sectors digital companies are now facing enormous challenges due to coronavirus and Croydon Council has championed local firms, administering government grants while calling for more support for businesses whose needs are not being met.

The council is also offering a new one-off grant of up to £5,000 to small businesses that have been impacted by coronavirus but do not meet government requirements for other support schemes.

The number of new start-ups, reported by chartered accountants UHY Hacker Young, comes after Croydon’s tech sector grew by 41 per cent over five years, now employing more than 8,000 people with the borough offering a range of traditional, flexible and shared office space.

Croydon Digital, a shared platform run by and for the borough’s digital community, offers a vibrant and active space for tech workers and organisations to collaborate and celebrate successes.

“These figures pay tribute to Croydon’s growing reputation as a digital town that helps tech start-ups grow but I know many of these firms are facing unprecedented challenges due to coronavirus. Croydon’s growing tech sector is a major part of the borough’s long-term economic recovery which is why we introduced a new funding grant to support small firms including those taking advantage of flexible and shared working spaces.

“With central London just 15 minutes away by train and the offer of co-working and premium office space at an affordable price, Croydon is open for businesses.”

Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed, cabinet member for economy and jobs

2020-06-12T15:09:30+01:00 June 12th, 2020|Recent news|