The vital role being played by Croydon’s rapidly-growing tech scene in shaping the future landscape of the borough has been recognised with Croydon Tech City becoming a partner of the Develop Croydon Forum.
It means that having started with eight founder members in 2011, the Forum – a not-for-profit community interest company – now boasts 61 members including the most influential private sector companies in the town centre.
Co-founder Jonny Rose believes Croydon Tech City’s presence on the forum is important at a time when the organisation has grown from being a community to beginning to have an impact on physical building.
“As a representative body for tech and creative businesses it is important for us to be part of the forum so that we can articulate the needs of the tech community,” he said.
“Impacting on infrastructure has been a watershed moment for Croydon Tech City. With sites such as MY Backyard at Matthews Yard as well as the arrival of Sussex Innovation Centre at No.1 Croydon we are starting to see external organisations being attracted by the tech scene that is already here.”
Since Croydon Tech City launched in January 2013, with the ambition of making the town the Silicon Valley of South London, the organisation has enjoyed remarkable growth and the number of engaged members is now around 1,500 – making it the fastest growing hub in the capital.
Jonny added: “It makes no sense to have developers coming here and not building something the community wants, they need to have a connection to the needs of both the tech community and non-tech community.
“We are a strong voice for the Croydon tech community and the wider business community. And Croydon Tech City isn’t just interested in buildings, it is also about culture – we are not just passionate about where techies go to work but also where techies go after work.
“We have seen the success over the past year of the RISEgallery and we want to make sure those that create that kind of bottoms-up effect in terms of culture and the community are also represented and part of the conversation.
“We feel it is important that we are represented on the Develop Croydon Forum because the number of people engaged is increasing rapidly and they need places to work, play and live in order to create a vibrant tech eco system.”
Richard Plant, chairman of the Develop Croydon Forum and a partner of Stiles Harold Williams, said Croydon Tech City’s membership was an important milestone for the organisation, which represents stakeholders wishing to contribute to the regeneration and economic renewal of the borough.
“Croydon Tech City provide a perfect fit with our stated aim of promoting Croydon as a location in which to invest, work and live,” he said.
“It has grown enormously over a short space of time and we are delighted that they have accepted our invitation to become members of the Forum.
“At a time when cranes are up, the public realm is being transformed and buildings are coming out of the ground, it is vital that we create a Croydon which meets the needs of that tech sector and enables that growth and entrepreneurial spirit to flourish.”
Full partners of the Develop Croydon Forum are: 1st Avenue, Amicus Horizon, Assael Architecture, Berkeley Homes, Blackland Capital, Canmoor CarVal Investors, Criterion Capital, Croydon BID, Croydon Partnership (Westfield/Hammerson), Essential Living, Gatwick Airport Ltd, GL Hearn, Goal Group, Guildhouse Rosepride, HNF Property, HSBC Bank Plc, IDM Properties LLP, Legal and General, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor of London, MDR Associates, Menta Redrow, Places for People, Rendall and Rittner, Riley Consulting, Sinclair Clark, Stanhope Schroders, Stiles Harold Williams, Streets Ahead, The Hyde Group, The Oakwood Group, The Whitgift Foundation, Tramlink, Wandle, Wardell Armstrong (RJWA), Wates Construction, Willmott Dixon
Associate members: BLP Insurance, BOXPARK, Carshalton College, Croydon Churches Housing Association, Croydon College, Croydon Park Hotel, Croydon Tech City, D A Consulting Real Estate, Delancey, Fairfield Halls, FirstPort, Hallmark Hotel, Handlesbanken, Haxted Estates, Inspired Asset Management, ITC Concepts, JJ Homes, London Mozart Players, Make Architects, Mott MacDonald, Quintessence, Whiston Solutions, Wing Yip, WT Partnership