The government has been urged to get behind initiatives such as Croydon Tech City after a minister praised the entrepreneurial spirit in the town.
Matt Hancock, minister for the cabinet office, saw the borough’s growing tech hub for itself and sai its facilities, companies and the Croydon Tech City organisation itself were “clearly the start of something”.
Since starting four years ago, the independent community-led Croydon Tech City movement has overseen London’s fastest growing tech cluster, becoming home to more than 1,000 digital, technical and creative start-ups.
“The Croydon Tech scene is really going full throttle,” said Mr Hancock. “Croydon Tech City is reaching out into the community and helping young people learn the right skills to start and grow a business, and to connect to a network.
“It’s clearly the start of something – and I want the government to do all we can to get behind initiatives likes this. I’m here to listen to our new tech stars and find out what we can do to help.”
Mr Hancock met a number of digital entrepreneurs and spoke at the Croydon Tech City 2016 Conference where the organisation outlined its plans for 2016.
He also took a tour of Croydon Tech City’s HQ in the Number 1 Croydon building, which houses four floors of small and medium sized businesses, including DotMailer, Natterbox, plus start-ups in the Sussex Innovation Centre.
During the visit the minister praised initiatives developed by Croydon Tech City for having a real impact on the lives of young people in the area. These include:
- Future Tech City which offers mentoring, apprenticeships and work experience to give young people the skills needed to be future tech innovators
- Apps for Good which encourages young people to create apps that change the world for the better; 45,000 students have taken part since 2010