Since 2005, the policies and actions of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (and its predecessors) have focused on building a competitive economy and on delivering prosperity and sustainable economic growth. The implementation of BIS policy in the London borough of Croydon (information is not available specifically for the Croydon Central constituency) has been taken forward primarily by the London Development Agency and Government Office for London, working in partnership with the local authority and other relevant bodies.
Caution must be exercised in seeking to attribute directly the effects of specific measures on local economic indicators. None the less, examples of how BIS policies and actions have impacted on Croydon include:
Levels of skills have increased in Croydon since 2005 and remain at around the London and national averages:
Performance at level 2 has increased from 68.7 per cent. to 71.4 per cent.
Performance at level 3 has increased from 49.9 per cent. to 53.7 per cent.
Performance at level 4 has increased from 31.6 per cent. to 35.6 per cent.
The overall stock of registered businesses in Croydon grew from 9,000 in 2005 to 9,435 in 2007 (latest data available).
The number of businesses supported by Business Link in London has increased steadily since 2007-08, when it picked up the contract:
From 4,222 businesses accessing information in 2007-08 to 6,388 in 2009-10
From 196 businesses receiving intensive assistance in 2007-08 to 369 in 2009-10.