SLB will run own awards to find the best businesses

Ian Austen, Croydon Advertiser 4th December 2009

Awards celebrating the success of Croydon's businesses will go ahead next year after a leading organisation stepped in to save them. South London Business (SLB), based in Sydenham Road, Croydon, has announced it will run its own borough-specific awards scheme next year. It says it will fill the void left by the Croydon Economic Development Company's decision to drop its annual Best of Borough (BoBs) awards scheme.

Last week, the council took over the running of the Croydon Economic Development Company (CEDC) after it fell into financial difficulties amounting to £550,000. The company, which was set up to drive forward Croydon’s regeneration, had a range of problems with VAT and income tax payments, and the council had to bail it out.

Ross Feeney, SLB's director of business support, told the Advertiser this week: "It will be disastrous for the borough if there isn't a business awards scheme." Last week Barry Rourke, chairman of the CEDC, said it was not appropriate to spend money on the awards when all Croydon firms were being hit by the recession. And he believed the BoBs were inward-looking when the aim of CEDC was to concentrate on attracting business and inward investment from the UK, Europe and further afield.

Mr Feeney said he did not agree that awards schemes were inward-looking. He explained: "Business awards programmes provide an excellent platform for finding and promoting a borough's business champions.” Just because we are in a recession we should not stop acknowledging and rewarding successful companies." Mr Feeney added: "Croydon is home to some fantastic companies and we should be using these to promote Croydon beyond its borough boundaries. “We believe it would be a great shame if an awards programme did not go ahead, which is why we are pleased to announce we are organising our own to showcase successful companies. “The Croydon awards will be in addition to South London Business awards which were launched by SLB - an organisation specialising in business support - last week. Full details of the Croydon venture will be revealed shortly.

Mark Carruthers, owner of the Warehouse hardware store in New Addington and winner of last year's BoBs category for best local trader, said he thought it was a mistake for the CEDC to abandon the awards but he understood the financial arguments. He added: "I think that the SLB stepping in is a great idea. There is a hole there that needs to be filled. "Any form of advertising and promotion of companies is good and I am extremely pleased with anything that puts Croydon in a good light."

Tony Rowland, of funeral directors Rowland Brothers, said he was disappointed the BoBs scheme had been dropped but accepted the awards evening was very expensive for smaller businesses - last year a table cost £700 for ten people. Nevertheless, he added, winning two BoB's last year for international trade and innovation had been good for the company and he was pleased that SLB was stepping in. Mr Rowland added: "The awards did promote our business because we got a lot of good publicity. “They also inspired us to continue looking forward and make changes, and they gave our staff a great uplift."

For further information visit www.croydonbusinessawards.co.uk