The Chamber Team

Message from the Wandsworth Economic Development Office

The Economic Development Office (EDO) is the champion and voice for businesses within Wandsworth Council. Our main aim is to help build a prosperous and vibrant community within the borough.

Our Town Centre Improvement Scheme continues to aid the improvement of our 5 town centres, together with Battersea, through offering financial assistance to businesses.

The EDO’s 5 Town Centre Managers continue to support our business-led town centre partnership boards to implement the commitments contained in their town centre business plans.

The EDO will invest£4.5 million into the local economy in 2007/08 in order to generate much more private investment and attract finance from other agencies to strengthen the local economy. To this end we continue to work with London Development Agency, Business Link for London, oneLondon, Job Centre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council to help small businesses start and grow in the Borough.

The EDO’s key priorities include:

- Maximising local take up of funding under the London Development Agency's London South Central enterprise strand;
- Ensuring access to local business support through the Wandsworth Business Support Network;
- Supporting proposals for more employment and incubation space in the Borough, especially in Roehampton and Battersea;
- Implementing the LDA Cluster ACtion Team programme, the STRIVE programme and Business Improvement Scheme;
- Developing the Small Business Concordat to ensure contracting with local councils is more user-friendly for SMEs;
- Agreeing a Wandsworth Enterprise Bond and,if invited, submitting a nid under the LEGI initiative in December 2007;
- Working with REO to revise the business plan for the Power Station Opportunity Board;
- Working with New Covent Garden Market Authority, Stewarts Road and Garratt Business Park to assist with developments;
- Regenerating Roehampton;
- Involving businesses more with the Wandsworth Community Strategy, and 'Greening Business';
- And establishing an Employment and Skills partnership with such agencies as JCP, LSC and colleges to tackle worklessness in priority areas.

Our commitment to assisting businesses to locate and prosper in the Borough continues.

To read the full Annual Report and priorities for the next 3 years, please visit our website.

If you have any questions, or for further involvement please contact Mike Brook (pictured) the Economic Development Officer on 020 8871 6884.