Ever wondered why Fashion Enter and www.fashioncapital.co.uk have such a strong presence in Croydon and Barking? This is because they are regeneration areas and there are funding programmes to  help residents in the area. IN Barking there has been fabulous support with the Face of Barking and Dagenham which in total has combined with over 300 residents of Barking and Dagenham plus integration with the Adult College of Barking and Barking College.

So why is regeneration so important….?

Regeneration is the buzz word around at the moment discussed by politicians & scholars alike, but what does it really mean to the average small business out there on the high street struggling daily to keep their heads above water, while all around them To Let signs are appearing & what once was a bustling high street now a ghost town, what does it really mean to them?

If we all really believed in what the papers say then we may all just give up, however there are signs of growth out there & not always in the sectors you would imagine.

Let me take you on a journey to one such borough in the heart of East London, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham…………….

Barking and Dagenham is a borough with strong roots linked with car production and manufacture Fords plant, but also with high unemployment and one of the largest council estates in Europe, but things are changing…….

 
Barking and Dagenham have been successful in attracting £15.5 million in the first round of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI).  During the next few years this money will be used to support start up enterprises in the most disadvantaged areas of the borough. Residents will be supported to start up their own businesses

Specialist advisers will work in all schools to develop the skills of entrepreneurship with children and young people and the voluntary sector will promote the development of social enterprises.

Managed workspaces will become available at preferential rates to encourage the creation of new businesses, and support will be provided to existing businesses to become more competitive

    

 
Tulip Café and Gallery situated in the heart of Barking Town Centre and linked in with Barking Learning Centre, The Tulip Café Gallery is run by Tulip Social Enterprise Limited (TSEL) a subsidiary of Tulip Mental Health Group. TSEL exists to provide funds, primarily via trading activities, to Tulip, in order that Tulip can further its charitable objectives and invest in its community mental health services.

 
Since Tulip opened they now have obtained a Premises Licence, so that they can offer Alcoholic beverages in their extended hours from Tuesday -Friday 6-8pm.

 
The Tulip Café Gallery provides current and past users of mental health services with opportunities to work alongside other professional staff and gain valuable experience and skills via training and employment and work placements.

 
All of this fits in with the Councils long term regeneration programme of supporting local business and creating jobs which in turn support the community and keeps the residents spending money in the borough.

Currently the Council are getting together with the Chamber of Commerce and other business consultants to set up a Borough wide Retailers Summit, which will bring together the five shopping parades in the borough, which is good news if you are a small independent shop or trader.

So putting this now into perspective its not all about building luxury flats, but supporting the community: by helping a small business stay afloat which in turn safeguards jobs which keeps people in employment and that equals ££££££ and as a famous supermarket put it:

Written By: Paula Arkell – Business Regeneration Consultant