London City Growth Programme

The City Growth (CG) is a business-led programme aimed at bringing about economic regeneration of deprived inner city areas.

The programme focuses on supporting high growth business start-ups, business growth and retention, attracting new companies and investment and developing business clusters.

There are seven City Growth areas and programmes operating in  London.

Phase 1:

• City Fringe (covering parts of Tower Hamlets, Islington, Camden and Hackney)
• Heathrow City (covering part Southall, Hounslow, Hillingdon and Hayes)
• London South Central (covering parts of Lambeth, wandworth and Southwark, Haringey)

Phase 2:

• Western Arc - Park Royal / Wembley / White City
• Thames Gateway - London South (covering Deptford, Lewsiham and parts of Greenwich)
• South London (covering parts of Croydon, Lambeth and Bromley).

City Growth recognises the importance of businesses because  of their role in creating Jobs and wealth and income. The development and delivery of the individual area City Growth programmes are delivered by the local/sub regional delivery organisations.

Each City Growth area has a business led strategy, delivering plan and a suite of projects aimed at creating new jobs, supporting high growth business start-ups, business growth and retention, attracting new companies and investment and developing business clusters.

City Growth  has encouraged and leveraged business/private sector engagement in economic development strategies and activities – including high profile 'Business Champions' from BAA, BT, KPMG, Shell, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Amec Spie, Baker Tilly, McVities) as well as many dynamic local small and mediums size businesses.

The London Development Agency (LDA) is repsonsible for the overall development, management and co-ordination of the London City Growth programme.

Background

City Growth is a national  Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly Department of Trade and Industry) and Treasury sponsored programme. City Growth originates from the US.

It was developed by Prof Michael Porter of Harvard Business School. The London Development Agency (LDA) work with Porter's organisation to develop the City Growth for London.

The LDA won an international award for its City Growth work in 2004.

For more details please contact Eric Osei, email ericosei@lda.gov.uk.