A HOST of businesses have put pen to paper to pledge their future to Croydon.
Allianz Global Assistance, Croydon Business Improvement District, Mott MacDonald, Westfield and the Whitgift Foundation are among the clutch of organisations to sign up to the In Croydon 4 Croydon initiative.
The brainchild of business support group Croydon Commitment, the pledge aims to make sure businesses commit to investing in the borough, both economically and socially.
The first wave of firms signed the four-point pledge at a launch event held at Fairfield Halls last Tuesday.
The pledge commits businesses to: engage with the community; where possible, recruit and buy locally; get involved with youth training; and to promote Croydon.
Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell urged organisations to put an emphasis on the last of the four pledges, encouraging them to promote the borough.
He said: "We shouldn't be frightened to acknowledge that the town has a major image problem. The outside perception is very different to the reality, but we have a huge range of things going for us.
"The crucial work we have is to tell people about the great things in Croydon, the great opportunities for those wishing to invest and to ensure that the great news relating to Westfield and Hammerson is the first of many announcements of investment in the town, creating jobs and opportunities."
Council leader Mike Fisher echoed Mr Barwell's view, saying: "Our joint goal must be to continue working together to improve Croydon for people living and working in the borough as well as building capacity in the local voluntary and community sector."
Matthew Sims, chief executive of Croydon Business Improvement District, called upon more organisations to back the pledge at last week's launch.
He told the audience: "In Croydon 4 Croydon needs you and your business to commit, offering your time, your energy and your resources to a cause that will help to improve our borough.
"You can make a significant impact on the development, growth and perception of Croydon and make a huge difference in supporting the changing face of Croydon."
Croydon Commitment, founded in 2004, is a corporate-led social responsibility charity that promotes the work of local charities and voluntary groups.
