Businesses in Croydon can now get more advice on how to make their companies grow and succeed.

Through the Croydon Enterprise programme, local businesses can access free business development workshops.

Croydon Enterprise is the name given to the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) project after the borough secured more than £20million from the Government project which aims to transform businesses in deprived areas.

It is a partnership between the council, local organisations and businesses, including Croydon Business who led the bid.

Customer service representative Annie McLean said: "We have had great feedback so far, which has been really helpful in taking steps forward. There has been great turnout at the workshops we have done so far as everyone is interested in making their businesses grow and that it is what we are all about."

Each workshop has a different theme to help inexperienced business people, or just those who want to learn more specialist skills, to gain crucial abilities such as employment law and business growth.

The scheme has now set up a customer services department to monitor feedback from a series of workshops.

Annie added: "The customer services department has been created to ensure people who come into contact with Croydon Enterprise Business support have a mechanism to feedback about the service they are getting from the workshops and events to one to one consultation."

Jasbinder Sandhu-Howard, of Bindi Handcrafted Designs, Thornton Heath, attended a workshop last month.

She said: "I was delighted with it, it was very, very interesting, most particularly in dealing with preconceived perceptions.

"It has given me far greater all-round knowledge for my business and will help me with my financial guidelines. I work for myself and it is so beneficial for me to attend workshops like this."

To access the free workshops, you need to be located in Croydon. For more information call Croydon Enterprise on 020 8680 6161.