Croydon business hopes Cannes trade fair makes a difference (From Croydon Guardian)

Businesses hope Cannes trade fair makes a difference

8:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012

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Big name companies are uniting to demonstrate how Croydon is “connected, capable and confident” to potential investors.

A delegation of private sector businesses, working under Develop Croydon, is heading to the annual MIPIM trade fair in Cannes, France, this March.

It is the second time Develop Croydon will have represented the borough’s interests at the international event, which offers the opportunity to talk to the most influential real estate professionals between March 6 and 9.

The Develop Croydon delegation includes CCURV, Guildhouse Rosepride LLP, Hammerson, Menta, RJ Witt Associate, Schroder Investment Management Ltd, Sinclair Clark, Stanhope plc and WT Partnership.

Charles Walford, director of Stanhope, said: “Our business plan for investing in Croydon is simple. The public transport is excellent, it is part of greater London, it is an existing place with an aging office stock and a large number of occupiers, it has a proactive and pragmatic local authority, it has huge retail potential and incumbent investors and developers that will make it happen.”

Croydon Council is also sending two officers to the event in the south of France at a cost of £10,400.

Recent years has seen the council scale back its own costs for the event, following criticism of large bills to the taxpayer.

The cost includes £5,000 for a PR company to promote Croydon, three nights’ accommodation at £200 per person per night and £900 on flights.

Although the authority cannot point to any tangible benefits of the conference for the borough, it insists it is necessary to attend.

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