BD 01/08 - January 2008

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Housing Minister Yvette Cooper paid a surprise visit to the East London Small Business Centre (ELSBC) exhibition stand at the Thames Gateway Forum held at the ExCeL on the 29th November.

The government’s Gateway Delivery Plan is a £9 billion investment and one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe spanning from Tower Bridge via Thurrock and through to Bexley. This will be allocated to jobs; education; affordable homes and transport (Cross Rail and the East London Line Extension). The Prime Minister said: “It's a historic endeavour to bring together the efforts of so many people, of vision, determination and initiative, the efforts of communities up and down the Thames, to make this part of the world one of the most vibrant and successful, not just in Europe, but around the globe…”

The Prime Minister projected that the number of jobs generated by Thames Gateway will total 225,000 by 2016. He also outlined the plans that will make Thames Gateway the UK’s first ever “eco-region”. This included the new Green Homes Service.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper acknowledged the organisations across the project who signed a pledge to achieve environmental sustainability, community development, and economic opportunity. “We have already achieved a great deal but we must raise our ambitions and go further and faster”.

The ELSBC strives to increase social wealth and mobility by supporting small businesses in the deprived communities of the east London region.
Tim Heath, (ELSBC Chief Executive) said: “…ELSBC is well positioned to facilitate the progression of business enterprise in the Thames Gateway. ELSBC has a purpose built Micro Business Centre – Waterfront Studios - at Royal Victoria Dock, close to the Docklands Financial Centre and the New Olympic Site.” ELSBC also recently expanded its operation in Barking and Dagenham.