Croydon’s small businesses are the backbone of the borough’s economy, and Mayor Jason Perry has reaffirmed his commitment to creating a safer, cleaner and more supportive environment for local traders.
Speaking ahead of Small Business Saturday (6th December 2025), the Mayor outlined the significant steps taken over the last year to help independent retailers, cafés, pubs, start-ups and family-run firms not only stay open, but thrive.
Creating safer high streets
Mayor Perry has been working closely with the Police to reduce crime in the borough’s town and district centres. This includes:
- More targeted patrols and stronger enforcement against theft, violence and antisocial behaviour
- Technology that helps identify prolific offenders
- Police-led live facial recognition deployments in high-impact locations
- A call for Croydon to become the first London borough to pilot GPS ankle tagging for prolific shoplifters, ensuring repeat offenders finally face real consequences
These measures are already helping drive more arrests and giving businesses greater confidence to trade.
Improving access and boosting footfall
To help customers reach local shops more easily, the Mayor has:
- Protected one-hour free parking
- Begun work to standardise parking prices across the borough
- Supported initiatives that encourage people to spend locally rather than travelling elsewhere
Investing in cleaner, more welcoming high streets
Under Mayor Perry’s administration, Croydon has delivered a series of district-centre blitz cleans in Addiscombe, Norbury, Coulsdon, Purley, New Addington, South Norwood, Thornton Heath, Selsdon and Crystal Palace. These include repainting road markings, removing graffiti and fly-posters, repairing broken paving and upgrading the public realm.
He has also launched the borough’s first consolidated list of available commercial units on a single website, giving prospective occupiers a clear, simple route to find space and move in quickly.
Driving regeneration and bringing empty units back to life
A new business-rates relief trial for empty units is underway, designed to bring vacant premises back into use more quickly and encourage new investment on the high street.
Croydon is also investing its full £1.5 million UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation into business support, better wayfinding, cultural activity, street furniture upgrades and improvements that lift the look and feel of local centres.
Standing up for small businesses nationally
Mayor Perry has been clear that the current business-rates system holds back high-street firms. He continues to campaign for Government-led reform to support growth, ease the pressure on small traders and unlock more investment across Croydon.
A message ahead of Small Business Saturday
With Small Business Saturday falling on 6 December, Mayor Perry will be out across the borough encouraging residents to shop local, celebrate Croydon’s diverse independents and back the businesses that help define each of our communities.
The Mayor said:
“I know how tough it is to run a small business. I have done it for most of my working life. My administration is firmly on your side, and we are taking practical action to make Croydon a place where small businesses can open, grow and succeed.”
A rallying call to the borough
Croydon is home to hundreds of independent traders who create jobs, train local people, bring life to our high streets and strengthen our local economy.
Mayor Perry is calling on residents to:
- Shop local
- Try a new independent café, shop or maker
- Share your favourite local businesses on social media
- Choose Croydon first
Because when small businesses succeed, Croydon succeeds.
