business
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Bromley: The London Connection
Bromley is London’s largest borough, located in a strategic
position in the south east of the capital. It has a mix of rural
areas, leafy suburbs and urban centres such as Bromley,
Beckenham and Orpington.
Business owners and managers
appreciate the borough’s excellent
transport links, its readily available
pool of skilled staff and the high
quality of life, meaning the borough
enjoys all the benefits of being part
of Kent and only 17 minutes away
from central London by train.
A recent survey by South London
Business revealed strong confidence
in the Bromley economy. More than
half of companies questioned expect
to create more jobs in the next year;
the majority expect to remain in the
Bromley area, with 10% planning
to acquire additional premises.
In recent years the number of
businesses located in the borough
has grown steadily to more than
12,000. The borough has the highest
density of businesses per head of
population amongst the south east
London boroughs. Many of these
businesses are small, with the
average business size being less
than nine employees. Most
businesses operate in the real
estate, renting and business
services, retail and construction
sectors and are clustered in the
three main town centres of Bromley,
Orpington and Beckenham.
However, there a number of
industrial and business parks
around the borough, particularly
where there are good transport
links – for example the Cray Valley
which benefits from good
connections to the M20 and M25.
Providing a supportive environment
for new, relocating and established
businesses is a high priority
for Bromley Council. Ongoing
initiatives to support the local
economy include:
• Business information –
improving the availability of
information about the borough
and services for business, for
example through the Bromley
Business Directory and the
business pages online
(www.bromley.gov.uk/business).
• Business support – working
with partners to support
businesses, including advice,
skills development and
networking opportunities.
• Commercial property services –
information about Council and
privately owned premises for sale
or to let.
• Engaging with local businesses –
identifying and responding to
business needs and barriers
to economic development.
• Improving services – working
across all Council departments
to improve responsiveness to
business customers.
• Town centres – contributing to
the vibrancy of town centres
through town centre management
and the development of
improvement plans for the three
main centres.
Trams at Beckenham Junction
business
development
43
London and Bromley
Bromley is a sought-after area to
live and work in, due in no small
part to its proximity to the capital.
There are two railway stations
providing connections to the City
and West End. Bromley South is
located on the main line from
Dover and is served by fast and
frequent services to Victoria and
Blackfriars. Bromley North is
located at the southern end of a
short branch line from Grove Park
from where connections can be
made for London Bridge, Cannon
Street and London Charing Cross.
While most other areas in Kent
are still waiting for new highspeed
rail links to come into effect,
Bromley is already an ideal location
for commuters and those who
want to take advantage of business
opportunites in London as well
as in the local area.
Another boon for businesses
seeking international connections
is that Gatwick airport is very
close by and the borough also
has its own airport at Biggin Hill.
Biggin Hill Airport handles many
chartered flights to both domestic
and European destinations. The
airport is dedicated to business
aviation operators, their executive
clients and aircrew, but also
provides a good location for a
cluster of aviation and technologyrelated
businesses.
The benefits of being both a London
Borough and a part of Kent are
clear. Businesses are just a short
distance away from the capital; one
of the largest centres for finance,
business and commerce in the
world. But residents and businesses
are also well-placed to enjoy the
high-speed Eurostar link to the
Channel Tunnel and close
proximity to local and regional
The borough has
the highest density
of businesses
per head of
population amongst
the south east
London boroughs
airports. Quality of living is high;
the countyside, coast and town
centres of Kent are all a short
drive away and the culture, history
and entertainment of London is
easily accessible.
Bromley key facts
• Around 300,000 people live in
the borough of Bromley with
average household income
topping £40,000.
• Residents have the highest level
of employment outside the City
of London, with over 81% of the
working age population in work.
• Bromley has a strong reputation
for education, with many high
performing schools, three of
which were recently included
amongst the top 100 UK schools
for GCSE results.
• Bromley’s colleges offer a
full range of learning, from
higher degrees to vocational
qualifications and Skills for Life,
and work closely with employers
to design and deliver bespoke
learning for their employees.
• There are good connections to
the M25 and M20, providing access
to the greater South East and
Channel ports.
• The west of the borough will
benefit from the planned
extensions of the East London
Line and Tramlink.
• Key employment sectors are
retail, financial and business
services, although most sectors
are represented in the borough.
Contact:
Tel: 020 8461 7897
www.bromley.gov.uk
Beckenham’s café society
Bromley’s central business district