Successes prove East Kent is just the business

East Kent attracted even more business in the first half of 2007-8 than in first two quarters of last year according to figures from investment promotion agency Locate in Kent. With 16 companies investing in the East Kent, compared to 11 for the same period in 2006-7, the jobs figures for the area are also very positive, with 693 jobs created and 79 jobs retained.

13 of the successes were UK-based (81%), but investment has also come from German, Dutch and US-owned companies. Some 11 sectors were represented among the successes, the most common being life sciences, engineering, manufacturing and public services.

Just one of the many companies Locate in Kent has assisted since April is US company, Solace Pharmaceuticals, a privately-owned organisation which researches and develops innovative pain relief treatments. The company expects to create seven further jobs in the county within three years.

Brightwater Environmental, a new start-up business specialising in water and energy saving solutions, also worked with the agency to find an ideal site where it would be able to expand and develop. Brightwater Environmental supplies environmentally friendly products used by the building services industry. It is expected to create ten jobs in three years with a forecast turnover of £200,000 and will contribute to the growing local economy.

Thanet secures 550 jobs with UK’s biggest ever glasshouse development

Britain’s foremost fresh produce supplier Fresca Group Ltd has announced plans to develop the UK’s most hi-tech greenhouse complex on the Isle of Thanet. More than 550 jobs will be created when the Kent-based company teams up with specialist large-scale growers of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in a venture that is sure to capture both local and national interest.

A massive £80m will be invested at the 91-hectare site located along the Seamark Road on the farm owned by Robert Montgomery Ltd. The site, now officially named Thanet Earth, will include seven glasshouses, each covering the area of around 10 football pitches and will use the very latest in efficient hydroponic growing techniques.

An automated packing facility will be built at the site as the huge scale of the project allows the venture to exploit recent technological innovations to increase its efficiency. With the addition of the Research and Visitor complex, Fresca expects the site to become the UK’s leading centre for developing new varieties. As part of the educational programme, schools and the local community will be invited to witness the process that gets the crop to their plates.

The greenhouses will be computer-controlled and will produce crops 52 weeks a year. They will be equipped with the latest growing kit including the CHP (Combined Heat and Power) installations that will provide enough electricity to supply over 50,000 homes; more than half Thanet’s needs. CHP will generate power for the National Grid and will produce the by-products needed to grow the crops. Thanet Earth will use the hot water to replace conventional boiler heating normally needed to warm the greenhouses and the carbon dioxide will be absorbed by the plants as part of the natural growing process.

New grant money available for East Kent businesses

New criteria announced recently by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for a business grant scheme to be delivered by SEEDA in the South East region, could benefit many businesses in East Kent looking for financial assistance to help fund expansion plans.

Key changes to the Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFIE) grant scheme has increased the potential grants award from £100,000 to £2.5m for businesses in East Kent.

All grants are awarded on a discretionary basis to new and growing businesses investing in capital equipment for the expansion and modernisation of facilities to increase productivity and safeguard or create skilled jobs. The level of grant awarded depends on company size, location, eligible project expenditure, number of skilled jobs created or safeguarded and project quality in relation to the Regional Economic Strategy and the grant scheme criteria.

Investment promotion agency, Locate in Kent, is undertaking a continuing marketing campaign to promote the scheme, which began with presentations at its offices in October and November for London and Kent property agents and for companies involved in every aspect of business relocation or expansion.

Future is one step closer for Thanet College

Thanet College has been given outline planning consent by Thanet District Council’s Planning Committee to build a new £43m campus on land adjacent to Canterbury Christ Church University’s campus at Westwood.

Principal of Thanet College Sue Buss was given three minutes to explain the plan to the committee and talked about the importance of the move to the college and to East Kent.

She outlined the college’s vision to create a new campus in the heart of Thanet and to inspire and empower local communities and employers through outstanding education and training.

The college is fast out-growing its Broadstairs site off Ramsgate Road. Sue explained it has a Grade II listed building with limited flexibility, a one in 20 gradient which makes accessibility very difficult, out-of-date facilities, is expensive to maintain and has limited capacity to expand.

The college also rents off-campus premises which are costly and inefficient for training. The proposed new campus will offer top-class facilities including industrial catering kitchens, hair and beauty salons, construction workshops and a sports area, which will complement the county’s facilities for the 2012 Olympics.

The new campus will also allow for a significant growth in student numbers and will mean the college will be able to work with Canterbury Christ Church University to offer a combined further and higher education facility. The college hopes to be able to take in 19% more learners, which equates to 260 more young people from the Thanet area being in education. Some 140 students are expected to come from a group not currently in education, employment or training. It also intends to expand the range of qualifications and apprenticeships it offers.

Lakesview Office Village Opens for Business

Lakesview Office Village, on Lakesview International Business Park, Westbere, operated by Canterbury City Council’s Local Economy Team will be ready for occupation by tenants in November. The project has been funded with £100,000 from Canterbury City Council and £250,000 from South East England Development Agency (delivered via the East Kent Partnership) and built in partnership with local developer George Wilson Developments.

The units are aimed at start up businesses currently working from home, or professionals and graduates wishing to start their first business. The new purpose-built development provides an exciting opportunity to encourage small and start up office based businesses in the district and surrounding areas to grow and develop in a thriving local economy.

The 14 new serviced suites, at between 18.5m² and 22.5m² (180-225 ft²), plugging a gap in the market that the private sector is not currently meeting in Canterbury, will be available to rent from the Local Economy Team.

The offices will be let with initial subsidised rents, a wireless broadband width of up to 8MB, small business rate relief, (subject to final Valuation Office confirmation), free on-site business support and advice from Business Link Kent, a meeting room available to hire, dedicated on site parking and shared photocopying service, kitchen and toilets.