Easy access and parking, high-quality office space and room for growth are just some of the reasons why the new tenants of Romney Marsh Business Hub are loving it!
The £2 million centre, in Mountfield Road, is now home to two very different businesses: Coast Promotions and chartered accounts Stephen Hill Mid Kent (SHMK).
A local company, Coast Promotions has been selling promotional merchandise, corporate giveaways and branded clothing across the UK since 2006. It employs six members of staff at the hub.
Director Jayne Jones said: "Having our office at the Romney Marsh Business Hub is a key strategy for our future business success. We feel it is important that our staff benefit from an enjoyable office environment with first-class infrastructure.
"The hub further supports our business to grow and develop by providing a professional and welcoming environment for client and supplier meetings."
SHMK has moved from New Romney to the hub (it also has branches at Dymchurch and Maidstone). Director Tim Lister said: "It is important to us as a significant number of our clients are based in this area, so staying local ensures that we can service these clients in the way they have been used to and expect.
"With easy access for all, the hub is inclusive - and it has excellent parking, which is good for clients and staff. Currently, we have four members of staff at the hub and will use our new location to grow the business and employ more people."
HRH The Duke of Gloucester officially opened the hub on 26 May. Folkestone & Hythe District Council and East Kent Spatial Development Company (EKSDC) co-funded it, contributing to the development by each funding £735,000. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) socio-economic programme met £500,000 of the cost and provided a further £205,238 for an adviser to be based at the centre for the next four years to support local businesses.
F&HDC Cabinet Member for Economic Development Cllr David Wimble said: "It is good to see the first two tenants move in and make the most of the fantastic workspace. I am sure many more will follow.
"This is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to develop and improve the Marsh economy for this - and future - generations."
F&HDC Leader Cllr David Monk said: "We wish a very warm welcome to Coast Promotions and Stephen Hill Mid Kent and hope they have many successful years at the hub.
"These two businesses are already thinking about future growth and economic development for the Marsh was one of our key aims when we entered into this venture with our partners at EKSDC and NDA."
Using funds from the Marsh Million project, F&HDC is offering grants of up to £10,000 (or more in exceptional circumstances) to businesses that lease space in the hub. For more details, go to folkestone.works/romney-marsh-business-hub-grant-scheme/
Businesses interested in the space offered at the New Romney Business Hub are asked to email debbie.spalding@eksdc.co.uk for more information
The photo shows the teams from Stephen Hill Mid Kent and Coast Promotions outside the hub.
The Marsh Million scheme was established in 2013 as a £1 million economic growth fund for Romney Marsh and was co-funded by the NDA/Magnox, Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council and F&HDC.
Coast Promotions: https://www.go-coast.co.uk/
Stephen Hill Mid Kent: https://www.stephenhillmidkent.co.uk/
Date published: 23 June 2022