There is still time to submit an application to our green grant scheme, the deadline date for submissions has been extended until 24th July 2026.

Smaller grants of up to £2,000 or large grants of up to £20,000 can be applied for, depending on the type of project and organisation or business.

Full details and a link to the application form can be found by clicking here. 

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23 categories. 20 years. One incredible night on the 8^th October at the GlassBox Theatre, Gillingham.

Calling Hospitality and retail businesses across the district – entry is open now and free via a public vote. So, enter your business and spread the word.

Click here for full details and to enter

Overview of the Taste of Kent Awards

The Taste of Kent Awards celebrate the very best of Kent’s food and drink industry. Established in 2006 and organised by Produced in Kent – the county’s leading membership organisation for independent food and drink businesses – 2026 marks a landmark 20th year of recognising excellence across the sector. Open to all food and drink businesses based in Kent, the awards champion quality, innovation, and sustainability across the full spectrum of the industry – from growers, producers and manufacturers to retailers, wholesalers and hospitality venues. The awards now run biennially, making each edition a genuine milestone moment for Kent’s food and drink community.

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Click here for further information which can be found on our Folkestone & Hythe District Council corporate website.

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We still have some funding left to allocate from the central government funded Rural England Prosperity Fund. Businesses can have up to 75% of a project funded & organisations up to 90%, up to to maximum of £20,000. (£10,000 is the normal maximum, a higher sum may be considered is some circumstances).

To ensure we maximise the impact of our remaining budget, we are issuing a special call for “quick win” projects – initiatives that require minimal lead time and can be installed rapidly, yet deliver a significant boost to your operations.

Our mission is to back projects that deliver – whether this be capital upgrades for new income streams, equipment for diversification that will strengthen your future or improvements that surge footfall and make your business a destination. Whatever your vision for growth, we are here to provide the funding to make it happen!

We are looking for projects that can be delivered at pace and fully completed by the end of July 2026. This is a final call to grab this funding milestone – click here for the full guidelines to check if you meet the eligibility criteria and complete an expression of interest form. Once your EOI form has been received, we will check to see if you fully meet the criteria and if so we will invite a full application from you.

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Are you ready to strengthen your business, grow your skills and reach more customers?

Whether you are part of one of our town centre and hospitality community or a rural or home-based enterprise, these two free programmes are designed to help you connect, adapt and thrive….

High Streets Connect:

The programme will offer independent town centre retail and hospitality businesses a unique opportunity to build resilience and grow.

Join free mentoring and interactive workshops that will deliver specific support:

• Harness AI and digital tools to save time and work smarter
• Improve your visual merchandising and in store experience
• Build your online presence to reach locals and visitors alike
• Access to one-to-one mentoring for businesses.

Ideal for high street retailers, cafes, hospitality venues and visitor facing independents.

To register your interest email: economy@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk

Grow Rural:

The programme will empower rural enterprises, creative makers and diversification projects across Romney Marsh, the North Downs and our rural communities.

Learn practical ways to:

• Turn a great idea or side hustle into a viable business
• Build your digital visibility and reach wider audiences
• Access mentoring support to take your next step with confidence

Ideal for farm enterprises, rural producers, accommodation providers, home based makers and start ups.

To register your interest email: economy@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk

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See poster below for details on attending. The event is being attended by Folkestone & Hythe MP Tony Vaughan.

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• Introducing fresh talent and ideas to your business by recruiting new staff & upskilling current staff
• Align training to your business requirements
• Boost staff loyalty, motivation & help with staff retention

Apprenticeships can last between 8 months and 5 years and starts when the apprentice signs their apprenticeship agreement.

Click here for further details and for access to some useful website links

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Overview

The creative industries in the South East are a success story evidenced by exponential sector growth.  For three years Create South East has worked with over 150 creative businesses across Sussex, Kent and Essex helping them to achieve their ambitions.

https://createsoutheast.org.uk/programme-alumni/. As the programme draws to a close in March 2026, we are developing programme legacy and want to increase brand awareness by creating a compelling narrative and content that serves as a call to action for the future.

The partners to Create South East are seeking proposals from experienced communications and marketing professionals or agencies to design and deliver a campaign that amplifies Create South East’s contribution to the region’s creative economy, showcase the success of participating founders, and support the programme’s role in shaping the South East’s wider innovation and investment landscape.

If you are based in the South East* region or have a good working knowledge of the region and are interested, please click on the link below to read the briefing details. Deadline for responses 28^th November.

Create South East Publicity Campaign Brief

*Sussex including West Sussex, Brighton&Hove, Kent, Essex

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As a result of central government funding, Folkestone & Hythe District Council has £171,402 available to provide capital grant funding for both businesses and community projects in rural areas. The scheme will run until early 2026, or until funds are exhausted, whichever is sooner.

Grants ranging from £2,000 to £10,000 are available (and up to £20,000 may be considered in exceptional circumstances), covering up to 75% of the total project costs for businesses and 90% for organisations.

The main aims will be to provide capital funding to:

• Support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams outside of agriculture.
• Support new and improved community infrastructure, providing essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy.

If you have a potential project you feel may be eligible for funding, please complete and submit an expression of interest form without delay. We are required to have all approved projects complete and grants paid out by 31st March 2026, so there is only a short time window remaining by which to go through the whole process:

Click here for full details of the scheme and to complete an expression of interest form.

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