Folkestone and Hythe District Council offers free business briefings in partnership with Pro-actions.
Businesses in Folkestone and Hythe can benefit from free half-day seminars delivered by experienced business coaches on topics including
- Marketing
- Business Planning
- Raising Finance
- Growing Your Business
- Increasing Profitability
Kickstart Scheme
Kickstart provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24-year olds who are currently on Universal Credit.
Employers of all sizes can apply for this funding to create new jobs for young people, rather than to replace existing roles within their organisation.
Kickstart covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage for employers, depending on the age of the participant, for 25 hours per week for a total of six months.
The Kickstart scheme will also cover associated employer national insurance payments and any relevant workplace pension contributions.
Employers can spread the job start dates up until 31 December 2021, and they’ll get funding until 30 June 2022 if a young person starts their job on 31 December 2021.
Employers can also offer additional hours to Kickstart employees at their own cost and are also free to top-up the salary payments should they wish to do so.
Also, unlike previous schemes you no longer need a minimum of thirty job placements to apply for Kickstart funding.
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce are the largest Gateway Organisation in the Southeast with more than 1500 placement applications from 600+ businesses.
They partner with the Kent Colleges of Further Education to provide the optional wrap around support required under the scheme.
Eligibility: Any business / entrepreneur
Contact: kickstart.campaign.gov.uk and locally kickstartkent.co.uk
Federation of Small Businesses
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) supports UK small businesses. For a small annual fee they will offer services to help protect your business, save you money and offer advice to grow your business.
Cost: Membership fee
Eligibility: Any business/ entrepreneur
Contact: fsb.org.uk
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
The Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation that provides a full range of business support services, ranging from networking, international trade, business support to representation
Cost: Membership fee
Eligibility: Any business/ entrepreneur
Contact: kentinvictachamber.co.uk
Locate In Kent
Locate in Kent offers confidential and free business investment and relocation services to international, UK and Kent-based companies looking to expand in the area.
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Any business/ entrepreneur/ investor
Contact: locateinkent.com
Better Business for All
BBfA is a partnership designed to improve the way regulation is delivered to ease the burden on the local business community. The aim is to create a safe and fair trading environment that supports business growth, encourages fair competition and protects customers by working together to remove real and perceived barriers to growth.
Eligibility: All businesses but especially SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). All regulators working with the local business community.
Website: bbfa.biz/info-for-businesses
New Romney Business Incubator Centre
The New Romney Business Incubator Centre is a hub for helping business start-ups on the Romney Marsh, providing free/low cost office space, guidance and support to the small businesses in the area.
Cost: Free advice/cost competitive accommodation
Eligibility: Any business/ entrepreneur
Contact: romney-resource.co.uk
Pro-Actions Group
The Pro-actions Group is a business improvement specialist company that works in partnership with Folkestone and Hythe District Council to help local businesses address challenging issues to improve sales and achieve growth.
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Any business/ entrepreneur
Contact: pro-actions.com
Upcoming Event:
| Date | Time | Title | Location |
To book your place call 07766 442232
or visit the Events page of the Pro-actions website pro-actions.com/events
Folkestone and Hythe Business Advisory Board
The Folkestone and Hythe Business Advisory Board is a forum for business in our area chaired by local businessman Geoff Miles that meets bimonthly. It offers networking opportunities with other local businesses and an opportunity to understand and influence local and national policies affecting business.
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Any business/ entrepreneur
Contact: Katharine.harvey@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk
See the video showing the Folkestone and Hythe Business Advisory Board in action
Visit Kent Tourism Business Advisory Service
The Visit Kent Tourism Business Advisory Service helps tourism, leisure and hospitality businesses succeed if you are looking to start up, develop, diversify or grow.
Cost: Free to local businesses
Eligibility: Any tourism business/ entrepreneur
Contact: visitkentbusiness.co.uk/tourism-business-support-and-advice
British Business Bank
British Business Bank is the government owned economic development bank. It is a centre of expertise on smaller business finance offering a range of finance programmes.
British Business Bank make finance markets work better so smaller businesses across the UK can survive, prosper and grow.
Eligibility: UK small businesses
Contact: British Business Bank – Finance Hub
GOV.uk Website
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Cost
A SME would be expected to contribute a 1/3 of the project costs
Eligibility
Any business / entrepreneur
Contact
MentorsMe
UK Trade and Investment
Kent and Medway Growth Hub
Find out more about South East Business support from Kent and Medway Growth Hub.
Kent Fire & Rescue Service
Reduce your business risk with FREE impartial business advice from your local fire safety office and the opportunity to book FREE fire and safety seminars, plus access to Government guides to fire safety.
Cost: Free to local businesses
Eligibility: Any owner / manager / person responsible for commercial premises
Contact: kent.fire-uk.org/your-safety/business-safety/reducing-business-risk/
The Kent Foundation
The Kent Foundation is a charity dedicated to providing free business support and advice to Kent’s young people who wish to start or grow a business. Their Business Mentors hold a wide range of skills and knowledge just waiting to be used as a tool to help your business and offering you advice and support, recognition of your business aims, undivided attention to help you and someone to talk to.
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Young people who wish to start or grow a business
Contact: kentfoundation.org/business-support-kent/business-mentoring-in-kent/
Innovate2Succeed
Innovate2Succeed is a new programme designed to drive business growth by harnessing innovation.
Fully funded by the European Commission and Innovate UK – and delivered through Enterprise Europe Network – Innovate2Succeed is for ambitious companies who want to unlock their innovation management potential.
Cost: Fully funded
Eligibility: Ambitious companies who want to unlock their innovation management potential
Contact: mailto:contact@enterprise-europe.co.uk / http://www.innovateuk.gov.uk / www.enterprise-europe.co.uk
Bokken Business Coaching
Change your mindset … Focus your actions … Grow your business!
Eligibility: Any business.
Website: www.bokkenbusinesscoaching.co.uk
