Support for Thanet’s businesses 

Thanet District Council has been awarded £78,750 funding from Kent County Council to provide a Business Support programme for local businesses. The council’s Business Engagement Officer is working alongside a local business advisor and sector specialists from Social Enterprise Kent to provide a package of practical and targeted business support until October 2023. 

Activities are focused on small, medium and independent businesses with the aim of helping them to address ongoing challenges, including post-pandemic recovery and cost of living pressures. The Thanet Business Support team works with companies to answer questions or offer signposting and guidance on relevant initiatives and grants.

Following an initial conversation, business owners will be invited to attend networking and partnering sessions, training, and where appropriate, individual one to one sessions. Consultants will be on hand with expertise in specific areas of business including finance, strategy, staffing, social media, marketing, scale up, products, supply chain and much more. We anticipate that a full schedule of training and events will commence in January 2023.

Cllr Reece Pugh, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development said: “This funding is a real opportunity for us to provide meaningful help for local businesses, across a wide range of disciplines. I would urge business owners to make the most of the support on offer, and to get in touch to tell us what would help them most, so that the support can really be tailored to their needs.”

If you are a business owner and would like to find out about training and other opportunities available to you through the Business Support programme, sign up to our dedicated email list by emailing highstreets@thanet.gov.uk. Alternatively you can contact the SEK Business Advisor for an initial conversation on 01843 210005 or by emailing thanetbusiness@sekgroup.org.uk  

In addition, local businesses can access 12 months of free, practical support to promote their businesses through social media, via the Maybe Tech platform. Further information will be available soon. 

More than 500 businesses have already signed up to our mailing list to be kept up to date with ‘Shop Local’ initiatives and high street campaigns including Totally Locally, Fiver Fests, and Christmas activities. You can find out more about upcoming events, training, campaigns, the latest news from government regarding available support, and to hear about opportunities to take part in discussions on matters that affect local businesses. Sign up by emailing highstreets@thanet.gov.uk