Strong concerns have been raised by businesses in the centre of Folkestone about declining sales in the two months since the new parking restrictions came into place. I share these concerns and any reports that suggest local businesses are struggling have to be treated as very serious. Some businesses in the Bouverie Place shopping centre [...]

I have invited a team from facebook to come to Folkestone to give a presentation on how local businesses and organisations can use this social media tool to reach their customers and supporters. This event is being hosted by the Folkestone Creative Foundation at the former Triennial visitors centre on the corner of the Old [...]

I have once again been involved in organising a start-up business competition to be held at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. The Conservative Party has agreed to give space for 12 new start-up businesses from across the UK to present themselves at its annual conference in Birmingham this October, as part of a special [...]

Google have accepted my invitation to bring their team of advisors to Folkestone in April to help local businesses get more out of the internet, and even to help set them up a website if they don’t yet have one. The team from Google will be based in Folkestone in the building at the corner [...]

Folkestone has applied to become one of the government’s ‘Portas Pilot Towns’. The selected towns have to come up with a strategy to improve their town centres and in return will receive up to £100,000 from the Government, and the support of Mary Portas as they implement their plans. As part of the bidding process, [...]

The debate over Shepway council’s parking strategy has prompted a broader discussion about the future of our town centre economies. One of the greatest areas of concern has been the potential impact charging people to park on the town centre roads could have on local businesses. However, we know that there are long term issues [...]

On Monday the Government announced a £40million boost for jobs in East Kent. The award from the Regional Growth Fund will benefit the four East Kent districts, including our own Shepway, and is designed to support businesses, encourage investment and create jobs. I am delighted that the lobbying for this from the local councils and [...]

This week started at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester where I was able to introduce the competition we have organised to promote start up businesses from across the country. From talking to the businesses involved with the ‘Start-up Hub’ there is a strong importance attached to Government helping to ensure good quality business infrastructure, [...]

There has been a real buzz about the area this summer and particularly in Folkestone since the launch of the Triennial arts festival just over a month ago. Businesses are reporting more customers and sales up over 10% based on the same period last year. The Creative Foundation has calculated that over 30,000 visitors came [...]

Last Monday saw the launch of ‘Start Up Britain’ a new campaign launched by some of Britain’s leading entrepreneurs and with the support of the Government, to give free advice to everyone who is interested in launching or growing their own business. You can find out more about this online at www.startupbritain.org and the website [...]