Seven Hills‘ ambitious new marketing campaign to drive investment into East Kent was unveiled this week by County Council Leader Paul Carter, receiving positive feedback from an audience of over 100 business leaders and stakeholders.
“Grow For It” – designed to promote the benefits of locating businesses into the coastal districts of Shepway, Thanet, Dover and Canterbury – is being launched in support of Kent County Council’s Expansion East Kent project, which offers £35m in loans to businesses who want to expand in the area or move there.
Among the guests invited to the preview event was Roger Gale MP, who voiced his commitment for the project and welcomed the plans as “very impressive”.
The campaign, being delivered by Seven Hills, stemmed from an intensive research project, interviewing key stakeholders in the region, such as district councils, partner organisations, investors, entrepreneurs, media and external audiences from across the UK in a series of focus groups and one-on-one interviews.
The three-year project will be developed into a full programme of events, focusing on an intensive period of activity over the next ten months, as the council continues to prioritise economic growth in the wake of the recession.
Focussing on targeted industries – among them green technologies, tourism, and scientific research – “Grow For It” aims to showcase the east of the county as a prime location to do business, with great connectivity to London without the hectic city lifestyle.
Mr Carter, who commissioned the campaign, said: “Everybody in East Kent is passionate about driving more investment and business into the area, and this campaign will not only help achieve that, but will showcase the very real benefits firms can expect if they come here.
“Our list of business-friendly initiatives in the area is long and growing every year – and we want to tell people about the terrific opportunities these districts have to offer.
“East Kent is unique and has vast potential to grow its economy. Seven Hills’ campaign will wake up the world.”
Kent Business reported yesterday on the marketing campaign: Marketing boost for east Kent aims to sell the south east’s Best Kept Secret.