Business grant and relocation in Kent news
Businesses convinced about Kent’s high speed rail benefits
With the full high speed rail services from Kent and Medway to London officially launching today (14 December), investment promotion agency Locate in Kent predicts increased interest in the county as a business destination.
Locate in Kent is running the ‘Kent. Closer than you think’ campaign alongside Ashford’s Future, Kent County Council, Kent Thameside Regeneration Partnership, Medway Council and Southeastern, to ensure as many businesses as possible know about and try the service. Paul Wookey, Chief Executive of Locate in Kent said: “We expect interest in the county to grow with the full launch of services, and clearly, with 47% of the respondents of one of our recent surveys believing it will encourage further investment in Kent, the county’s businesses think so too.”
Since June, operator Southeastern has rolled out preview services from Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International and several East Kent stations, which have already struck a chord with many businesses. After experiencing the 17-minute high speed train journey from St Pancras International to Ebbsfleet International, Tony Parson, Director of London property developer Trenport Investments Ltd, said: “This is a most impressive service that certainly puts North West Kent firmly on the map.” The East of the county is also set to benefit, with journey times to London slashed from various towns, including Ramsgate and Margate (80 and 91 minutes respectively).
With office and operational costs up to 60% lower than London's, Locate in Kent anticipates the county will become even more attractive as a location for companies needing good links to the City and European markets. Existing Kent companies are also impressed with the services - Mike Scott, Partner at Tunbridge Wells law firm Cripps Harries Hall LLP found it “very smooth, fast andquiet”. He added “it was extraordinary to leave St Pancras one minute and find yourself beyondtheM25 before you'd had a chance to look out of the window. Very impressed”.
Jo Shockley, at The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said: "This service makes it possible for people working in Central London to live in the rural idyll of East Kent and to enjoy a very high quality of life there. Instead of a long commute, the office will be just minutes away. We hope that this opens up a prosperous and successful future for Kent and makes a real difference to its relationship with London."
For information about Locate in Kent’s high speed campaign, visit www.locateinkent.com/business or email highspeed@locateinkent.com and for more on the services, timetables and pricing, visit http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/.
Source: Locate in Kent
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