Wednesday, November 30, 2022

As part of our continued commitment to developing the economic prosperity of the borough, we are working with Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce (KICC) to roll out two exciting programmes to support businesses and enable them to grow further.

Scale Up Ashford and Growth Entrepreneur Ashford are both expert-driven growth and expansion schemes to help businesses to fulfil their full potential and explore new ideas and concepts that they need might need further guidance or help to drive forward.

Scale Up Ashford is aimed at supporting businesses who have been trading for at least three years by providing them with the advice and tools to move to the next stage.

Twelve ambitious businesses have just begun this year-long programme of high growth support which will see them assigned a Business Coach who will work through their objectives and develop a plan to support their growth. These businesses will be working with their Coach to address any barriers their business might be experiencing, explore new opportunities and develop their ideas.

Growth Entrepreneur Ashford is more focused on businesses in their infancy, within their first two years of trading, and how they can rapidly grow.

Three aspiring businesses have now begun a series of one-to-one sessions with their assigned advisor who will look at their proposed business plan and how areas of growth such as staff, budgeting and sales can be addressed. They will also take part in group workshops together so that everyone can learn from each other and create a strong business network.

All businesses signed up to the two programmes will be provided with consultancy support, access to business growth tools and access to local expertise.

These programmes follow in the successful footsteps of our pre-pandemic Scale Up Ashford programme in which 16 businesses achieved an average growth in turnover of 28%, invested £1.5m in new plant and machinery, secured £20,000 grant funding and created 48 new jobs.

Cllr Nathan Iliffe, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Economic Development at Ashford Borough Council said: “I am really pleased to see businesses identifying opportunities to grow even in the current economic climate. Working with the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce on this programme is a prime example of Ashford Borough Council’s commitment to developing growth and economic prosperity across the borough. Following the previous success of ScaleUp Ashford, I look forward to seeing these businesses scale their operations, employing more people and investing in their future sustainability.”

You can find out more about the two programmes here:
Scale Up Ashford

Growth Entrepreneur Ashford

For more information, contact:

Imogen Horwood

Senior Marketing Officer

Tel: 07880 788835

Imogen.horwood@ashford.gov.uk

www.ashford.gov.uk