Business Advice, Mentoring and Coaching

How does the Food and Drink Accelerator work?

Who is eligible to apply?

If you’re ambitious and interested in scaling-up your business, and fast, the Food and Drink Accelerator programme could be right for you.

We will support plant-based food and drink businesses from across the supply chain, including food products, technology or related services.

Your business must be based in Kent or Medway.

Why should I sign up for the Accelerator?

You will receive intensive support and guidance to help make your business goals a reality.

We cover a broad range of areas, including technology, consumer insight, regulatory factors, financial support and marketing.

Reasons to join the Accelerator:

• Expert guidance
• Peer-to-peer support
• Business mentoring
• Advice on accessing finance and investment readiness.

Please get in touch using the contact form below and our team will be in touch to talk you through our programme to see if this is right for you.

Get in touch with us at Growing Kent & Medway | Growing Kent & Medway (growingkentandmedway.com)

The University of Kent are partners of the Net Zero Programme addressing specifics within your own business production or supply chain. The University are running a series of workshops at Canterbury Innovation Centre, University Rd, Canterbury CT2 7FG, that are free to attend and also have a grant for qualifying businesses.

Discover what’s on, when, and the innovators leading each of these business-changing sessions via the link below:

Business Support in Kent & Medway : Kent & Medway Growth Hub (kentandmedwaygrowthhub.org.uk)

SMEs in Kent and Medway can access a free 1.5hr Net Zero Audit to help them identify areas where they could reduce their carbon emissions and help reverse climate change. Plus access to a £2,000 grant for businesses in Canterbury, Gravesham or Thanet.

If you would like to find out more about receiving a Net Zero Audit, please submit and expression of interest using this form below:

EOI for Net Zero Audit (jotform.com)

The aim of this fully funded programme is to support those start up businesses in Medway (i.e. within their first two years of trading) to grow rapidly and employ staff.

You will need to be prepared to invest or raise capital circa £25k to ensure you can acquire premises, employ staff and expand.

This is NOT a suitable programme for you if

• you intend working on your own,
• see this as a second income
• or are unable to invest or raise capital.

Contact the Growth Hub to see if there are other programmes that might be more suitable on 03333 602 300

EOI for Growth Entrepreneur Medway (jotform.com)

The aim of this fully funded programme is to support those start up businesses in Ashford (i.e. within their first two years of trading) to grow rapidly and employ staff.

You will need to be prepared to invest or raise capital circa £25k to ensure you can acquire premises, employ staff and expand.

This is NOT a suitable programme for you if

• you intend working on your own,
• see this as a second income
• or are unable to invest or raise capital.

Contact the Growth Hub to see if there are other programmes that might be more suitable on 03333 602 300

EOI for Growth Entrepreneur Ashford (jotform.com)

A one year, fully funded programme of support for businesses in Medway that have the capacity and ambition to grow.

Eligible businesses will need:

• to have been trading for at least 5 years
• employ more than 10 staff
• and be located in Medway

If you meet the core criteria, you will be entitled to receive up to 36hrs of intensive business coaching over a 12 month period and much more.

A one year, fully funded programme of support for businesses in Ashford that have the capacity and ambition to grow. Eligible businesses will be need to be:

• located in Ashford,
• have been trading for at least 3 years,
• employ 5+ staff
• and have the capacity and ambition to grow

In return you will receive up to 36 hours of intensive business coaching over a 12 month period plus.

The Help to Grow: Management course is for business owners, leaders, or senior managers from all business sectors.

To be eligible, you and your business must meet the following criteria:

Your business must:

• be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) based in the United Kingdom
• employ between 5 and 249 people
• have been operational for at least one year
• not be a charity.

You must:

• be a chief executive, owner/founder, or member of the senior management team
• have at least one direct report
• commit to completing all sessions

Only one person per business can participate in the programme, but your entire business will benefit, from increased productivity to enhanced employee wellbeing and more.

To find out more and to book a course near you, go to: www.gov.uk/helptogrow

Take the first step and get help to:

• identify the digital technology needs of your business
• make informed decisions about which software products best meet those needs
• successfully incorporate these products into your business

If you are eligible, you can access a discount of up to 50% on the costs of buying approved software, worth up to £5,000, on the Help to Grow: Digital website.

Discounts will be available for approved software that helps your business to:

• build customer relationships and increase sales
• manage accounts and finances digitally

Click following link then select ‘Start Application’ to be taken to the Help to Grow: Digital website

Help to Grow: Digital – GOV-UK Find a grant (find-government-grants.service.gov.uk)

Business & IP Centre Kent (BIPC Kent), is part of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre National Network, and we are transforming the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

By partnering up with Kent Libraries, we’re supporting a thriving community of bright and inspiring people, whether you’re a new or existing business owner, we are here to support you in Kent.

Home » Resources

It’s crucial when you are starting a business to understand your market, competitors, and customer trends. Being part of the BIPC Network, BIPC Kent can provide you access to over £5 Million worth of resources, such as online market reports from top publishers, company data for over 144 million UK and global companies, start-up books and business directories, 700,000 historical annual reports, and over 60 million patents.

Have a questsion? Book a free consultations with one of our experts:

Resources – Business & IP Centre Kent (bipckent.org.uk)

Digital Boost is a free online platform that supports people who work at small businesses and charities to get the essential skills and advice they need to adopt new digital ways of working and grow their businesses. We are owned by the educational charity Founders4Schools.

+ Free 1:1 online conversations with a wide range of volunteer expert mentors:
‍
– Fast answers to their unique business questions
– Personalised guidance & advice
– Objective feedback & ideas
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+ Hands-on workshops covering topics such as SEO, Facebook Ads, cloud computing, payment systems, and much more

+ Personalised recommendations for short courses

+ A resource library to access at their own pace

Sign Up for Digital Boost

The Programme content will be as follows:

Entrepreneurs will be invited to join a 12-hour programme of activity to help develop a business plan, financial model, and pitch-deck. The course will cover the following topics:

Investment Pathway

• Introduction to the programme.
• Overview of fund-raising process.

Investment Readiness

• What to prepare and how to pull the detail together, covering:
• Technology/Commercial/Sales/Market analysis.
• Regulation/IP/Delivery/Scalability
• Financial Planning.
• Team/Legal/Accounting/Governance/Raising investment/Communication.

Investment Closure

• Timing
• Due Diligence
• Identifying potential investors and pitching

Upcoming workshops are planned as follows:

• 08/09 Dec 2021 – The Business Terrace, King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6AW.
• 18/19 Jan 2022 – Maidstone Innovation Centre (TBC).
• 15/16 Feb 2022 – Maidstone Innovation Centre (TBC).

Eligibility

1. As an entrepreneur who is participating prior to starting a business, you must be living in the SELEP area.
2. As an entrepreneur who is participating on behalf of business that is already set up you must have a trading address in the SELEP area and must be below the EU state Aide De Minimus Funding level (Euro’s 200,000 in the last 3 years).

Entry will be on a first come first served basis. NCL reserve the right to consolidate workshops if there are insufficient numbers in a workshop

Interested entrepreneurs and companies should contact Graham Hutchins via email at seip@ncltv.co.uk for details of upcoming events and how to join.

Expert in Residence programme provides free business advice and workshops to enable female entrepreneurs to achieve their growth ambitions

Experts will continue to focus on key issues facing female entrepreneurs, such as access to finance and expertise and developing soft skills, as well as connecting them to networks of women in business in their area.

“Working with one of our experts will give entrepreneurs the opportunity to work on their business – not just in their business – to develop key skills and knowledge so they can sustain and grow for years to come.”

The Expert in Residence Programme is an impartial resource provided at no cost to the participating entrepreneur

NatWest welcomes any questions, as well as feedback, from those already taking part in the programme at enterprise@natwest.com.

Apply here: Women in Business | NatWest

• General Business Advice to any type or age of business in Kent

Follow the Ask Phil link and fill in the contact form to request a call back

• One to One support and advice Day Clinics offering business advice to any type and age of business

Call 01622 239300 or email us at getstarted@maidstone.gov.uk

• 12hrs of one to one support for businesses connected to the construction supply chain
• Must be registered at Companies House

Follow the link for more details and complete the contract to arrange a call back from an adviser

• Start up support and mentoring for young people aged 18 to 30

Call on 0800 842 842 or follow the link and access the live chat function

• Business Support and Mentoring (18-30 years)

Follow the link for more information and use the link at the bottom of the page to get in touch to access the service.

• 12 hours of one to one and workshop support to develop growth.

Follow the link and fill in the expression of interest form

• A free online only series of business start-up courses 1-2-1’s and a specialist week-long event supplemented by a 24/7 Start-up App and a range of wider learning materials.

Follow the link for more information or email to register your interest robyn.brookes@wsxenterprise.co.uk

• 100% online business support;
• online awareness events;
• workshops/masterclasses;
• 1-2-1’s;
• specialist week=long events;
• grants;
• a pool of online support resources.

Follow the link for more information. Email robyn.brookes@wsxenterprise.co.uk for register and for more information

• Comprehensive export development programme
• Potential & capacity to export
• Registered at companies house

Follow the link and search your postcode to find DIT South East Contact details and get in touch inquiring about the programme to access the support.

• Programme aimed at helping SELEP-based address known export barriers (lack of international contacts and export knowledge/capacity.
• Businesses operating >1year
• Registered at companies house
• Export potential product or service

Follow the link and complete the Expression of interest form.

• Programme to develop new experiential tourism products for the off-season
• Businesses operating >1year
• Registered at companies house

Contact Visit via email or phone. Follow this link to find Visit Kent Contact details

• One to one advice for small and micro businesses
• Free to businesses and residents in West Kent for all stages of business
• Any sector

Follow the link and register your interest

• Up to 3 One To One Advice Session
• Open to Swale Businesses and Residents

Follow the link and register your interest via email or phone

Follow the link and register you interest via phone or email

• Monthly business start up course
• Free to residents in Medway for Pre-starts
• Out of Area people may attend for a £60 fee

Follow the link to the KICC events page and select the month you wish to attend. Click the event and register.

• Peer-to-peer networking programme for SME leaders that want to grow and develop their business.
• Businesses operating >1year
• Registered at companies house
• Any sector

Follow the link for more details and to register your interest

• 12 hours of One to one support to develop growth/recovery plan
• Registered at companies house
• Any sector

Follow the link for more information and to sign up for the programme

Follow the link to application page and sign up for the 12 week programme.

Follow the link to application page and sign up for the 12 month programme.