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Local Economy Team

Working towards a stronger economy

The City Council's Local Economy team can signpost you to all the information, advice and support that you need. There are seven key areas where they can help and support you:

Commercial development and inward investment - wherever possible they support and facilitate local business expansions and re-investments, working closely with Locate in Kent. They provide a free property register of locally available commercial property and sites. They also own some small business units that provide incubator type accommodation for start-up and growing businesses.
Maintaining and generating economic data - they retain and undertake detailed intelligence on the economic characteristics and future economic potential of the district.
Grants and access to finance - their new website portal Canterbury4Grants is a free service giving access to the latest information on business grants and finance.
Business advice and support - they direct both local businesses and potential start-up businesses to the appropriate information, business agencies or organisations that you need including for training and skills. They facilitate new commercial opportunities between local companies via their online business directory, and hosting of regular business events.
Regeneration - they work closely with the district's Regeneration Manager in taking forward regeneration and renewal projects in key areas of the district. They are a link between government initiatives and the wider local community - a good example of this is the East Kent Partnership. They work with their partners to assist the development of local knowledge-based industries (for example - Canterbury Business Innovation Centre and Enterprise Hub projects).
Town Centre Management - the Town Centre coordinators for Herne Bay and Whitstable are part of the Local Economy team and provide a valuable link with business in those areas and information from on the ground. They also work closely with Canterbury City Centre Management to support the city's businesses.
A voice and advocate for business - through their role in supporting Canterbury 4 Business and the economic strategy, they seek to ensure that the current and future needs of local businesses and economy are emphasised and represented at all levels of government.

Let them be your first point of contact for free, confidential support and advice on all commercial property and premises, inward investment and economic development matters.

The Local Economy team...

Caroline Hicks - Local Economy Manager

tel: 01227 862064

email: caroline.hicks@canterbury.gov.uk

Nick Churchill - Economic Development Projects Officer

tel: 01227 862052

email: nicholas.churchill@canterbury.gov.uk

Paul Spree - Local Economy Support Officer

tel: 01227 862532

email: paul.spree@canterbury.gov.uk

Chris West - Herne Bay Town Coordinator

tel: 01227 742765

email: chris.west@cantebrury.gov.uk

Linda Mason - Whitstable Town Coordinator

Local Economy Team Administrator

tel: 01227 862199

email: ed@canterbury.gov.uk

Patrick Rynne - Regeneration Manager

Address: Military Road, Canterbury, CT1 1YW

fax: 01227 379 059

email: ed@canterbury.gov.uk
web: www.business.canterbury.gov.uk

The Local Economy Team works with many others in the council to ensure that the local businesses receive the best possible service. For more information on other services please go to the city council's website at www.canterbury.gov.uk.