MEDWAY RENAISSANCE     

Medway a great place to do business.

The Medway Towns of Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham Rainham and Strood lie along the banks of the River Medway which runs through the heart of North Kent.

The Medway Towns has a rich history:

• Rochester has been central to the security of England since Roman times being a key crossing point for the River Medway when moving north from the Kent coast to London and is guarded by its impressive 11th century Norman keep.
• Rochester Cathedral is England's second oldest Cathedral founded in 604AD by Bishop Justus just 7 years after the arrival of St Augustine in Kent.
• Chatham is the world's most complete example of an Historic Dockyard from the age of sail. Chatham Dockyard and its defences are now on the UK Government's shortlist of potential World Heritage Sites and could have its application submitted in 2011.

The Medway towns were linked together as a unitary authority in 1998. Today the area has a population of over 250,000 and is a thriving community with big plans to grow over the next twenty years.

The Medway economy is currently worth around £2.8billion per year and has more than 13,000 businesses.

The population is set to expand to over 300,000 (the size of Newcastle!) by 2021.  All this will be carried out through the major redevelopment of sites all along the River Medway and the surrounding areas..

Plans are in already in place to:

Continue the expansion of the existing university complex to accommodate over 15,000 students.

• To build over 16,000 new homes in the Medway towns.
• To create 40,000 new jobs by 2026.

In addition the Medway towns is uniquely placed within the UK to take advantage of easy access to the key markets of London and Europe, with the M2 and M20 running through the Medway Towns to the ports of Dover and Ramsgate in the south and up to London in the north. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is just 10 minutes away with the new high speed train station at Ebbsfleet connecting Kent to the rest of Europe opened in 2008.

The potential for any new business in the area is tremendous. Opportunities abound. But there are also serious issues which still need to be addressed. For local business people the regeneration of the High streets and surrounding areas, improving the traffic system to ensure the ease of vehicle movement throughout Medway and the need to improve the skill base in Medway are amongst the key challenges the Medway Council will face. Many, but not all, of these issues are being addressed and it is still to be seen whether plans will be successful.

All the team in Friend & Grant Limited not only work in the Medway towns but live here. The directors are both born and bred in Medway and know the area intimately. We will help you look through the local authority and government spin associated with any major development and can give you an honest and frank view of what it is like to live in Medway, the housing, the people, the education, the transport infrastructure.

We have a wealth of experience, a comprehensive  knowledge of the UK tax systems and numerous business contacts who can make your plans a reality. We have contacts with all the main High Street Banks, Solicitors and other Professions and have worked with Government Organisations to assist in obtaining grants and funding.

Remember if you want an honest opinion of business in the Medway Towns then please call us. We offer a free initial consultation and we will be delighted to help you to determine whether Medway is right for you and if so to help you establish your business here with a view to building a long term successful business relationship with your company.