The launch at the Stock Exchange

Official Grow For It launch

Kent County Council leader Paul Carter rang the bell which started trading on the stock market on Tuesday as the centre of the City of London welcomed the county’s bid to attract inward investment.

The London Stock Exchange was the setting for the official opening of the Grow For It Campaign, which is aimed at unlocking the business potential of Thanet, Canterbury, Dover and Shepway.

Run by KCC, Grow For It is taking place alongside the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, which has allocated £35 million in cash for the area in a bid to create 5,000 new jobs.

Cllr Carter said the event was “fabulous”.

“I got to ring the bell to start the day’s trading as well,” he said. “I thought I would have to pull a rope but actually I only had to press a switch.”

The campaign highlighted the investment opportunities available in the county, especially at Discovery Park, the former base of operations for Pfizer.

When the company left it also left in place world class scientific equipment and laboratory facilities. These are now available for new tenants looking to come into the Sandwich site.

The event also showed assembled business men and women, politicians and City traders the availability of property, saying that for £300,000 a tower block flat is available in London – but so is a period cottage in the Kent countryside.

It also pointed out the transport links – such as the High Speed One rail line and new road infrastructure – which have vastly cut journey times to and from the capital.

For a full report see Business Week.