Business advice

Business Link South East and Maidstone Borough Council work closely together to provide a free business advice and support service. Regular clinics/appointments with Business Link advisors are held in the new public services Gateway at the top of King Street. Business Link is the first point of contact for all sources of government support and advice including energy efficiency, finance and sustainability (Solutions for Business).

Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce provides start up advice in Maidstone, as well as networking opportunities and membership benefits including specialist business support and financial incentives.

Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, The Gate House, Archbishop's Palace, Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 6YE 
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 695544
Fax: + 44 (0) 1622 682513

Sources of Finance

Online business finance database

Media Tree is a networking organisation for the creative industries and is working with leading media and creative businesses to support talent and capitalise upon the existing strength of the sector in Kent which is supported by a steady supply of graduates from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) which has 600 students locally at any one time.

Media Tree, The Maidstone Studios, Vinters Park, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5NZ     
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 684606

Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is one of the products in the Solutions for Business product suite (see above) and as the leading advisor for manufacturing we can provide you with practical, hands-on support focused on improving your bottom line. Whether you're looking to improve efficiency, raise productivity, develop new ideas or tackle a problem that is hampering profitability, our experts are here to help and if you are an SME all our support is either free or highly subsidised.

MAS, Station Rd, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 9TL
Tel: 0845 6092121
Email: info@mas-se.org.uk

Federation of Small Businesses (Kent and Medway Regional Branch);

Tel: 01622 688134   
Email: kent@fsbdial.co.uk