With Southeastern's full high speed rail services from Kent and Medway to London officially launched by Prime Minister Gordon Brown (pictured) on 14 December, Locate in Kent predicts increased interest in the county as a business destination. The Prime Minister, who met the 7.07am train from Rochester at St Pancras International, also claimed the service "will help businesses and communities flourish".

As part of the agency's 'Kent. Closer than you think' campaign, Canterbury-based Cheryl Gauden was drawn as the lucky winner of the High Speed competition ran by London-based radio station LBC. The campaign, which also included London tube cards and direct mail to businesses led to a large increase in hits on a special page on Locate in Kent's website. 
        
For information about Locate in Kent's high speed campaign, visit www.locateinkent.com/business or email highspeed@locateinkent.com and for more on the services, timetables and pricing, visit www.southeasternrailway.co.uk.     

Locate in Kent has met the challenges of the past year head-on and its figures reveal that it has beaten its target for companies assisted to relocate or expand in 2009/10 well ahead of schedule.

Despite the downturn, approximately 1.3m sq ft of commercial property space was taken up in Kent by these companies between January and November 2009, and capital expenditure totalled approximately £38m. Figures also revealed that a total of 1,280 jobs were created and 697 jobs were retained in Kent this calendar year.

As well as assisting many UK companies, Locate in Kent also saw high levels of interest from overseas, with investment from the US, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Europe.

Locate in Kent has assisted 71 UK-based companies relocate to or expand in Kent since January 2009. Bedfont Scientific was awarded a Research and Development Grant to expand in Rochester and Jaytee Biosciences relocated to Altira Business Park, Herne Bay, thanks to a Grant for Business Investment. Both were assisted in their applications by Locate in Kent's specialist grant advisors. Other successes included Prometheus Press, which expanded in Tonbridge and Apex Credit Management, which opened a new office at Kings Hill.

This year, around 40% of companies assisted by Locate in Kent have used the agency's commercial property database to search for suitable premises in Kent and Medway. There are currently more than 1,500 properties listed on the site, which include offices, lab space, industrial units and warehouses.

For more information about grants visit www.locateinkent.com/grants, to search for a property visit www.commercialpropertykent.co.uk and to request a property listing call 01732 520700.