MP says small businesses are the key to recovery

13th July 2011
MP says small businesses are the key to recovery

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson says many local small and medium sized companies are now planning to expand and their growth will be a key factor in bringing future prosperity to the area.

Mr Henderson was visiting St George’s Business Park in Sittingbourne and he was impressed when he met small businesses there with big ambitions for the future.

He said: “I was delighted to meet so many business people with confidence in the future of Sittingbourne and Sheppey. They know it’s a great place to work and has tremendous potential.

“It’s from small expanding companies that much of the growth in the local economy will come in the next few years and I want those businesses to be well placed to expand and provide the extra jobs our people need.”

Gordon Henderson pledged to do all he could to help businesses get through the tough economic challenges they now face and said he would always have an open door for businesses to help them access advice or obtain a quick response from government.

He added: “We need to make it easy for people to grow their businesses to the benefit of all. We have excellent facilities to support businesses like St George’s Business Park where start-up companies can easily be launched and where expanding companies can grow and develop.”

Easy-in and easy-out monthly licences and ability to take extra space as needed were identified as key factors by businesses at St George’s in allowing them the flexibility to set up and expand.

Kevin Cawston of Cawston Specialist Roofing said: “When you are starting out you need to limit the commitments you are making and so taking space month by month is ideal. Then as you build the business you need to be able to take additional space without the disruption of changing your location. That’s where Business Centres can help small firms and the combination really works well here at St George’s.”

During his visit the MP first toured start-up companies and expanding established businesses at St George’s Business Park and then held an impromptu question and answer session over lunch.