Useful links

The following sites will give you more interesting information about:

Environment   Learning & Skills   Transport   Community   Tourism   Government Agency   Economy
Business Support Services   Business Partners   Sport

Environment

Kent Wildlife Trust
Leading conservation organisation covering the whole of Kent, dedicated to protecting wildlife for the future, for everyone to enjoy.
http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Environment Agency
www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Natural England
Natural England brings together English Nature, the environment activities of the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency's Landscape, Access and Recreation division. Natural England aims to ensure that the natural environment to conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
www.naturalengland.org.uk

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Learning & Skills

Local Further education colleges:

Canterbury College
www.cant-col.ac.uk

South Kent College
www.southkent.ac.uk

Thanet College
www.thanet.ac.uk

Canterbury Christ Church University
www.thanet.cant.ac.uk

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCC)
www.cant.ac.uk

University of Kent at Canterbury (UKC)
www.ukc.ac.uk

University Creative Arts at Canterbury
The University College for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester is one of the UK's leading providers of specialist art and design education, offering strengths in art, design, architecture, media and communication.

Formed on 1 August 2005 through the uniting of two leading specialist art and design institutions: the Kent Institute of Art & Design and the Surrey Institute of Art & Design University College
www.ucreative.ac.uk

Learning & Skills Council Kent & Medway
The LSC is responsible for the planning and funding of all education and training for post-16year olds in England. (except Higher Education).
www.lsc.gov.uk/kentandmedway

Kent & Medway Learning Partnership
Kent Learning Partnership (KLP) was established in May 1999 to bring coherence to the current diverse map of local activity across Kent. The Partnership is an independent voluntary group addressing local learning issues. Learning Partnerships are unique in addressing learning issues in a coherent cradle to grave approach, working across all age, sector, institutional and geographical boundaries. Website contains links to many related/wider organisations.
www.partnershipsforlearning.org.uk

Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
Government Department for Education
www.dfes.gov.uk

Kent and Medway Universities for Business and Enterprise (KUBE)
Kent and Medway Universities for Business and Enterprise (KUBE) is a collaborative project between Canterbury Christ Church University College, University of Greenwich, Kent Institute of Art & Design and University of Kent.

All the institutions involved are committed to working with businesses and public sector organisations in Kent.
www.kube.ac.uk

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Transport

Highways Agency
Looking after England's motorways and trunk roads.
www.highways.gov.uk

Eurostar
Train operator to European destinations.
www.eurostar.com

Eurotunnel
Channel Tunnel link to France & Europe.
www.eurotunnel.com

Department of Transport
www.dft.gov.uk

Kent International Airport Manston
www.kia-m.com/index.asp

The Port of Dover
Information on travelling across the English Channel from Dover to France
www.doverport.co.uk

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Community

Natural East Kent
Natural East Kent is a new initiative to support the sustainable regeneration of rural and coastal East Kent communities through the area's natural environment and heritage.
www.nek.org.uk

Thanet Community Development Trust
A charity based organisation focusing on the Thanet towns of Margate and Ramsgate whose aim is to develop and improve the area for everyone. This is done mainly through developing the local communities, however they are defined, but where possible focussing the help on those who are in some way disadvantaged.
www.tcdt.org.uk

South East Community Loan Fund (SECLF)
This is a fund that offers finance to not-for-profit organisations, Social or Community Enterprises, throughout the South East. Loans of £10,000-£100,000 are available at 3-4% above Base Rate. Loans can be repaid over any period up to 10 years. There is a one off 1.5-2% arrangement fee. This is the only charge. As the fund exists to support enterprise, there are no early repayment penalties and capital holiday repayment facilities may also be available. We invest time into each organisation, and offer business support and ongoing monitoring as part of the service. The finance does not need to be project driven: Indeed, bridging loans, match funding, working capital and cash flow support are all acceptable means for borrowing.

The CLFSE is the regional arm of the Local Investment Fund, a national charity established in 1995 by the DPMO.
www.lif.org.uk

Regional Action and Involvement South East (RAISE)
Representative body for Voluntary and Community organisations in South East England.
www.raise-networks.org.uk

Focus to Work Trust
A social enterprise.
www.focustowork.co.uk

Kent Can
www.kentcan.org.uk

ChangeUp
www.raise-networks.org.uk/quicklinks

Volunteering England
www.volunteering.org.uk

The Big Idea
This brainchild within the voluntary sector in Thanet is to build and develop a state-of-the-art, multi-agency, one-stop, Community Resource Centre at Westwood Cross - the heart and new town centre of Thanet.
www.whatsthebigidea.info

Community Action South East Kent
Support, develop and advocate for the voluntary and community sector across Dover, Shepway and Ashford by providing one to one advice on fundraising, quality standards, organisational systems, business and strategic planning and general trouble shooting. www.casekent.org.uk

Community Halls for Rural People
www.defra.gov.uk/rural/communities/halls/

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Tourism

Information on places to visit, what to do, where to stay/eat in Kent.

Kent Tourism Alliance
Information on places to visit, what to do, where to stay/eat in Kent.
www.kenttourism.co.uk/en/index.asp

English Heritage
English Heritage makes sure that the historic environment of England is properly maintained and cared for. By employing some of the country's very best architects, archaeologists and historians, they aim to help people understand and appreciate why the historic buildings and landscapes around them matter.
www.english-heritage.org.uk

Visit South East England
Discover the delights of South East England. Invigorating coastlines, cultural cities, rolling countryside and quintessential villages; let the beauty of the South East inspire you.
www.visitsoutheastengland.com

National Trust
Trust to act as a guardian for the nation in the acquisition and protection of threatened coastline, countryside and buildings, many of which open to the public.
www.nationaltrust.co.uk

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Government Agency

Local East Kent District Councils:

Canterbury City Council
www.canterbury.gov.uk

Dover District Council
www.dover.gov.uk

Thanet District Council
www.thanet.gov.uk

Kent County Council
www.kent.gov.uk

South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
Responsible for the economic and social development of the South East.
www.seeda.co.uk

Government Office for the South East (GOSE)
www.go-se.gov.uk

South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA)
The Regional Assembly is a voluntary regional chamber, bringing together elected members and other representatives to act as a voice for the region on the economy, transport, planning and other strategic issues.
www.southeast-ra.gov.uk

Department for Communities & Local Government
www.communities.gov.uk

South East Rural Towns
The South East Rural Towns Partnership has been set up to support rural towns across the region to maximise any benefits and opportunities open to them.
www.setowns.org.uk

Canterbury and Coastal Primary Care Trust
Canterbury & Coastal Primary Care Trust provides healthcare for a population of about 174,000 people.
Click here

Kent Thameside
Kent Thameside is the housing and commercial development powerhouse of the Government-backed Thames Gateway region, identified as a priority region for long term sustainable economic, social and environmental regeneration.
www.kt-s.co.uk

Jobcentre Plus
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Channel Corridor Partnership
The Channel Corridor Partnership is a public/private partnership dedicated to achieving economic prosperity in the Local Authority areas of Maidstone Borough Council, Ashford Borough Council and Shepway District Council.  (Area Strategic Partnership)
www.channelcorridor.org

Thames Gateway Kent Partnership
Thames Gateway Kent Partnership champions the economic, social and environmental regeneration of Kent Thameside, Medway and Swale.
www.thamesgateway-kent.org.uk

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Economy

Kent Economic Board
KEB brings together representatives from the business community in Kent & Medway, with representatives of the public sector, economic agencies and business support organisations. Its aim is to add value to the work of the economic development agencies, to oversee the development of a long-term economic strategy and champion its implementation, to engage with the wider business community and lobby on strategic economic issues.
www.kmeb.org.uk

The Kent Partnership
The Local Strategic Partnership for Kent, made up of representatives from private, public, voluntary and community sectors.
www.kentpartnership.org.uk

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Business Support Services

Business link Kent
Provides access to the information, advice and skills Kent businesses need to succeed. They are part of the network of local Business Links that operate throughout England.
www.businesslink.gov.uk

Locate in Kent (LiK)
As the single point of contact for all companies looking to expand or relocate in Kent and Medway, Locate in Kent provides a range of company relocation services to both UK and foreign owned companies. All Locate in Kent's services are provided free of charge on a completely confidential basis.
www.locateinkent.com

East Kent: The Vision
East Kent is turning vision into reality. Success in attracting investment, development and jobs has already been achieved. And remaining absolutely focused on growth and prosperity will keep it coming in the future.
www.east-kent.co.uk

Invest UK
UK Trade & Investment is the Government organisation that supports both companies in the UK trading internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to locate in the UK. Helps companies realise their international business potential through knowledge transfer, and on-going partnership support.
www.invest.uk.com

Technology Enterprise Kent
Encourage and support start-ups, micro and technology based businesses that can add value to the local economy and create employment opportunities for local people.
www.technologyenterprise.co.uk

Canterbury for Business (C4B)
Canterbury4business is the economic partnership for Canterbury district, working for businesses in Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable and the villages. The private and public sector partnership has been set up to boost business in the district. Its vision is that by 2008 the district will become, "The place where business chooses to locate, with sustainable economic growth and levels of productivity that exceed the Kent and South East averages."
www.canterbury4business.co.uk

East Kent Education Business Partnership
The EKEBP promotes links between the world of work and youngsters in education through a variety of individual projects as well as some regular annual activities. Over the past seven years the EKEBP has developed strong links with both local schools and the business community. It has a reputation for innovative and imaginative projects delivered to a high standard.
www.ekebp.co.uk

Kent Works
Provides positive links between education and business throughout Kent.
www.kentworks.org

Dover & District Chamber of Commerce
For 150 years Dover and District Chamber of Commerce helped establish business in the area. The Chamber, formed in 1850, is by far the oldest in the county of Kent and one of the very earliest in the UK.
www.businessdover.co.uk/chamberofcommerce.htm

Conference Kent
Free venue finding service for Kent.
www.conferencekent.co.uk

Institute of Directors
As a worldwide association of members, the Institute of Directors (IoD) provides a professional network that reaches into every corner of the business community. Our membership spans the whole spectrum of business leadership, from the largest public companies to the smallest private firms.
www.iod.com

Federation of Small Businesses
The FSB is the largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Formed in 1974, it now has over 185,000 members across 33 regions and 230 branches. On the member benefits side, it offers assistance and support 24 hours a day, while its lobbying arm - led by the Westminster Press and Parliamentary office - applies pressure on MPs, Government and Whitehall, lobbies politicians in their constituencies and puts the FSB viewpoint over to the media. The FSB is non-profit making and non-party political.
www.fsb.co.uk

Marine South East
Marine South East is the regional marine initiative of the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) developed to address the needs of the marine sector in the South East region. The South East marine sector is estimated to be worth £5bn and contributes almost 5% of the region's gross domestic product. The sector includes activities in leisure marine, commercial and offshore equipment, ports and shipping, marine services and contracting, ship building and repair, trade associations, research, education and training.
www.marinesoutheast.co.uk

Society British Aerospace Companies
SBAC is the UK's national trade association representing companies supplying civil air transport, aerospace defence, homeland security and space. SBAC encompasses the British Airports Group and the United Kingdom Industrial Space Committee. It represents over 1,500 member companies, assisting them in developing new business globally, facilitates innovation and competitiveness and provides regulatory services in technical standards and accreditation. SBAC functions through a structure of Boards and Committees governed by Council and facilitated by the company SBAC Ltd. Our industry information is organised by our representative market sectors - civil air transport, aerospace defence & homeland security and space systems & services and by operational activity - market development, communications and industrial transformation.
www.sbac.co.uk

East Kent Enterprise Gateway
www.eastkent.enterprisegateway.net

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Business Partners

Pfizer UK
www.pfizer.com

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Sport

Sport England
www.sportengland.org

Everyday Sport
www.everydaysport.com

Active Places
www.activeplaces.com

Kent Sport
www.kentsport.org

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