Kent Thameside a hotbed of start-ups?

According to business formation agency Duport, 447 companies were set up in Dartford in the first half of the year (smashing the previous year’s figure of 408 for the same period), while entrepreneurs in Gravesend founded 414 new businesses between January and June (beating the previous half-year best of 366).

These figures will hearten the Government, which is pinning its hopes for job creation and economic revival on the growth of small and medium enterprises.

Gravesham council leader John Burden said: “It is obviously very good news that people in Gravesham are so enterprising, because that is one sure route to economic growth. The council has always tried to engage with the business community and support it where it can.”

Peter Valaitis, managing director of Duport, said the entrepreneurs of Gravesend were showing “incredible resilience and optimism during the double-dip recession. Dartford has been through some tough times in recent years, but investment and development in the area are helping the town fulfil its potential once again. New businesses are wise to set up here; they will benefit from excellent transport links and a redeveloped town centre.”