A formal collaboration agreement between Produced in Kent and Growing Kent & Medway will provide innovative plant and produce food businesses with extended support to scale their market growth.

Following a selective process by Growing Kent & Medway, start-ups with the highest growth potential will now receive subsidised tailored business training and marketing support from Produced in Kent to accelerate their market expansion.

The partnership is a formal recognition of the complementary expertise of both enterprise-support organisations and expands the rich network of entrepreneurs in the region.

Launched in 2021, Growing Kent & Medway offers horticultural and plant-based food businesses technical research and innovation support. Produced in Kent markets and promotes local and seasonal produce through its membership programme, established in 2005.

Simon Barnes, Director of Growing Kent & Medway, said: “This partnership is an excellent example of the strength of our region’s cluster in offering scaling and growth opportunities for innovative food and agricultural businesses.”

“By more closely aligning our two organisations, we can continue to offer high-quality and impactful innovation growth support to businesses with new ideas and technologies to produce sustainable, nutritious food.”

Jill Sargent, Business Development, Produced in Kent, said: “Through the Growing Kent & Medway programme, we’ve identified some of the region’s most exciting innovators.

“We understand the challenges of scaling ideas into real-world sales, which is why this collaboration is so important for their next stage. We offer a supportive network where businesses can thrive and grow as part of the Produced in Kent community.”

Selected businesses will receive free access to training courses, networking events, direct access to retailers and buyers, and benefit from Produced in Kent’s marketing and promotional opportunities. This follows technical research support and business guidance offered through Growing Kent & Medway’s Food Accelerator, which has supported over 160 businesses so far to develop new products from idea to launch.