This article was originally published on KentOnline.
The Medway Towns could be fertile ground for creative industries if the area’s potential is properly harnessed, says an MP.
Representatives from the universities of Kent and Greenwich, Medway Council and creative organisations in the south east met at MidKent College to discuss how to support and grow the sector.
In particular, they talked about ways to support apprenticeships and create premises which would attract businesses to invest in the Towns.
The failure of Innovation Park Medway (IPM), off the A229 Maidstone Road, near Rochester Airport, was cited as an example of how investment had to be targeted at what businesses needed.
IPM was launched in 2018 by the council but had to be rethought after no businesses signed up to move there.
One attendee said they had initially been excited about the IPM location, but a lack of flexibility of the way the spaces could be used meant it ultimately was not viable.
The possibility of Medway being a contender for investment from AI companies because of its energy infrastructure connections was also discussed.
The event was organised by Gillingham and Rainham MP, Naushabah Khan.
She said it was about bringing people and organisations together and combining work already being done.
She said: “We have so much potential.
“We’ve got great connections to London and a diverse mix of people with the talent and the drive.
“There are lots of exciting things happening and some really great opportunities, we just need to ask: ‘How do we ensure we meet that potential?’
“The Docking Station, which will be opening later this year, is a key example of this.
“Our approach is to enhance and build on the great work that is happening locally, whilst laying out a clear and ambitious plan for development.
“This could involve giving small business owners support to set up new office spaces, backing our young people to develop creative skills and harnessing the transformative capacity of AI to turbocharge our regional economy.
“There is a vast amount of local talent that can be unlocked with the right approach.
“I’m delighted this conversation has now started and I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with Medway Council, creative organisations and investors to unleash our potential.”
The Docking Station is a Grade II-listed former Police Section House in Chatham Historic Dockyard.
It is being refurbished and will feature a café, exhibition and workshop spaces, co-working spaces for graduates and small creative businesses, as well as a post-production/editing studio.
Among the attendees at MidKent College were Chatham and Aylesford MP, Tristan Osborne (Lab) and Kent Music, a musical education organisation for children, adults and schools, which has music centres across Kent, with its largest being in Rochester.
Creative Estuaries, a creative development agency focused on the Thames Estuary, and Medway Council’s portfolio holder for economic and social regeneration and inward investment, Cllr Harinder Mahil (Lab) also contributed.