Female entrepreneurs in the county now have the chance to fuel their growth with expert advice.

NatWest’s Expert in Residence scheme is being rolled out including at the Kent and Medway Growth Hub. They are available to host events, as well as provide expert insight and advice on business finance.

The initiative is running in conjunction with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and follows a two-year pilot of the scheme.

The role also provides support to SELEP to access additional expertise to help female-led businesses achieve their potential.

Luke Pamflett is the expert for Kent and Medway.

The Expert in Residence programme was developed following the Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship in 2019. The review demonstrated that up to £250bn of new value could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled new businesses at the same rate as men in the UK.

Regional enterprise director for London and the South East, Gary Belton, said: “Since the launch of the Rose Review, strong progress has been made in breaking down barriers facing female entrepreneurs, with considerable commitment and action across financial services and the wider business landscape. Yet there is more to do and, post-pandemic, support which is practical, face-to-face, and tailored to local communities, will be critical in enabling entrepreneurs to rebuild and thrive.

“We are delighted to be working with SELEP to roll out NatWest’s Expert in Residence and I encourage businesses to reach out to their local Expert in Residence via the growth hub to take advantage of what they can offer – alongside the wider package of support available.”

South East LEP CEO Adam Bryan added: “We know there is a real entrepreneurial spirit in the South East and we want to do all we can to support new businesses to start up and existing ones to grow. Our local Growth Hub service has served over 6,000 businesses in the past year with independent advice and guidance, and this is a great addition to the area."

Head to our business page for all of the latest news about businesses in Kent