SMALL business innovation is being given a boost in Thanet.

Technology Enterprise Kent (TEK) in Broadstairs aims to encourage innovation by offering advice and help.

It provides a support package with simple tools to help define a company's strengths and weaknesses in managing innovation. The support is confidential, independent and free.

Daren Booth, TEK business advisor, said: "Very few businesses survive indefinitely without innovation. Many small companies are striving to become innovative -- they are working hard to find and exploit more good ideas than their rivals.

"Innovation is one way that a smaller company can compete successfully in a threatening world."

He added that innovative smaller firms found lots of good ideas and applied them to the benefit of customers, employees and shareholders.

He defined innovation as "fully exploiting the benefits of ideas that are new to your company".

Contact Technology Enterprise directly on 01843 609370 for a simple self-analysis "innovation health check" questionnaire.