Self-made millionaire businessman Tom Allsworth, who left school at 16, is spending £18 million to create Sheppey's first business hub.

The six-acre Walbrook Business Park is being built in a field along the A249 opposite Neats Court by his Queenborough-based company Medichem Properties.

The scheme, unveiled on Friday by Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson, will include 30 units ranging from 1,000 sq ft to 32,000 sq ft for national and local companies to share.

Building work was due to begin on Monday with the first tenants expected to arrive next autumn.

Mr Allsworth, 56, executive chairman of Medichem, said: “I am passionate about promoting the Isle of Sheppey because I was born here, grew up here and went to school here. I believe developing a business park will be a great addition for the local business community.”

The father-of-five was born in Queenborough within walking distance of the new site.

He said: "My parents ran a hardware shop and their work ethic rubbed off on me."

Mr Allsworth, who still lives on the Island, attended Queenborough Primary School, Danley Middle School and then the "Sheppey Comp" before quitting education at 16 to take a job in Sheerness Docks.

Within two years he had launched his own company importing timber and by 1992 had opened his own factory in Rushenden making disinfectant and hand scrubs. He later expanded into the beauty business with Revolution and now employs 400 people.

He said: "There is a demand for a quality premium business park on the Island and this will be something Sheppey can be proud of. I am hoping it will be the place everyone wants to be part of."

Mr Henderson admitted: "There is a desperate need for more growth on the Island to create jobs. Many people have to travel off Sheppey to get to their work. This development will add to employment opportunities, especially for those who want to start their own business.

"We have to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit and help people to start their own business, whatever their trade. This will be a golden opportunity to do that. We have to change the whole perception of what Sheppey is and what it means to live here. We can only do that by changing attitudes. This will be a catalyst to do that."

The park, opposite Morrisons and Aldi's distribution centre, will boast a reception area with meeting rooms for hire, cafe, post room and administration services. Medichem Properties is also developing a four-acre sister site nearby called Walbrook West for one tenant.

Aldi is planning to build a new supermarket on the remaining land. It was originally turned down and is awaiting the result of an appeal. A battery terminal for the National Grid is also nearing completion on part of the site and Lidl has just announced plans to build a supermarket at Cowstead Corner.

The business park is being marketed by Harrisons. Director Brian Cox said: "The units and offices will be flexible so a row of four units or 1,000 sq ft can easily be modified to make a 2, 3 or 4,000 sq ft unit.

"Each unit will have the capacity to have first floor or mezzanine floors built in. Similarly, an office can be anything from a one-person office to a whole block."

For information, call Jonathan Creek or Max Terry on 01634 265900 or email jcreek@harrisons.property or mterry@harrisons.property