Thanet District Council is offering local small businesses and entrepreneurs the opportunity to take their products to the next level, at Kent’s first innovation kitchen.
East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group) launched the EKC Innovation Kitchen in May 2025. The state-of-the-art professional kitchen was set up to help local food businesses innovate, develop and scale their products at a fraction of the usual cost of renting a professional kitchen.
Located within The Yarrow in Broadstairs – a working hotel and training facility for students at EKC Broadstairs College – this unique space is the first of its kind in Kent. The Innovation Kitchen offers food entrepreneurs and businesses access to high-end equipment and professional-grade facilities, typically out of reach for smaller producers.
The council is offering grants totalling £21,500 to local food businesses and entrepreneurs, to help them access the Innovation Kitchen. Successful applicants will also receive hands-on support from Daphne Besseling, Food Innovation Technical Consultant. The grants are part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which has been provided by the UK Government.
The available grants are as follows:
- One £5,500 Food Innovation Voucher
This award will help one applicant under 25 years old to move from idea to production. The funding provides a comprehensive package of support including at least 32 hours of consultancy and between 10 and 12 half-day sessions in the kitchen, plus ingredients. The support must be taken between July and December 2025.
- Eight £2,000 Food Innovation Vouchers
This funding is designed to help applicants explore the viability of a new idea. Each successful applicant will receive around 12 hours of consultancy time, four half-day sessions in the kitchen and £300 for ingredients.
A small fund has been set aside to support participants who may not otherwise be able to access the programme. Support is available for equipment, travel costs and childcare.
Applications opened on Tuesday 1 July, and eligibility criteria apply. Anyone who is interested in applying for a grant should visit the EKC Group website for further information and details on how to apply.
Lucy McLeod, Chief Executive Officer of EKC Group, added: “We’re incredibly proud to have launched the EKC Innovation Kitchen and are excited to see how businesses use this space to drive innovation.
“It’s fantastic that Thanet District Council is offering these transformative grants to support local food and drink enterprises. We can’t wait to see the creativity and growth that will emerge from this opportunity.”
Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property at Thanet District Council, said: “The Innovation Kitchen aligns with the council’s priority to create a thriving place. We recognise that providing more opportunities for young people to develop work-based skills is key to this, and is at the heart of this year’s delivery programme for Thanet’s UKSPF programme.
“I am delighted that we continue to work with East Kent Colleges Group to give our young people the opportunity to grow and develop their business skills.”
Applications will be considered and awarded on a rolling basis, and will close once all places have been allocated, or by Sunday 21 September 2025, whichever is sooner.
There is also the opportunity to undertake food safety training at the Innovation Kitchen, including a Level 2 qualification in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point. This will help to ensure that participants are trained to UK legal standards.
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