Kingswood Educational Activity Centres, one of the UK’s leading education activity providers, has received planning approval from Ashford Borough Council to develop Ashford’s Grosvenor Hall into a “top educational activity centre in Europe”, creating at least 150 jobs.
Locate in Kent, the investment promotion agency for Kent and Medway and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), assisted Kingswood with the planning of the move and provided contacts and information on services.
Kingswood Educational Activity Centres, part of Education Travel Group, intends to develop the 50 acre site, formerly a police training centre, into a high-tech flagship educational centre within the south east. Due to open in March 2010, Kingswood plans to create 150 jobs at the site, many of which will be for instructor/delivery staff aged between 18-24 years old.
Paul Wookey, Chief Executive of Locate in Kent said: “This shows fantastic use of an existing empty site and it’s a real testament to the county that one of the UK’s leading education activity providers has chosen Kent for its flagship centre. As the site is minutes away from the M20 and Ashford International Station, Grosvenor Hall will be accessible to children and teachers across the UK and overseas.”
Judith Armitt, Managing Director of Ashford’s Future, the organisation tasked with delivering the growth agenda for the town, said: “This proposed development is excellent news for Ashford. It promises to provide first class educational activity facilities and represents a major investment in the town. The project also involves the creation of a significant number of new jobs and that is to be warmly welcomed.”
To get in contact with Locate in Kent:
Locate in Kent, 2 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling,
Kent, ME19 4AQ, United Kingdom.
Tel: + 44 (0)1732 520700 Fax: + 44 (0)1732 520701
email: enquiries@LocateinKent.com
