Local Community

Our commitment to providing a supportive environment at Discovery Park doesn’t stop at the gates.

We support local causes, whenever we can, whether it’s volunteering at local events, donating surplus furniture to local schools or providing help to switch on the Christmas lights.

We love being part of the Sandwich community and doing all we can to put this wonderful corner of Kent on the map , including making our contribution to the work Dover District Council is doing to drive investment to the area.

Discovery Park sponsor annual Crocus Walk

Discovery Park were the main sponsor for this year’s annual Crocus Walk – and joined in with more than 140 other people to hike from Walmer to St Margaret’s Bay.

The walk has already raised £2,000 for the charity, which is the UK’s largest breast cancer charity.

For the first time, everyone who completed the walk received a medal and – in another element to the event – walkers were tasked with finding pink pebbles which had been dropped along the route.

Kimberley Anderson, Corporate Relations Manager at Discovery Park, said: “It’s been great to support the Crocus Walk in aid of Breast Cancer Now, raising nearly £2,000 for a fantastic cause. Even though there was rain, and lots of hills to negotiate, everyone kept encouraging one another with a smile on their face. It’s great to see the community come together for events like this.”

Kerry Rubins said: “It was a truly special day with lots of new walkers that took part. We had walkers from Stoke Mandeville, Ashford, Whitstable, London, Tunbridge Wells, along with lots of locals.”

One You Kent visits Discovery Park on its health roadshow

Discovery Park was visited by the One You Kent wellbeing van as it travelled around the county offering free health assessments to businesses.

Tenants were invited to come along on Tuesday, 3 April, and pick from one of two services – the first being a quick 10-minute health MOT, or – if eligible – a full 30-minute NHS health check.

These tests, which took as little as five minutes, allowed users to find out about their general health and wellbeing and walk away with an anonymous printout of their results, with a comparison to medically accepted standards.

Tenants were given the opportunity to find out about their height, weight, BMI, body fat, heart rate and water content. Advisors were on-hand to provide support and referrals where needed.

If you missed out on the One You health van this time, don’t worry. Contact one of the One You Kent team to find out how you can have your free health check: https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/one-you-kent

St James’s Development, Dover

Dover District Council is working with its development partner, Bond City, on a prime 8-acre site that will transform the retail and leisure offer in the heart of Dover town centre.

New drone footage shows the exciting progress being made at Dover’s St James development with a cinema, Travelodge and shops. A video showing the latest progress can be seen on the Locate in Kent website.

Set to open in 2018, the site will boast a six-screen Cineworld multiplex, 108-bed Travelodge, food outlets like Nandos, Bella Italia and Frankie & Bennys and shops including Next, Poundland and Shoe Zone.

For information and bookings at the Dover Travelodge, visit: https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/640/Dover-hotel

At the Heart of Sandwich

From sponsoring the annual King Street Party and the Christmas Lights switch on to volunteering at the town’s extensive calendar of summer events, Discovery Park does all it can do be a good neighbour.

That includes sharing the great things taking place in Sandwich with the 3,000 plus people now working at Discovery Park. We also support in other ways, including the use of our car parks as a weekend park and ride facility, for example.

Great things like the Guildhall improvement project too, which Discovery Park has taken an active role in from the start, working with Dover District Council and others as part of the project team.

Dover Waterfront transformation

A vital connection is underway to link the historic and new marina facilities together as work continues for the delivery of a fantastic new waterfront for Dover.

Removal of part of the old 19th Century sea wall has begun in order to make way for the new Wellington Navigation Channel as part of the Dover Western Docks Revival (DWDR) development.

Read the full update on the Invest Dover website.

Discovery Park hosts Thanet Parkway Station consultation

Kent County Council held a public consultation event at Discovery Park into plans for a new parkway station in Thanet.

The new station will provide access to more employment opportunities for local residents by providing access to high speed rail services to London and other parts of Kent.

Find out more about the new Thanet Parkway.

Tenants link up for charity cycle event

A charity bike ride supported by Discovery Park tenant, Big Red Branding, has not only helped to raise awareness of motor-neurone disease (MND) but has sparked a wave of support across the site in aid of a great cause.

Dave and Luke Tappy from Big Red will be joined by a peloton of companies based at the Sandwich science and business park, for the 40-mile tour of East Kent  on Sunday, 23 July.

To read the full story, visit our news section.

Ramsgate’s Motorhouse Project

Discovery Park welcomed acclaimed actress Brenda Blethyn to the site in May 2016 for a special reception event, bringing businesses on site up to date on plans to create a new cultural heart for Ramsgate.

Project MotorHouse aims to repurpose the former West Cliff Hall, the town’s old motor museum into a new leisure and entertainment centre, complete with indoor and outdoor cinemas, theatre, gallery, function rooms and a brasserie style restaurant.

Read the latest on the Project MotorHouse website.

Ash RFC sponsorship

Discovery Park linked up with Ash RFC last year to support the village club in its efforts to increase membership and encourage people – of all ages – to up the sport.

Ash RFC, which celebrated its 20th year in 2016, caters for every level from under sixes – some 100 take part in mini-rugby sessions each weekend – right up to the senior side holding their own in the Kent League.

Find out more on the Ash RFC website.