Space to trade teamed up with Medway’s Pentagon Shopping Centre, owners Ellandi, Medway Council and Chatham Centre Forum; to give one very lucky business person the chance to ‘Win Six Months Rent Free’ trading at the Pentagon Shopping Centre. The competition offered one  local entrepreneur the chance to get their hands on a lucrative start-up package worth over £10,000.

Some great entries were received, showing just how many budding entrepreneurs there are in the area. These were then whittled down to three possible candidates.  

Phil Dowsing of Phil’s Retro Stuff said, ‘I found out about the competition via my wife Julie who saw it advertised on Facebook. It sounded like an ideal opportunity for me to really get serious with my part time retail business, as I had been strongly considering taking up a retail unit in the centre.  I put an enormous amount of time and effort working for someone else in a large retail environment in central London and I had always dreamed of having my own full time business and being able to control my own destiny. I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity.’

Paul Clifford, Managing Director of Space to trade said, ‘We are absolutely delighted for Phil; his passion for retail and keen head for business was evident throughout every stage of the application process. Space to trade will be mentoring Phil through the process and we are sure his business will be a success.’

As an added bonus, Medway Council's 'Partners for Growth' start-up grant initiative has committed to awarding a grant of £500 to Phil's Retro Stuff. 

The grant scheme is low level intervention funding, which in many cases has helped people who have lost their regular employment and see a route back into work through self-employment. Prospective applicants have to provide the council with a credible business plan including cash flow projections to qualify for a grant. The council grants scheme was set up in 2009 and has issued 120 grants to qualifying business since then.

Martyn Stone, Centre Manager at The Pentagon Shopping Centre said, ‘We are delighted to welcome Phil’s Retro Stuff to the centre.  The stall  will really complement the retail mix at The Pentagon, offering retro styled home décor products & gifts; such as wooden boxes, crates, tin-plate collectables and metal signs.