Flying Start and Swale Forward

Regeneration Game

Brief

• Promote Swale as an integral part of the Thames Gateway to the local and regional press and stakeholders. 

• Launch Flying Start, an ambitious plan to create an aviation heritage centre, training and community facility on the Isle of Sheppey.

Results and highlights

• Maxim managed the media relations for a series of economic development and regeneration initiatives for Swale Forward, as well as ministerial visits. 

• Focusing on Swale’s role in the Thames Gateway led Swale Forward to attend the Thames Gateway Forum. Maxim unveiled the Flying Start project to this key stakeholder audience, and also promoted the ‘Planning for Real’ project, highlighting the future of Queenborough and Rushenden, which secured ministerial and media interest. 

• Flying Start seeks to celebrate the first flight by a Briton in a British-built aeroplane, which took place on the Isle of Sheppey. Launched by Maxim, it secured strong local and regional support, and received financial backing for a feasibility study from the BIG Lottery. 

• Editorial coverage on Flying Start was generated in aviation interest publications, as well as the region’s lifestyle titles and local media, including BBC South East Today.