Medway is the largest conurbation in the South East, outside London, with a population of around 280,000 which is projected to grow further. This has been a place of significance for thousands of years because of its strategic location as a crossing point on the River Medway. Rochester Castle, Rochester Cathedral and Chatham Dockyard were built for that very reason. The towns making up Medway are Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham, Strood and Rainham. Large parts of the area are green and rural with a number of parks, seven of which are green flag accredited. Medway is also part of the environmentally important North Kent Marshes on the extensive Hoo Peninsula to the north. With superb connections to London and Europe, Medway is part of the Thames Gatewayand home to the University of Greenwich, University of Kent, Canterbury ChristChurch University, the University for the Creative Arts and MidKent College. This has always been a place of culture and creativity, from its influence on the writing of Charles Dickens, to the work of the universities in music, audio technology, journalism, fashion, photography and product design. Medway has a diverse and rapidly growing business base with a focus on high value technology, engineering, manufacturing, cultural and creative, knowledge intensive companies. Innovation is at the heart of Medway’s future and is being supported by state-of-the-art facilities across the area linked to the universities, all helping start-up businesses.