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Economic Development Strategy – Action Plan
A) Retaining and Attracting Investment
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Action / Milestones |
S / M / L |
Resource |
Lead |
Partners |
A1 |
Introduce the Council's new Business Customer Relationship Management system Local businesses will be targeted to receive support that enables them to grow. This will be done in partnership with others, including High Growth Kent, Manufacturing Advisory Services, UKTI, etc .
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Overarching: 6,500 businesses categorised to assess growth potential / identify business lifecycle / export potential |
Short
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Existing MBC resource + partners
SELEP Funding
ERDF / ESF Funding |
Coordinating Lead by MBC |
Growth Accelerator Programme (BSK) High Growth Kent (KCC) UKTI MAS University of Greenwich (Enterprise Europe Network) Uni of Kent Business School Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
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a. 480 ‘deeper’ appraisals |
Short
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b. 180 full diagnostic reviews of companies
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Short - Medium |
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Short - Medium |
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A2 |
Work with Maidstone Medical Campus to ensure that the investment goes ahead, including investigating using direct council intervention (powers/Investment) if necessary.
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Enter into direct discussions with site owner/agent to take forward each element of MMC including medical school, Neurovillage and medical technologies. Explore opportunity to attract the Regenerative Medicine Catapult. |
Medium |
Existing MBC staff
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MBC |
MMC Ltd KCC SELEP |
Investigate joint promotional activities with the owner and agent.
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Short |
Current resources, networking and website |
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Consider barriers to delivering MMC and bid to SLGF. |
Short |
Existing MBC staff |
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A3 |
Ensure that employment land allocated through the planning system is suitable for the needs of new and expanding employers and that planning policies are flexible enough to achieve the balance between realising potential growth opportunities and not sacrificing the environment which is in itself an asset. |
Site allocation policies published |
Short
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Existing MBC staff
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MBC |
MBC KCC Business Community |
New site allocations made in the next draft of the Local Plan
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Short |
Existing MBC staff |
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A4 |
Deliver and support business events focused on supporting existing business competitiveness and driving business growth |
Development of a programme of ‘finance ready’ events with 1000 MD’s and Senior Manager’s attending 225 companies participating in finance ready programme Management Skills Workshops: 500 individuals attending workshops ICT – 200 companies improving use of and access to ICT eg using new websites as a driver for growth Development of supply chain networks (sector approach) |
Medium |
Existing MBC staff |
MBC |
BSK TSB Enterprise Europe Network |
A5 |
Effectively engage with employers to raise awareness of available programmes and support, increase take up and participation to improve business competitiveness.
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Undertake a baseline survey of the business support available to them including relevance and quality to highlight duplication and gaps. |
Short
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Existing MBC |
MBC |
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, Kent Institute of Directors, Lenham Valley Business Association, South Maidstone Business Association, Marden Business Forum, the Network of Rural Business Forums, Visit Kent and Produced in Kent. |
Work with business support organisations to use this intelligence to inform the KMEP Innovation and Growth Statement. |
Short |
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Strengthen Maidstone Economic Business Partnership to become a strong voice for businesses in Maidstone. |
Short |
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Programme of business engagement to raise awareness of available programmes and support and to encourage a greater take up of apprenticeships. - No. Business Visits: 100 |
Medium
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Regular e-newsletters (min 12 a year)
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Short |
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Sector specific briefing notes |
Short |
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New business information website
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Short |
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A6 |
Investigate a new master plan involving small scale format offices on land allocated for employment at Eclipse Business Park. |
Support the landowner to identify a new vision for Eclipse Business Park Ensure new policies for Eclipse Business Park are flexible enough to achieve this. |
Medium |
Existing |
Gallaghers |
MBC |
B) Stimulating More Entrepreneurship
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Action / Milestones |
S / M / L |
Resource |
Lead |
Partners |
B1 |
Continue to provide funding for a business start-up programme.
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Continue to deliver an enhanced programme of business support and explore innovative ways for local delivery with partners |
Short
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Existing MBC and bid for new funding |
MBC
SELEP and KMEP |
COC
MBC BSK KCC |
Work with others to coordinate the plethora of business support initiatives to remove duplication and fill gaps in provision |
Medium |
SELEP |
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B2 |
Progress the option of an Enterprise Hub solution for Maidstone.
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Progress Mini Hub with aim of being open by August 2015. The Mini Hub will test proof of concept as the Council retains its ambition to create a full Hub in the medium term.
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Short |
Existing MBC and business rates pooling |
MBC |
BSK COC Centre for Micro Businesses Kent Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs Princes Trust University of Kent University of Greenwich |
B3 |
Work with the County to ensure the roll out of high speed broadband across rural communities.
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Work with KCC on ensuring Maidstone Businesses benefit from the extended roll out programme. |
Short
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Existing |
KCC |
MBC BT BDUK |
Encourage all new developments to provide the required infrastructure to enable fibre to all premises. |
Medium |
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B4 |
Investigate specific actions that the Council could undertake to support the creation of small businesses in rural areas.
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Capitalise on the enthusiasm shown by some parish councils and rural business networks to identify small businesses in rural areas. |
Short
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Existing and bids to the SELEP / ERDF / ESF |
MBC |
Parish Councils Centre for Micro Businesses Produced in Kent Made in Kent Rural Networks NFU TSB |
Investigate the parish level interventions required to support the small businesses identified |
Medium |
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Identify specific interventions to support the land based sector |
Short
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Investigate the use of rural libraries and other community facilities to deliver business support activities in rural areas. |
Medium |
C) Enhancing the Town Centre
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Action / Milestones |
S / M / L |
Resource |
Lead |
Partners |
C1 |
To develop a vision for the town centre and translate this into a spatial land use plan for the future development of the town.
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Agree with stakeholders a long term vision for the Town Centre |
Short
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Financial resource required for master planning and Engagement Plan c.£30k |
MBC |
Capital and Regional Solum
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Develop and deliver a set of initiatives to make this vision a reality. |
Medium |
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Ensure planning policies support the vision and delivery of actions |
Medium |
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C2 |
Consider current office accommodation uses in the town centre and determine how best to ensure the development of fit for purpose prime office space for business.
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Consider use of direct intervention including purchase of sites to ensure quality office offer. |
Medium
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Borrowing to resource purchases (considered alongside development appraisals) and private sector partners |
MBC |
KCC Private sector partners |
Monitor the situation with regards to Permitted Development Rights (PDR) and the loss of both primary and secondary office stock |
Short
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Ensure planning policies support the protection of the quality town centre office stock. |
Medium |
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C3 |
Consider how the public sector can work together to help stimulate investment in Maidstone town centre. |
Explore options for the delivery of Phase 3 public realm works in Gabriels Hill, Earl Street and North End of Week Street including ensuring Planning Policy requires S106 contributions where appropriate. |
Medium
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Consider as part of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan including S106 contributions MCL Business Plan |
MBC |
KCC Leisure Industry
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Work with MCL to develop events and activities within Maidstone Town Centre to enhance the Town Centre offer. |
Short |
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Consider direct intervention through the Council acting as an investment partner in key sites such as the Mall and Maidstone East |
Medium |
Consider as part of the Commercialisation Project |
MBC |
Capital and Regional Solum Regeneration |
D) Meeting Skills Needs
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Action / Milestones |
S / M / L |
Resource |
Lead |
Partners |
D1 |
Work closely with Mid Kent College and other relevant education and training providers to forge closer links with business to help ensure that the skills needs of employers are met.
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Engage with local businesses to gauge their awareness of the existing training provision available to them and the relevance and quality. |
Short
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Existing
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MBC |
All training providers All businesses |
Undertake a baseline survey to determine the skills needs of our local businesses. |
Short
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Existing
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Develop a comprehensive web based application incorporating the principles behind the big exchange, access to skills for young people, a business to business skills exchange portal and an ability to aggregate business training needs. |
Medium |
Transforming Local Government Fund (secured £100k) and ESF bid |
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D2 |
Increase the number of businesses in Maidstone that take on apprenticeships.
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Link with programme of business engagement see A5
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Medium
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Use social media, website, e-newsletters, editorial, case-studies and other to promote apprentice opportunities to businesses. |
Short |
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D3 |
Increase awareness of the sector growth opportunities in Maidstone to training providers so that they can gear their provision to meet the future needs of employers.
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Provide regular briefing notes, information and newsletters to training providers to give them a wider understanding of the boroughs business composition and likely trends to enable them to gear provision accordingly.
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D4 |
Work with KCC to encourage greater take up of the 2-1-2 programme which addresses the education and training needs of school leavers qualified at below level 2.
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Support KCC identify businesses willing to provide the work experience element of this project |
Short |
Existing resources |
KCC
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MBC, Education Business Partnership |
D5 |
Support KIMS in their discussions with universities to expand the HE offer on the MMS site.
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Establish working group Identify drivers for HE investment Any barriers Consider funding options
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Medium |
Unknown at this stage |
KIMS |
MBC, Canterbury Christchurch University |
D6 |
Support discussions between UCA and KIMS on looking to enhance the overall student experience for HE students at Maidstone Studios and at Maidstone Medical Campus.
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Evolve the joint working group with KIMS to include UCA
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Long |
Unknown at this stage |
MBC |
UCA , KIMS, Maidstone Studios |
D7 |
Work with UCA to further develop the business case for their proposed new facilities at Maidstone Studio.
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Support the Studios bid to create a Media Village to SLGF
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Long |
Existing |
Maidstone Studios |
UCA |
E) Improving the Infrastructure
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Action / Milestones |
S / M / L |
Resource |
Lead |
Partners |
E1 |
Take forward the schemes for which LGF funding has been allocated.
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Work with KCC and contribute to the Project Groups for Sustainable Access to Employment and Bridge Gyratory Bypass Project. |
Short |
SLGF Infrastructure Delivery Plan
Existing |
KCC
MBC |
MBC TMBC EA
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Work with partners within the project areas to increase ownership and funding opportunities. |
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E2 |
Consider how to improve the train service to London.
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Work with South Eastern to ensure the 2018 Thameslink from Maidstone East remains on-track, to deliver an extended peak period service to the City of London. |
Medium
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Existing
Existing
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South Eastern Rail
KCC |
MBC KCC Network Rail
MBC Govia |
Work with the Medway Valley Line and South Eastern to ensure High Speed Service from Maidstone West continues. |
Medium |
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E3 |
Work closely with KCC and other stakeholders to agree the Integrated Transport Strategy |
Deliver the transport proposals in the ITS. |
Long |
SLGF Infrastructure Delivery Plan Existing |
KCC MBC |
Developers |
E4 |
Work closely with KCC to consider ways to increase the rate of broadband roll out across Maidstone borough, especially in rural areas.
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Help identify areas where poor broadband provision is hindering the development of business to help inform the areas of focus for the extension programme to the BDUK funding. |
Medium
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Existing
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KCC
KCC
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BT Developers
BT Developers |
Help promote the uptake of upgraded services within areas of business / resident concentration to increase the potential coverage of the BDUK work. |
Medium |
Existing
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Maidstone Borough Council – Partnership Engagement and Demonstrating Leadership
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Action / Milestones |
S / M / L |
Resource |
Lead |
Partners |
To publicise the positive things that the council is doing that demonstrate it is pro economic growth.
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Produce a Business Charter setting out the role of every Council service in supporting businesses. Promote the work of the Council through the media. e.g. Down’s Mail supplement. Attend and present to business networking and business support organisations.
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Short |
Existing |
Economic Development MBC |
All Services in MBC |
To consider ways of effectively conveying to the Maidstone electorate the advantages that economic growth will bring.
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Promote the benefits of growth through the media, case studies, press releases and direct to parishes. |
Medium |
Existing |
MBC |
Design South East |
To consider what the Council can do to convey the message to investors that Maidstone is 'open for business and for investing in growth'.
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Redesign the Locate in Maidstone website Hold awareness raising events in London with private sector partners Create new marketing material |
Medium |
Existing |
MBC |
Business networks |
To examine ways in which more support can be given to applicants to increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.
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Encourage pre-application advice With businesses Ensure Economic Development Officers attends pre-application s |
Short |
Existing |
MBC |
Businesses |