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 .

Overarching: 6,500 businesses categorised to assess growth potential / identify business lifecycle / export potential

Short

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

a.       480 ‘deeper’ appraisals

Short

b.      180 full diagnostic reviews of companies

Short -

Medium

3. c.75 growth action plans to be put in place to work over medium to long term

Short -

Medium

A2

Work with Maidstone Medical Campus to ensure that the investment goes ahead, including investigating using direct council intervention (powers/Investment) if necessary.

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

MBC

MMC Ltd

KCC

SELEP

Investigate joint promotional activities with the owner and agent.

Short

Current resources, networking and website

Consider barriers to delivering MMC and  bid to SLGF.

Short

Existing MBC staff

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

Existing MBC staff

MBC

MBC

KCC

Business Community

New site allocations made in the next draft of the Local Plan

Short

Existing MBC staff

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.

Undertake a baseline survey of the business support available to them including relevance and quality to highlight duplication and gaps.

Short

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

Strengthen Maidstone Economic Business Partnership to become a strong voice for businesses in Maidstone.

Short

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

Regular e-newsletters (min 12 a year)

Short

Sector specific briefing notes

Short

New business information website

Short

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

Action / Milestones

S / M / L

Resource

Lead

Partners

B1

Continue to provide funding for a business start-up programme.

Continue to deliver an enhanced programme of business support and explore innovative ways for local delivery with partners

Short

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

B2

Progress the option of an Enterprise Hub solution for Maidstone.

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.

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.

Work with KCC on ensuring Maidstone Businesses benefit from the extended roll out programme.

Short

Existing

KCC

MBC

BT

BDUK

Encourage all new developments to provide the required infrastructure to enable fibre to all premises.

Medium

B4

Investigate specific actions that the Council could undertake to support the creation of small businesses in rural areas.

Capitalise on the enthusiasm shown by some parish councils and rural business networks to identify small businesses in rural areas.

Short

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

Identify specific interventions to support the land based sector

Short

Investigate the use of rural libraries and other community facilities to deliver business support activities in rural areas.

Medium

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.

Agree with stakeholders a long term vision for the Town Centre

Short

Financial resource required for master planning and Engagement Plan c.£30k

MBC

Capital and Regional

Solum

Develop and deliver a set of initiatives to make this vision a reality.

Medium

Ensure planning policies support the vision and delivery of actions

Medium

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.

Consider use of direct intervention including purchase of sites to ensure quality office offer.

Medium

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

Ensure planning policies support the protection of the quality town centre office stock.

Medium

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

Consider as part of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan including

S106 contributions

MCL Business Plan

MBC

KCC

Leisure Industry

Work with MCL to develop events and activities within Maidstone Town Centre to enhance the Town Centre offer.

Short

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

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.

Engage with local businesses to gauge their awareness of the existing training provision available to them and the relevance and quality.

Short

Existing

MBC

All training providers

All businesses

Undertake a baseline survey to determine the skills needs of our local businesses.

Short

Existing

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

D2

Increase the number of businesses in Maidstone that take on apprenticeships.

Link with programme of business engagement see A5

Medium

Use social media, website, e-newsletters, editorial, case-studies and other to promote apprentice opportunities to businesses.

Short

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.

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.

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.

Support KCC identify businesses willing to provide the work experience element of this project

Short

Existing resources

KCC

MBC, Education Business Partnership

D5

Support KIMS in their discussions with universities to expand the HE offer on the MMS site.

Establish working group

Identify drivers for HE investment

Any barriers

Consider funding options

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.

Evolve the joint working group with KIMS to include UCA

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.

Support the Studios bid to create  a Media Village to SLGF

Long

Existing

Maidstone Studios

UCA

Action / Milestones

S / M / L

Resource

Lead

Partners

E1

Take forward the schemes for which LGF funding has been allocated.

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

Work with partners within the project areas to increase ownership and funding opportunities.

E2

Consider how to improve the train service to London.

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

Existing

Existing

South Eastern Rail

KCC

MBC

KCC
Medway Valley Line

Network Rail

MBC

Govia

Work with the Medway Valley Line and South Eastern to ensure High Speed Service from Maidstone West continues.

Medium

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.

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

Existing

KCC

KCC

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

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.

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.

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.

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'.

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.

Encourage pre-application advice

With businesses

Ensure Economic Development Officers attends pre-application s

Short

Existing

MBC

Businesses