Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council have announced the launch of a new Grow in Kent service. The team will support visitor economy and inward investment in Kent and Medway, which hold a value of more than £4.1 billion for the county.
The news follows the closures of Locate in Kent and Go to Places, the parent company of Visit Kent, with aims to build upon the legacy of the organisations, which together supported 20% of Kent jobs.
Following the liquidation of the two companies, KCC and Medway Council consulted with private sector businesses and district councils to ensure the new service would continue to deliver for the county. KCC and Medway Council will work in partnership with these organisations, which have provided a wealth of feedback and insight to help shape the new service.
Securing decades of tourism and business development expertise the Grow in Kent team includes former employees from both companies. KCC and Medway Council have obtained Visit Kent assets, including websites, branding and social media accounts to ensure a smooth transition for the new service, which aims to put the county on the map as a leading destination to live, visit, grow and invest.
The team will deliver in two key areas – a visitor economy service under the Visit Kent banner, and an inward investment service, which will sit under a new Invest Kent brand. Both services will draw on skills and insights from the team, benefitting from additional expertise from KCC’s wider Economy team and Medway Council.
Invest Kent will continue to draw investment to the county, managing a pipeline of business investment and expansion projects. The team will advise businesses expanding and establishing in Kent. Businesses will benefit from the team’s knowledge and established networks, receiving expert guidance on everything from securing the right location and finding talent to identifying local suppliers and accessing financial support. Invest Kent will help to ensure Kent competes at a national level, securing a reputation as a leading place to grow a successful business within strategically important sectors, ensuring Kent remains an attractive location to do business.
Visit Kent will reestablish its popular consumer-facing channels, using insights-led marketing to inspire visitors and residents to drive footfall and spend within the county. Local tourism and hospitality businesses will benefit from free-to-access business and marketing support as part of the Kent-wide brand. This primary service is supported by new scalable partnership packages, which will allow businesses access to enhanced activity, tailored to suit a wide range of budgets. The service also sees the return of the Kent Cambridge Economic Impact Study, an important annual report which measures the value and volume of tourism within the county.
David Wimble, KCC Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Special Projects, said: “Inward investment and tourism are an integral part of Kent’s economic framework. Locate in Kent supported the creation or retention of 70,165 jobs in Kent, while tourism supports just over 82,000 jobs within the region.
“The undeniable benefit these sectors bring to both local businesses and Kent residents was evident in the outpouring of feedback KCC received in the days and weeks following the closures of Visit Kent and Locate in Kent. It was therefore of utmost importance that, together with our colleagues at Medway Council, we secured the legacy of these former companies, obtaining decades of knowledge and assets, which will no doubt ensure a smooth transition and delivery of the new Grow in Kent service.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many businesses who fed back and shared their support as we set up the new team. We look forward to working with them as we continue to cement Kent’s reputation as a leading UK destination.”
Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, said:“I am pleased the work to support Kent and Medway’s visitor economy and inward investment will continue. I am grateful to our teams at Medway Council who have been liaising closely with colleagues at Kent County Council to ensure positive collaboration. This new strengthened partnership will help us act on opportunities to benefit both our residents and businesses, and raise the profile of the region on a national and international level.
“The county has a lot to offer visitors, with Medway alone welcoming nearly five million visitors each year to enjoy our vast historical and cultural sites and attractions, as well as our leisure scene. This new vision will continue the work to promote these sites to help boost tourism, local business opportunities and the region’s economy as a whole. I am also grateful for the work to directly support business owners and entrepreneurs through a dedicated business network providing advice, guidance and opportunities to grow and thrive.
“We cannot do this without the fantastic support of Kent and Medway’s passionate stakeholders and our highly skilled business community - thank you for your ongoing support and we will continue to do all we can to further help you grow.”
Dave Banks, Site Director for BAE Systems, Electronic Systems site in Rochester, said:“We’re incredibly proud to call Rochester home, which is why BAE Systems is investing £220 million to build a state-of-the-art factory and commit our long-term future to the area. We have a highly skilled workforce, and it’s great to see Medway Council and Kent County Council join forces to attract even more world class talent to the region.”
Helen Bonser-Wilton, Chief Executive of Leeds Castle Foundation, said: “We welcome the launch of the new Grow in Kent service and the continued commitment to championing both the visitor economy and inward investment across the county.
“As one of Kent’s leading attractions, we see first-hand the impact a strong, unified county brand can have in attracting new audiences, driving overnight stays and supporting the wider local supply chain. Collaboration at this level is essential if Kent and Medway are to compete nationally and internationally, and we look forward to working with the new team and partners to help showcase the region as an outstanding place to visit, live and grow.”
Source: Kent County Council
