North Kent Enterprise Zone: Enabling and Marketing

The North Kent Enterprise Zone (NKEZ) was designated by Government in Autumn 2015 and came into operation on 1 April 2017. It is one of four Enterprise Zones in which SELEP has an interest.

As a nationally designated Enterprise Zone, NKEZ is a priority initiative for SELEP. Whilst it operates within a specific sub-regional geography, its impact will potentially benefit SELEP as a whole as a catalyst for enterprise and growth in the Thames Gateway/Estuary area.

Approvals

The SELEP Strategic Board approved the funding sought in this application in June 2017, paragraph 6.12) subject to compliance with the assurance framework and demonstration of value for money.

At that time the funding package covered three elements, now reduced to two:

1. Preparation of Local Development Orders (LDOs) and Masterplan for Innovation Park Medway (IPM)
2. Marketing of NKEZ and associated collateral.

A third component, a proposed evaluation, is not being progressed and the funding approved in principle is sought to be applied instead to element (1).

Delivering a simplified planning regime

Medway Council and Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council have agreed that LDOs (Local Development Orders) offer the best way forward for delivering a simplified planning regime for IPM (Masterplan for Innovation Park Medway), underpinning a compelling offer to potential occupiers and accelerating the delivery and pace of site development and business occupation.

How the funding will be used

The funding is to contribute towards development of the LDOs and Masterplan including associated studies and consultation processes.

The NKEZ Strategic Board has adopted a marketing strategy taking a phased approach to awareness-raising, targeted advertising, promotional collateral, social media and direct marketing.

This is being led by Locate in Kent on behalf of NKEZ. This element of funding is to enable added-value activity to enhance the marketing impact for NKEZ.

Sector Support Fund

The Sector Support Fund (SSF) is a £500,000 per year pot to support one-off, discrete pieces of work of a pan-LEP nature with a sector focus that brings demonstrable benefit and has support across the LEP.

It uses Growing Places Fund (GPF) Revenue grant to fund a programme of works to support the sector focussed activities that are being undertaken on a pan-LEP basis and predominantly led by the SELEP working groups. When the Growing Places Fund (GPF) grant was originally awarded, a proportion of the fund was earmarked as revenue which is being used for the Sector Support Fund.