Inward Investment and Visitor Economy Services

Kent County Council is seeking a supplier or consortium that can provide the strategic lead on the delivery of inward investment and visitor economy services for Kent & Medway to support the priorities set out in the Kent & Medway Economic Framework. The successful supplier or consortium must:

1. Demonstrate an excellent understanding of the key issues facing the visitor economy sector in Kent and an ability to develop innovative and creative solutions to grow the local visitor economy.
2. Have the ability to be the inward investment agency for Kent & Medway, and demonstrate an excellent understanding of the key issues companies face when looking to relocate, knowledge of the local industrial and commercial property market and a expertise in identifying investment leads, supporting companies during a relocation process and once established.

The successful supplier or consortium should be able to demonstrate competence in the delivery of inward investment and visitor economy services.

The successful supplier or consortium will be expected to deliver, in close liaison with Kent County Council and Medway Council, specific outcomes that support the implementation of the Kent & Medway Economic Framework and wider ‘brand Kent’ programme activities to promote the county’s key assets and opportunities to external audiences. The work of the successful supplier or consortium will make a significant contribution to the economic development agenda in Kent & Medway and will link closely to relevant stakeholder work in the county and internationally. Prospective bidders are required to specify how they will perform this role, and to demonstrate competence in such delivery.

The successful supplier will develop innovative and creative solutions to secure inward investment in Kent and Medway and boost and enhance the visitor economy and should specify how they will deliver and evidence their activities.

The key features of the inward investment element of the service are; Securing external investment into Kent & Medway that creates new jobs and retains existing jobs; Promoting investment opportunities in Kent & Medway to overseas markets; Supporting supply chain opportunities and cluster development; Maintaining close contact with investing businesses through an after-care support programme.

The key features of the visitor economy element of the service are; Working to increase visitor numbers and spend in Kent & Medway; increasing the number of overnight visitor stays in the county, supporting and promoting local businesses in the visitor economy (including attractions, accommodation, leisure, retail and hospitality); securing new tour operator itineraries in Kent & Medway, supporting the creation of jobs in the visitor economy sector and marketing Kent & Medway as a year round visitor destination.

The successful supplier or consortium will also demonstrate how its activities under the contract will be evidenced and deliver and contribute to key economic outcomes for Kent & Medway including those highlighted in the Kent & Medway Economic Framework.

All Expressions of Interest must be registered via the Kent Business Portal and all interested candidates must submit a Selection Questionnaire via the Kent Business Portal by 6th March 2024. The Selection Questionnaire consists of a range of questions, only candidates who meet the minimum criteria will proceed to participate in the Invitation to Tender stage.