Action plan
Theme: Promoting the Borough
Action: Rebranding of the West Kent Partnership
Measure: Delivery of brand and launch of website by Autumn 2023; ongoing campaigns
Partners: West Kent Partnership (SDC, TWBC)
Funding: West Kent Partnership contribution and other West Kent authorities
Timescale: November 2023; from March 2024 onwards
Action: Delivery of Service Level Agreement with Visit Kent
Measure: 100% of SLA targets met
Partners: Visit Kent
Funding: TMBC Economic Development budgets
Timescale: Ongoing to 2027
Theme: Supporting Local Business
Action: West Kent Business Support Programme
Measure:
• 20 T&M businesses per year supported through mentoring and micro-grants
• Minimum 6 workshops per year across West Kent
Partners: West Kent Partnership, Smarter Society Ltd
Funding: UKSPF and TMBC budgets
Timescale: Until March 2025
Action: Promote Growth Hub and business support organisations
Measure: Refer businesses appropriately
Partners: Kent Invicta Chamber, other rep bodies
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: Until March 2025
Action: Local business networking
Measure: Minimum 3 events per year
Partners: FSB, Tonbridge Town Team, Town/Parish councils, businesses
Funding: TMBC and partner funding
Timescale: To 2027
Action: Monthly Business Bulletin
Measure:
• 12 bulletins per year
• Minimum 900 recipients
Partners: All partners and businesses
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: Monthly to 2027
Action: Annual West Kent Business Conference
Measure: One summit per year with at least 40 businesses attending
Partners: West Kent Partnership
Funding: West Kent Partnership contributions
Timescale: Next event March 2024
Theme: Land and Premises
Action: Delivery of Local Plan
Measure: Work toward adoption; allocate strategic sites by 2026
Partners: Consultees, residents, businesses
Funding: TMBC budgets
Timescale: Adoption from April 2026
Action: Support completion of Panattoni Park Aylesford
Measure: Full occupation of the site
Partners: Panattoni, Kent County Council
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: 2024
Action: Support NIAB EMR – Green Tech Hub Phase 2
Measure: Implementation of Phase 2
Partners: NIAB EMR; East Malling Trust
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: By end of 2027
Action: Support RBLI – Centenary Village phase
Measure: Implementation of works
Partners: RBLI
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: 2024
Action: Support Leigh Expansion & Hildenborough Embankment Scheme (LEHES)
Measure: Works fully completed
Partners: Environment Agency, KCC, SELEP
Funding: TMBC capital allocation
Timescale: Completed by 2025
Action: Promote Locate in Kent
Measure: Refer businesses appropriately
Partners: Locate in Kent
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: To 2027
Theme: A Greener, More Productive Economy
Action: Green Business Grant Scheme
Measure: Deliver two rounds (2023 & 2024), minimum 20 businesses supported
Partners: SDC, KCC (LoCASE), businesses
Funding: UKSPF and Business Rates Pool
Timescale: Completed by March 2025
Action: Green Retrofit Skills Pilot
Measure: Support up to 50 people to gain retrofit skills
Partners: SDC; local colleges
Funding: UKSPF
Timescale: Completed by March 2025
Action: Carbon Literacy Training
Measure: Up to 100 people trained
Partners: Town/Parish councils; community groups
Funding: UKSPF
Timescale: Completed by March 2025
Action: Promote energy efficiency and emissions advice
Measure: Refer businesses appropriately
Partners: Low Carbon Kent, LoCASE, GSE Net Zero Hub
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: To 2027
Action: Support provision of Electric Vehicle Charging Points
Measure: 50 EV charge points delivered (Phase 2)
Partners: KCC, Connected Kerb
Funding: TMBC and KCC
Timescale: Installed April 2025
Theme: A Thriving Rural Economy
Action: West Kent Rural Grant Scheme
Measure: Minimum 25 grants issued (2023–25)
Partners: West Kent Partnership
Funding: Rural England Prosperity Fund
Timescale: Completed by March 2025
Action: Promote Growing Kent & Medway
Measure: Refer businesses appropriately
Partners: NIAB EMR; GKM Partners
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: To 2027
Theme: An Inclusive Economy
Action: Jobs fairs
Measure: 2 events per year (Tonbridge & Aylesford)
Partners: DWP, Housing Associations, RBLI
Funding: TMBC Economic Development budgets
Timescale: To 2027
Action: Support SEN apprenticeships/internships
Measure: Up to 8 placements supported
Partners: Oaks Specialist College; Education People (KCC)
Funding: Business Rates Retention Pilot
Timescale: Delivered by September 2024
Action: Support schools with careers advice
Measure: Attend up to 2 careers fairs per year
Partners: Schools, The Education People, KEBP
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: To 2027
Action: Reduce digital exclusion
Measure: Establish a digital inclusion initiative
Partners: Kent County Council
Funding: Business Rates Retention Pilot
Timescale: During 2024/25
Theme: Vibrant Town Centres
Action: Town centre events and markets
Measure: Minimum 30 events per year
Partners: Event companies, organisers, businesses
Funding: TMBC budgets and officer time
Timescale: To 2027
Action: Tonbridge Town Centre Review
Measure: Produce and implement regeneration plans
Partners: Landowners, MACE
Funding: TMBC budgets, BRRP, UKSPF
Timescale: To 2027
Action: Improve wayfinding/signage in Tonbridge
Measure: Deliver Phase 1 linking station to town centre
Partners: Community Rail Partnership, Network Rail, Southeastern
Funding: UKSPF
Timescale: During 2024
Action: Explore potential BID in Tonbridge
Measure: Initial viability research
Partners: Tonbridge Town Team; businesses
Funding: TMBC officer time
Timescale: During 2024