Vision for Kent 2012-2022 is written around three big ambitions for Kent:
Ambition 1 – To Grow the Economy
For Kent to be ‘open for business’ with a growing, successful economy and jobs for all.
This means - Supporting businesses to be successful, improving skills and career aspirations, providing apprenticeships and training opportunities, and improving Kent’s infrastructure to support business, such as good transport and high-speed broadband.
The vision for Ambition 1
Kent will be known as a place where business is thriving, generating wealth and providing high value jobs, taking advantage of the strong small business sector and our geographical position as the gateway between the UK and Europe. Kent’s excellent infrastructure and attractive environment will support Kent’s existing business to grow and encourage new businesses to locate. Kent’s business and education sectors will together provide continual learning opportunities for everyone of working age. This will offer confident, adaptable and ambitious employees the ability to acquire new skills and thirve. Kent’s economy will be balanced and provide more jobs overall. With the success of Kent’s businesses, employees will be rewarded with good pay and excellent prospects that will lead to a high quality of life for themselves and their families.
Our Top 3 Commitments to Grow the Economy
1. To deliver the critical infrastructure that will create the conditions for economic growth across all of Kent. This means:
- facilitiating access to high-speed broadband that encourages economic gorwth in our rural areas;
- improving the strategic road networks both within the county and those that link Kent to the rest of the UK;
- maximising the opportunities of high speed rail and Kent’s airports and ports that will reduce journey times to London and improve Kent’s connectivity with London, UK and Europe;
- improvements in integrated public transport that gives access to employment and improve workforce mobility without burdening our road networks.
2. To raise the career aspirations of Kent’s residents from early years through adulthood and to meet those increased aspirations with a range of learning opportunities, apprenticeships and internships that meet future business need.
3. To be business friendly and be the county of choice for inward investment and expansion by:
- providing sector-specific support for business, particularly in areas of potential growth;
- Sell Kent as the place to do business, emphasising and enhancing its gateway location and natural assets;
- Offer inducements (financial and other) for inward investment and expansion;
- Maximise the amount that public sector partners procure from Kent companies and that use Kent workforce;
- Minimising the bureaucracy placed on business and champion the removal of unnecessary regulation
See local businessman Geoff Miles talking about this ambition and why he believes it is so important to Kent.
Ambition 2 – To tackle Disadvantage
For Kent to be a county of opportunity, where aspiration rather than dependency is supported and quality of life is high for everyone.
This means - A good quality of life for everyone – helping unemployed people get back into work, encouraging Kent’s young people to make the most of opportunities to learn and prepare for their future, and providing choice and quality in health and social care and housing.
The vision for Ambition 2
Everyone in Kent has the potential to lead a happy and fulfilled life. All people in Kent, regardless of where they live or their own personal circumstances, will have the confidence and opportunities they need to create a positive life for themselves, their families and their communities. We will work to understand and break down the barriers that can stop this from happening. People in Kent will feel optimistic and secure about their futures, and work towards achieving their goals, with minimal dependence on support from services.
Our Top 3 Commitments to Tackle Disadvantage
1. To reduce the number of Kent residents on out of work benefits by:
- encouraging a desire and commitment from all residents to work as part of the productive economy;
- providing people with the support and basic skills training to equip them for work.
2. Inspire young people to become fully engaged in their families, schools and communities so they take full advantage of all the learning, recreational and development opportunities including volunteering, that are a foundation for achieving their lifelong potential.
3. To ensure there is choince of high quality and accessible services that will prevent and tackle disadvantage, particularly:
- integrated health and social care that will close the inequalities gap
- support for vulnerable children and their families to give all young people a chance
- housing that supports strong communities, supports a good quality of life and helps reduce household costs including tackling fuel poverty
See Jonathan Shaw, former MP in Kent and former social worker, talking about why he believes this ambition is so important for people in Kent.
Ambition 3 – Put Citizens In Control
For power and influence to be in the hands of local people so they are able to take responsibility for themselves, their families and their communities.
This means - Involving people in making decisions, working with them to design services that meet their needs and suits them, and supporting Kent’s volutnary and community sector to do even more to improve the lives of people in Kent.
The vision for Ambition 3
Individuals, families and communities within Kent will be involved in shaping the services that affect their lives and will influence decisions about how services are provided. Those that provide services will work together with individuals and communities to find solutions that suit everyone. Chairities, businesses and community groups will provide more targeted support and services that people, families and communities need, working with them at every step. Kent will be a place where people have a sense of community, purpose and belonging and where they feel safe and secure.
Our Top 3 Commitments to Put Citizens In Control
1. To support individuals to determine the services that they require, encouraging them to accept personal responsibility and to identify and get involved in delivering innovative solutions that meet their personal needs, thus delivering better outcomes for less cost.
2. To encourage a more resilient society where local communities identify local priorities and have more influence and involvement in the shape and delivery of services in their community which overcomes the need for remote and one size fits all solutions from public agencies.
3. Support the Voluntary and Community Sector to enhance its capacity, innovate and become more entrepreneurial so the sector can grow and can deliver more value for public sector investment, whilst retaining their independence.
See Bishop Trevor Willmott, Bishop in Canterbury, talking about the importance of this ambition to make Kent a better place.
