Business and management consultancy and related services

Tender description

The draft Kent and Medway Enterprise and Productivity Strategy places a strong emphasis on the importance of attracting inward investment and for locally based agencies to work closely with government agencies to bring new investment into the area. The draft strategy places a strong emphasis on increasing our promotion of Kent and Medway as a UK inward investment gateway, with a commitment required from Government and the Department for International Trade (DIT) to match local support for inward investment where it is focused around sectors in which Kent and Medway have particular strengths. Kent County Council will be placing an OJEU notice in March seeking expressions of interest to provide inward investment services for Kent and Medway. The service will be required to have an excellent understanding of the key issues companies face when looking to relocate, an understanding of the industrial and commercial property market in Kent and Medway, how to identify and develop leads, how to support companies during the relocation process and how to support relocated companies following relocation. The service should have a strong track record of delivering similar services. The service will be expected to deliver, alongside Kent County Council and Medway Council, specific outcomes that contribute to economic development in Kent and Medway, working closely with stakeholders in the county and internationally, including DIT and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership. Prospective bidders will be required to specify how they will perform this role and to show a proven track record in such delivery. The service will develop innovative and creative solutions to secure inward investment in Kent and Medway. The key features of the service are set out below and prospective suppliers will be required to specify how they will deliver these: — securing external investment into Kent and Medway that creates new jobs, — promoting Kent and Medway to overseas markets, — maintaining close contact with investing businesses through an after-care programme. The service will also be required to deliver and contribute to the following economic outcomes for Kent and Medway: — more investment opportunities from overseas markets, — increased supply chain benefits for local businesses, — more inward investment in Kent and Medway, — raised profile as a destination for inward and foreign direct investment. Further details will be published in the forthcoming OJEU notice. Further information will be provided when the call for competition is placed in March 2020.