Kent Business Leaders Intensify Campaign for ‘Kent-First’ Procurement to Strengthen Local Economy
The Kent Business Alliance has launched a new campaign encouraging local councils across Kent to adopt a ‘Kent-first’ procurement policy. Spearheaded by Dr. Tim Aker, this initiative seeks to prioritise local businesses in public contracts and transform the economic landscape of the county. Advocates argue the approach could increase wages, create jobs, and promote local investment. However, questions remain about legal constraints, competition, and practical challenges.
The ‘Kent-First’ Vision: Reshaping Local Public Contracts
The ‘Kent-first’ procurement strategy proposes that public authorities prioritise Kent-based companies when awarding contracts for goods, services, and works. As Dr. Tim Aker explains, the goal is to ensure that local spending benefits Kent’s economy directly, creating a ripple effect where money remains in community businesses and households.
Currently, procurement policies tend to focus predominantly on finding the lowest price or “best value” without emphasising local economic impact. The Kent-first policy offers a shift towards strengthening local supply chains and fostering economic resilience within the county.
Defining “Local”: What it Means for Procurement
One of the complexities in adopting such a policy is defining what constitutes a ‘local’ business. Should eligibility be limited to firms headquartered within Kent, or extended to neighboring areas? Should the policy consider the location of principal operations, employment, or tax base?
The Kent Business Alliance suggests a county-wide focus but acknowledges the challenges in balancing inclusivity and specificity. Precise definitions are crucial to avoid ambiguity and ensure fair application.
Boosting Kent’s Economy: The Arguments for Local Preference
Supporters of the Kent-first approach highlight several anticipated economic advantages. By awarding more contracts to Kent businesses, local jobs can increase across various sectors. This can lead to higher wages as demand for skilled workers grows within the county.
The policy also encourages reinvestment into the local economy, generating the ‘local multiplier effect’—where money spent locally circulates and multiplies economic activity. For example, a local construction firm hired on a public project is more likely to use Kent-based subcontractors and suppliers, further distributing economic benefits.
Research from similar initiatives elsewhere in the UK suggests these effects can promote sustainable community development. However, detailed data specific to Kent is limited, which reinforces the call for transparency in procurement spending.
Success Stories: Local Procurement in Action
While comprehensive county-wide data is not yet publicly available, some districts in Kent have experimented with prioritising local suppliers. For instance, Sevenoaks District Council has incorporated an assessment of local economic impact in their procurement evaluations, resulting in increased contracts awarded to local SMEs.
Local businesses in areas such as hospitality, maintenance, and IT services have reported positive outcomes, including expanded capacity and longer-term contracts. These examples provide preliminary evidence supporting the viability of a broader Kent-first approach.
Navigating the Hurdles: Legal, Financial, and Practical Considerations
Public procurement in the UK is governed by strict regulations designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and value for money. The UK Public Contracts Regulations 2015 require councils to conduct open and competitive tendering for contracts above certain thresholds, limiting the scope to favour local suppliers solely based on location.
Councils also have a duty to achieve ‘best value’, meaning selecting the option that delivers the optimal balance of cost, quality, and outcomes. This duty complicates prioritising local companies when a non-local firm might offer a lower price or more specialised service.
Implementing a Kent-first policy would require councils to carefully structure procurement criteria to include ‘local economic benefit’ as a material consideration. However, this approach risks potential legal challenges or perceptions of reduced competition.
Financially, there may be concerns about cost increases if bids from local firms are higher. Additionally, administrative workloads could grow with the need to verify local status and evaluate broader economic impacts.
The Council’s View: Balancing Best Value and Local Impact
Kent County Council and other local authorities have acknowledged the potential benefits of supporting local businesses but cite the need to balance this with procurement rules and fiscal responsibility. A spokesperson from Kent County Council commented: “We are committed to supporting Kent’s economy and SMEs where possible, however, procurement processes must remain fair, transparent, and compliant with legislation. We continue to explore ways to increase local engagement within these parameters.”
Fairness and Competition: Broader Implications
Introducing a local preference could lead to fewer bids if non-local firms withdraw or are discouraged. This reduction in competition might lead to less innovation or higher prices in some sectors. There is also a risk of smaller pools of suppliers in specialised fields, which could impact service quality.
Procurement experts stress the importance of maintaining a competitive environment while recognising the wider community benefits of local sourcing. A balanced approach could involve weighting local presence alongside other quality and cost factors, rather than exclusive preference.
The Call for Transparency: Uncovering Procurement Data
One area of consensus among stakeholders is the need for improved transparency and data collection regarding public spending on local firms. Dr. Tim Aker advocates for publishing detailed procurement data showing how much councils currently spend on Kent businesses, by sector and contract value.
Better data would help monitor the effectiveness of existing policies, identify opportunities for enhancement, and hold authorities accountable for commitments to local economic growth.
What Data is Needed? Measuring True Local Impact
Key metrics include total procurement spend by council and district, proportion awarded to Kent-based businesses, number and size of contracts, and sectoral breakdowns. Additionally, data on resultant employment, wages, and local reinvestment would provide a fuller picture of economic impact.
Collecting and publishing these metrics requires investment in data systems and consistent definitions but offers valuable insights for policymakers and residents alike.
Voices from the Kent Business Community and Beyond
Reactions from Kent’s business community reflect a range of views. Sarah Thompson, owner of a Maidstone-based IT service provider, expressed support: “A Kent-first policy would give us a fairer chance to win contracts and grow, creating jobs here at home.”
Conversely, Jonathan Ellis, director of a logistics firm operating in multiple counties, cautioned: “While supporting local firms is sensible, limiting competition could lead to inefficiencies or higher costs that hurt public services in the long term.”
Independent procurement consultants noted that a successful Kent-first approach depends on designing transparent criteria that balance local benefits with fair competition and value.
Shaping Kent’s Economic Future: A Collaborative Path Forward
The Kent-first procurement proposal presents an opportunity to strengthen the county’s economy and community prosperity. Achieving this will require careful policy design, stakeholder engagement, and transparent data to inform decisions.
Ongoing dialogue among councils, local businesses, and residents is vital to create a procurement framework that supports Kent’s diverse interests. The Kent Business Alliance plans to work with authorities and business groups to develop practical solutions and advocate for policy adoption.
Residents and businesses interested in contributing to this discussion can engage through community meetings, council consultations, and KBA initiatives moving forward.
As Kent explores new ways to support its local economy, the Kent-first procurement policy stands as a promising, though complex, proposal that reflects shared aspirations for sustainable, locally rooted growth.
