Energy:

Overview

Shape the Future of Kent & Medway’s Energy Economy

Your insight. Our investment. Real impact for the local economy.

Kent & Medway’s councils, universities and colleges are working together to agree a single, long‑term plan for economic growth – and the energy sector has a critical role to play.

This Energy Sector Workshop is your opportunity to directly influence how investment, collaboration and action are focused to support growth, resilience and the transition to a low‑carbon economy over the next 10 years.

Why attend?

This is not another presentation‑led event. It’s a working session to guide decision‑makers.

We are asking businesses to:

• Tell us what is really holding back growth across the energy sector
• Identify where the biggest opportunities lie for low‑carbon, clean and emerging energy technologies
• Help us prioritise the practical actions and investments that will make the greatest difference

What you tell us will:

• Directly inform the Kent & Medway Local Growth Plan
• Shape public‑sector investment and delivery priorities
• Influence engagement with central government on funding, policy and infrastructure

This is where energy sector insight turns into tangible action.

What is the Local Growth Plan?

The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP), working with Metro Dynamics, is developing a 10 year Local Growth Plan to set a clear economic direction for the region.

Local Growth Plans are requested by central government and are becoming a core way government understands local economies, sets priorities, and decides where to work jointly with regions.

Government has been clear that Local Growth Plans must, as a minimum:
• Set out a single, joined up vision for economic growth, shaped with input from businesses and other partners
• Provide a robust, evidence based picture of the regional economy, identifying distinctive sector strengths and opportunities, aligned with the national Industrial Strategy
• Identify clear shared priorities for joint working between local areas and central government, creating a platform for collaboration and coordinated action
• Include a focused investment pipeline of priority projects (typically 4–10 per region) that are critical to unlocking growth

Energy Sector Workshop – what we’ll focus on

Building on the completed evidence base, the session will explore:

• Infrastructure and grid capacity
• Clean energy, low‑carbon and emerging technologies
• Skills and workforce requirements
• The role of partnerships in accelerating delivery

Who should attend?

This session is particularly valuable for:

• Energy and clean‑tech businesses
• Infrastructure, utilities and supply‑chain organisations
• Developers, investors and delivery partners
• Skills, innovation and research organisations
• Businesses with growth ambitions in Kent & Medway

Networking included

Attendance is free, and places are limited.

A complimentary buffet lunch will be provided, with an emphasis on locally sourced food, offering valuable peer‑to‑peer networking with other businesses, delivery partners and decision‑makers.

Part of a wider programme

This workshop is part of a coordinated series shaping the Local Growth Plan across Kent & Medway during the week of 11 May. You are welcome to attend multiple sessions, including:
• Digital – Mon 11 May
• Agri-food & Agri-tech – Weds 13 May
• Ports, Transport & Logistics – Fri 15 May
• Cross cutting priorities – Fri 15 May