The strategy will help the council address key issues to create a vibrant and prosperous economy for the future.

Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth Cllr Jane Chitty said: "One of our main priorities is to ensure that everyone in Medway benefits from Medway's economy.

"By working closely with local businesses we have been able to produce a strategy that will allow us to take Medway's economic regeneration to the next level."

Indeed Medway's vision is to become a city of learning, culture, tourism and enterprise. In order to achieve this, the area needs to become a robust and prosperous economic driver within the South East economy as a whole.

The plan describes the shared ambitions of many of those with a responsibility for Medway's economy, including the local universities and business support agencies which include the Chamber.

There are five key priorities which are interlinked and provide the basis for a framework for action to transform Medway's economy:

Sector development - to make the most of the significant opportunities for business growth and job creation in the creative industries sector and in tourism and hospitality;

Skills development - increase the skills of people in Medway including greater provision of training opportunities linked directly to employer needs;

Higher education- help families with no history of higher education to realise the opportunities available and encourage university graduates to stay within the area. Promote the excellent research expertise at the universities which is a growing asset to Medway that can attract future business inward investment;

Employment space - increase the amount of available employment land.

Culture - the establishment of Medway as a city of culture improving its image with events, culture, marketing and profile-raising activities both externally and internationally to attract major new business investment.

The consultation draft version of the strategy is now available on the Medway Council web site at http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/business/edstrategy.htm