Issue details

Proposed decision:

To approve the Marmot Accelerator Programme Framework for the period 2026-2028, including a total programme funding envelope of £1,000,000.

Background

On 13 March 2026, Kent County Council (KCC) launched as a Marmot Coastal Region – a long-term initiative aiming to reduce health inequalities and to improve the social determinants of health in coastal communities in Kent. The initial focus of the Kent Marmot Coastal Region Initiative is on skills for work and work. The following districts are included within the Initiative: Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone & Hythe, Swale and Thanet.

The Marmot Accelerator Programme is a 2-year, Public Health reserves funded programme that will support the Marmot Coastal Region initiative. The Programme will adopt a test-and-learn approach, aiming to build and showcase effective, evidence-based methods of supporting Kent residents into employment, education or training. 

As part of the Marmot Coastal Region Launch, KCC announced three pledges the Marmot Accelerator Programme will achieve within 2026-2028: 

• To support at least 200 young people, aged 16 to 24, into education and employment who would otherwise be part of the Not in Education, Employment or Training group (NEET).  

• To support 150 people on probation into education and employment. 

• To support 100 people with additional disadvantages such as care leavers, carers and people with mental ill health into work, based on the in-depth research completed as part of the Connect to Work scheme.    

A Record of Officer Decision (Decision No. OD-26-00033) was taken in September 2026, approving £586,300 of Public Health reserves for the initial delivery of the Marmot Accelerator Programme. This proposed decision seeks to establish a total Programme funding envelope of £1,000,000, comprising the funding already approved and an additional £413,700 from Public Health reserves.

Reason for the decision

The proposed decision is required to approve the Marmot Accelerator Programme framework, which will govern the allocation and management of the Programmes £1m funding and support delivery of the three pledges. 

The Framework will provide a transparent and consistent approach to the commissioning, funding and oversight of projects, ensuring that investment is aligned to the Programme's objectives and targeted towards priority groups.

Under this Framework all expenditure of the financial envelope for the Marmot Accelerator Programme must be in line with budget forecasting and Proposals for spend must adhere to the following criteria:

1. Directly support residents within the Kent Marmot Coastal Region.
2. Directly support residents from at least one of the priority population groups: young people who are or at risk of becoming NEET, people who are on probation and people experiencing additional barriers to employment, education and training.
3. Focuses on employment, education and/or training practices and opportunities.
4. Demonstrates alignment with relevant Kent-based strategies and policies.
5. Evidence at least one ‘sustainable’ outcome, to demonstrate impact beyond the agreed funding term.
6. Evaluates and publishes an end of Project report.

In addition, at least 50% of the Proposals funded as part of the Marmot Accelerator Programme will be delivered by local, Kent-based organisations and funding will be distributed across the Kent Coastal Region.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

Do nothing / defer action: Dismissed as this would not support the delivery of the launch pledges as part of the Marmot Coastal Region Initiative.

Deliver a single County-wide Service offer: Dismissed as the purpose of the Marmot Accelerator Programme is to test locally, tailored approaches across different coastal communities, to different population groups and provide funding opportunities to a range of Suppliers.

Deliver all funding through one procurement route: Dismissed as a blended approach of Direct Awards, RFQs and Competitive Grant Awards provides greater flexibility, encourages innovation, supports local organisations and maximises value for money.

Deliver projects outside of the Framework: Dismissed as the Framework will provide an equitable and transparent approach to how the funding will be spent, and ensures a consistency in reviewing Proposals and approving funding.

How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement

The Marmot Accelerator Programme supports KCC to achieve the following objectives set out within the Reforming Kent Strategic Statement 2025-2028 via the Programme delivery:

• Putting Kent residents first: by ensuring the voices of residents with lived experience and local organisations are embedded within the Programme and encouraging local businesses to create job opportunities for Kent residents.
• Reforming Kent County Council: by ensuring the Programme is cost-efficient, whilst enabling high-quality, innovative test-and-learn approaches.
• Supporting residents that need help: by ensuring the Programme supports priority population groups outlined in the launch pledges, and funds innovative, test-and-learn approaches that focus on prevention and early intervention.
• Building better communities: by the Programme prioritising addressing coastal inequalities, with ‘Marmot’ model intervention work being explicitly stated within the Strategic Statement.