Bosses have signed up to the county council’s business manifesto promising to help firms weather recession.

Kent County Council’s Backing Kent Business campaign aims to put the economy centre stage and put flesh on a strategy outlined on December 10 and underlined in its 20-year vision "Unlocking Kent’s Potential" unveiled on Tuesday.

The new "agreement to action" follows a vow by council leader Paul Carter to "walk the talk" and sets out a series of practical measures to meet the present economic crisis.

KCC is anxious to counter criticism that its business manifesto contains "enough wool to knit several jumpers".

The accord aims to "develop and deliver joint actions that help create opportunities for businesses to improve and grow, promote and develop the ‘Backing Kent Business’ campaign that adds value to existing business, support programmes and activities, and share information about the challenges facing Kent business and identify and deliver agreed joint solutions for business".

Kevin Lynes, KCC cabinet member for regeneration, said the agreement would symbolise joint working. "We are delivering on our promise of working together and looking at how we pool expertise and the best ways of making a positive input, while signposting help to businesses that need it."

He added: "It is clear we do not want to reinvent the wheel but to make sure we make it easier for business to find much-needed help and advice."

In its first move, the group is calling on banks in the county to help businesses overcome liquidity problems. It will be inviting bankers to a meeting to give them some "practical solutions".

Dan Ghinn, chairman of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and a signatory to the deal, said: "It’s essential for businesses in Kent to have easy access to the kind of support and services provided by the Chambers of Commerce and the rest of Kent’s leading business organisations represented in the group.

"This initiative unites our organisations in a commitment to work together constructively for the good of the business community, which in turn will benefit Kent’s community as a whole."

Signatories include Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Channel Chamber, Thames Gateway (Kent) Chamber, the Institute of Directors in Kent, the Federation of Small Businesses in Kent and Medway, Business Support Kent, the University of Kent, Kent Attractions and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).