by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Kent County Council's support for business has helped the authority achieve an excellence rating from the Audit Commission.

In a league table of local council performance across the UK, KCC is joint top among all county councils and one of only three county council considered to be "performing excellently".

For the eighth year in a row, KCC has scored the highest possible rating. It gets exceptional accreditations for improving education and skills and providing job opportunities to match the growing economy.

~ Read more on the Audit Commission's review >>>

KCC won plaudits across a wide range of services but the Commission singled out the council’s Backing Kent Business campaign for special praise.

It said: "The council has continued to be proactive in boosting jobs, supporting businesses during the recession with much success. The council makes good use of its considerable purchasing power to support small local businesses."

On skills and jobs, the Commission said: "The council’s approach to improving skills and helping younger people into work is extensive. There is a wide range of vocational programmes and apprenticeship schemes. These, importantly, work closely with employers and training providers to make sure skills training fits with the needs of local employers.

"Numbers of apprenticeships employed directly by councils in Kent is increasing. As a result, the county council and partners are on track to achieve 750 apprenticeships in the public and private sector by 2010.

"This is impressive. Nearly all those who complete their apprenticeships get employment."

Some 5,500 14-to-16 year olds are on bespoke vocational programmes and the number of young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) in Kent has fallen.

KCC leader Paul Carter said he was enormously proud of the council’s achievements on behalf of the residents and business community.