Month: July 2023
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce’s Jo James OBE receives Honorary Doctorate
The University of Kent has bestowed an Honorary Doctorate on Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive Jo James OBE. Jo was awarded a Doctor of Science by Chancellor Dr Gavin Esler at a ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral in front of an audience of undergraduates and postgraduates, and their families and guests. The award was […]
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State-of-the-art environmentally friendly factory opens in Maidstone
Esteemed representatives from the Maidstone community attended today’s opening of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant set to bring work opportunities and a positive environmental impact to the local area. Distinguished guests included Faversham and Mid Kent MP, Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care) Helen Whately and The Worshipful the Deputy Mayor of […]
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Local woman launches new property search firm for Surrey
Guildford-based businesswoman Frances Brown has launched a new Surrey office of X-Press Legal Services, a property partner for the conveyancing sector X-Press Legal Services carries out a comprehensive range of property searches producing the reports required for all property transactions such as flood risks, planning and environmental. Frances’ newly established office will encompass 12 local […]
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Entrepreneurial spirit
We catch up with Chloe Bruce of Chloe Bruce Academy, a thriving startup that offers virtual martial arts classes and tutorials
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Sittingbourne training firm judged to be ‘outstanding’
Sittingbourne-based Mainstream Training Limited, which specialises in providing adult employability courses to alleviate the country’s HGV driver shortage, has received a first-class report following a recent Ofsted inspection. The inspection, the first full inspection since 2017, follows a significant expansion of the training that Mainstream delivers. The four-person inspection team found the Quality of Education, […]
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Canterbury businesses offered free training to tackle violence against women and girls
As part of the Safer Streets campaign, Canterbury businesses are being offered free training to help them respond to incidents of violence against women and girls (VAWG). VAWG is an umbrella term encompassing acts of violence or abuse that disproportionately affect women and girls. Many groups can however be affected by these crimes, including men […]
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Three Sixty open day focuses on technology
Cutting-edge technology was in the spotlight when Three Sixty Design Solutions threw open the doors of its Sussex office. The multi-disciplinary firm welcomed contractors, consultants, clients and guests for a showcase of its range of property-related professional services. Visitors donned virtual reality headsets, watched a live drone display within the grounds of the firm’s office […]
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UK cost of living sees side hustles soar
As inflation drives up the cost of everyday necessities, many Brits are searching for ways to supplement their incomes. According to research from money.co.uk, almost a third of workers (31%) already have a ‘side hustle’ while a further 42% are considering taking one up. Money.co.uk business loans investigated how many Brits have turned to side hustles […]
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Discovery Spark ignites £100,000 business growth competition
Discovery Park, Kent’s largest science and innovation campus, has launched a competition which will see one lucky company secure £100,000 of business support, laboratory space and investment to take the business to the next level. The Discovery Spark programme, which is open to early-stage life science companies, offers business support, learning and mentoring over a […]
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South East businesses set their sights on India for international expansion
As negotiations around a UK-India Free Trade Agreement draw closer to completion, new research from Grant Thornton UK LLP’s Business Outlook Tracker finds that India is a core focus international growth market for the South East’s mid-market. The Business Outlook Tracker, which surveyed mid-sized businesses in the South East, finds that almost one third (32%) […]
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Film production startup crowned Kent winner of South East pitch competition
Nocturnal Pictures has been announced as the Kent winner of the South East Startup Roadshow, hosted by South East Angels. The independent film production company specialises in dark, high-concept, story-driven narratives within the action, horror and Sci-Fi genres. Its debut feature film The Last Rite has already made its mark on popular streaming platforms such as HULU, […]
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A pragmatic approach
Nurturing steady, organic growth is top of the agenda for Thomson Snell & Passmore CEO Sarah Henwood Most SME owners across the South East will be familiar with Thomson Snell & Passmore. This award-winning law firm, headquartered in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has built a solid reputation for providing a wide range of high-quality legal advice […]
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Baxall to deliver net zero primary schools in the South East
Kent-based main contractor Baxall Construction has secured Department for Education (DfE) contracts to deliver two of the South East’s first net zero in operation schools. Baxall has designed and will build the £5.7m new St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Deal and the £8.4m Iqra VA Primary School in London – both of which are […]
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Kent’s Brands Hatch Performance expands operations
Leading automotive distributor, supplier and manufacturer Brands Hatch Performance (BHP) has expanded the range of facilities and products available to customers after securing an invoice and asset financing facility from Paragon Bank. Based close to Kent’s world-famous racing circuit, the family-run business can now provide customers with both bespoke, in-house manufacturing and credit line facilities. […]
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Human resources
What HR and recruitment best practices should SMEs be adopting in 2023? The experts share their advice… The way we work and do business in the UK is constantly changing. People have talked about the ‘Great Resignation’ for the last couple of years, and while it has slowed down, employee turnover remains high. With a […]
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Pig & Porter celebrates Taste of Kent ‘Beer of the Year’ Silver Award
Tunbridge Wells-based craft brewery Pig & Porter received the Silver ‘Beer of the Year’ award for its Caravan bitter at the Taste of Kent Awards, held on June 22 at The Gulbenkian, Canterbury. The brewery currently produces a wide range of beers in cask and keg. Caravan, one of its well-loved bitters, picked up the […]
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Under the hammer
After more than 30 years, business for online property auction specialist Clive Emson Auctioneers is still going strong
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Report helps charities increase donations through behavioural science
Reflect Digital, a Kent-based search agency committed to driving positive change, has released a report aimed at helping charities optimise their fundraising strategies using behavioural science. The research offers valuable insights into donor behaviour and uncovers key barriers that organisations face when attempting to secure donations. With the objective of maximising charitable contributions, Reflect Digital’s […]
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BFA hosts event to ‘empower’ British businesswomen
The British Franchise Association (BFA) has launched EWIB (Encouraging Women In Business) 2023, its latest event designed to empower women in the business world. Open to all women in business, EWIB will be held at the Select Car Leasing Stadium (formerly the Madejski Stadium) in Reading on Wednesday 27 September 2023. Tickets can be purchased […]
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Housebuilder lays the foundations for new community in central Kent
The first brick has been placed on site at Barratt David Wilson Homes’ The Poppies development in Hermitage Lane, Aylesford. The Poppies will offer a range of new homes, from three-bedroom to four-bedroom homes, with a 60/40 split of private and social affordable homes. Set to launch from a new sales suite and two show […]
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EMW Law secures B Corp Certification
South East-based law firm EMW has become a B Corp, placing social good and environmental stewardship at the heart of its strategy. The B-Corp Certification follows a complex two-year process, with the prestigious status awarded only to those businesses that meet very high standards in social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. It is assessed […]
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Final stages of construction at Bovis Homes location in Staplehurst
Construction work is entering the final stages at a Bovis Homes location in Staplehurst, where the last remaining homes are for sale. The housebuilder is building 167 new homes at The Meadows, on a 16.5-acre site which was formerly part of Fishers Farm. The development will feature 101 private homes and 66 affordable properties available […]
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Sussex’s MS Roofing Supplies acquired by IBMG
The Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG), the largest owner of independent merchants in the South of England, has acquired Sussex’s MS Roofing Supplies. MS Roofing Supplies’ five roofing depots located across East and West Sussex join IBMG’s other independent roofing merchant brands – Chandlers Roofing Supplies, Independent Roofing Supplies, and most recently, Roofing Gear, to […]
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Wired Sussex launches Greater Brighton Tech Week for 2024
The booming tech sector in Sussex will receive a further boost as Wired Sussex announces the launch of Greater Brighton Tech Week, which will take place next year. The non-profit membership organisation said the event would help to raise the profile of the Sussex tech, digital and media cluster, which is already worth £1bn to […]
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Azets advises on leading insurance acquisition
The Jensten Group, one of the UK’s leading insurance distribution businesses, has acquired Kent-based Darwin Clayton (UK) Ltd and Darwin Clayton Partner Brokers. Accountancy firm Azets, with Kent offices in Maidstone, Ashford, Canterbury, Sandwich and Orpington, provided Darwin Clayton, headquartered in Tunbridge Wells, with sell side advisory services on the deal, which was for an […]
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Engagement with AI online higher than with “human” content, survey shows
AI (artificial intelligence) bots get greater engagement on social media posts than those created by humans, a survey from recruitment specialist Pertemps Network Group has shown. Pertemps Network Group set up a programme over 10 weeks with a series of polls on social media, asking questions about AI – with half of the questions generated […]
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‘Woman of the Future’ crowned at 2023 Women in Housing Awards
Guildford-based housebuilder Barratt Southern Counties is celebrating success at the Women in Housing Awards 2023, with commercial manager Laura Barnett having won the prestigious ‘Woman of the Future’ category. The ‘Woman of the Future’ award celebrates the leaders of tomorrow, highlighting the women who have made an exceptional contribution to the teams and communities they […]
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Two in five SMEs had to stop or pause business because of lack of finance
According to new research commissioned by Manx Financial Group, two in five (40%) SMEs have had to stop or pause an area of their business because of a lack of finance over the last couple of years – a significant increase from 27% of SMEs recorded in last year’s survey. The research showed that the […]
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Lloyds Business Barometer: Business confidence in the South East continues to climb
Business confidence in the South East increased for the second consecutive month, rising two points during the beginning of June to 32%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in the South East reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month – up 12 points at 45%. When taken […]
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