Month: March 2024
Shifting gears
From innovative concepts to strategic pivots, Crowd Connected, situated at Surrey Research Park, boasts an incredible success story
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UK Growth Coach wins FSB ‘Micro Business of the Year’ award
Sussex-based specialist business coaching firm UK Growth Coach has recently been honoured with the title of ‘Micro Business of the Year’ for the South East by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
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National living wage expansion among ‘significant’ new employment laws coming into force this spring
A host of new employment legislation comes into force this spring, with changes to the National Living Wage, flexible working and holiday pay all contributing to the most significant changes for years, according to employment law specialist Furley Page.
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Setfords named top hirer of all UK law firms
Platform law firm Setfords, headquartered in London, Guildford and Horsham, has emerged as the foremost hirer among all law firms in the UK, according to research conducted by Codex Edge.
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Print with purpose
Dartford-based ARC-UK Technologies invests over £1 million in eco-friendly printing technology. We delve into the details of this ambitious project…
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South East business confidence climbs in February
Companies in the South East reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month – up two points to 49% – according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
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Work begins on £7.5m restoration of Newhaven Fort
Construction workers have arrived on site to begin a milestone restoration project to transform Newhaven Fort, including opening hidden areas never seen by the public before.
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Newly-approved homes in Sholden will contribute over £700,000 to local economy
Dover District Council has approved the delivery of much-needed new homes in Sholden, near Deal, which will be built by Barratt David Wilson Homes in conjunction with Richborough.
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Kent speculative development to be net zero carbon
Sittingbourne, Kent is going to be home to a net zero carbon logistics park after work began on what will be the county’s largest speculative property development in more than a decade, thanks to a £150m vote of confidence by the site’s owners, Panattoni.
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X-Press celebrates 25 years in business
Sussex-based property search company X-Press Legal Services is celebrating 25 years in business.
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Breaking barriers
Inhalytic Ltd, based at Discovery Park in Sandwich, Kent, is reshaping the landscape of analytical chemistry testing for inhaled pharmaceuticals. Director Frank Chambers shares insights into the company’s journey…
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East Sussex camping site now hosting weddings after HSBC UK backing
Bluebell Coppice, a family-owned campsite near the historic site of the Battle of Hastings, has expanded into the wedding industry following a £1.6 million commercial mortgage refinance from HSBC UK.
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New research asks: What if there were no freelancers?
What if there were no freelancers? That’s the question posed by a new research whitepaper launched in Tunbridge Wells exploring the impact freelancers have on our economy.
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Kent Community Foundation analyses Kent and Medway’s voluntary sector
A survey commissioned by Kent Community Foundation in December 2023 has revealed the challenges and opportunities facing Kent and Medway’s voluntary sector in 2024.
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Clean sweep
The English Soap Company, now led by managing director Oliver Butts, is a family-run business that has not only stood the test of time but flourished
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Kent employees saddle up for a share in equine vets
Equine veterinary business Lingfield Equine Vets has become employee-owned after transferring into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
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Kent’s fastest-growing businesses revealed at MegaGrowth 50
Kent’s 50 fastest-growing businesses were unveiled at the 2024 MegaGrowth 50 awards, which took place in Maidstone on 20 March.
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More firms are choosing accountancy outsourcing
Figures from AdvanceTrack show an “enormous” rise in firms choosing to outsource their accounting services, with a near 40% increase in global spend and a 20% surge in interest over the last five years.
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South East is among top regions for women-led companies
Almost half of all companies in the South East have a female director on the board, according to new research from Creditsafe.
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Functional business: Commercial premises
The experts provide insights on the current trends shaping the commercial premises landscape and their forecasts for the year ahead
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Double gold medal success for Surrey’s Hogs Back Brewery
Surrey-based Hogs Back Brewery is raising a celebratory glass following gold medal wins in two prestigious beer competitions for its Little Swine 0.5% ABV pale ale this month.
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Rolling out regeneration
Editor Zoë Fryday catches up with Kresse Wesling, co-founder of Elvis & Kresse, a luxury fashion brand with an unwavering commitment to the circular economy
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Kent & Medway Women’s Health Innovation Summit unites NHS and industry to close gender health gap
Kent & Medway’s first-ever Women’s Health Innovation Summit took place on 6 March, bringing together local leaders to revolutionise women’s health and close the gender health gap.
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Boost for drivers as millions delivered for EV chargepoints across the South East
Charging electric vehicles is set to get even easier thanks to hundreds of millions of funding made available for South East local authorities, homeowners and renters, it has been announced today (18 March).
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Thackray Williams bolsters Board to support rapid expansion
London and Kent law firm Thackray Williams has expanded its management and commercial teams with several new hires after witnessing a combined 82% increase in revenue for its employment and commercial departments in just three years.
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Folkestone named the best place to live in the South East
Folkestone, Kent has been named the best place to live in the South East of England in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
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SETsquared ranked in the top three startup hubs in Europe
The SETsquared Partnership has been ranked as the third leading startup hub in Europe and the top entry from the UK and Ireland by the Financial Times and Statista’s special report on Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs.
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Southeastern unveils updated timetable for customers
Southeastern, one of the country’s biggest and busiest rail operators, has published the details of its June timetable change for customers across South East London, Kent and East Sussex.
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Carter Jonas enhances UK presence with new Kent office
National property consultancy Carter Jonas has launched a new office in Churchill Square Business Centre, Kings Hill, Kent, marking its first presence in the county.
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South East firms record faster output growth in February
The headline NatWest South East PMI® Business Activity Index picked up from 50.9 in January to 53.0 in February to signal a solid increase in activity at firms across the South East.
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Locate in Kent: Spring Budget brings investment promise but the needs of the South East to drive the UK’s future growth can’t be ignored
The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered his final spring Budget ahead of a general election this autumn – but what did it mean for businesses located across the South East? Charles Hutchings-Lawrence, business development manager at Locate in Kent, gives his assessment of what was said at the despatch box…
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New report from Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management reveals gender wealth gap
Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management’s report, Gender and generation: unravelling the wealth gap highlights how the gender divide in financial literacy and confidence in investment markets and products is impairing women’s ability to build wealth.
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Newhaven Enterprise Zone boosts art scene with £160,000
A programme of grassroots arts events will continue in Newhaven thanks to £160,000 of funding from Newhaven Enterprise Zone (NEZ).
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Spring Budget 2023: Reactions from the business community
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presented his Spring Budget to Parliament today (6 March 2023). South East Business has curated a collection of responses from leaders within the business community…
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What is the Whole Life Cost (WLC) of a vehicle and what should you consider?
In the ever-evolving landscape of business operations, the decision to change vehicles is a significant one that requires careful consideration. As businesses weigh the options, one crucial factor that often takes centre stage is the total cost of ownership or Whole Life Cost (WLC). This encompasses not just the upfront costs but also the operational […]
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Businesses call for international rail services to get back on track
Hundreds of business leaders, representing thousands of employees, have responded to Kent County Council’s (KCC) call for views on the lack of international rail services stopping in Kent.
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Offering flexible work can help you tap a latent talent pool
The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics tell us that 8.68 million people aged 16-64 are economically inactive in the UK, while at the same time, there are more than 900,000 vacancies across the country. Just 1.57 million of those economically inactive people are classified as unemployed, with the rest made up of […]
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Trust will be the watchword for ’24
This year, securing trust and retaining their own reputation will be more important than ever for business and dare I say it, politicians. According to the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, half the UK population trusts business, up 1% on the previous year, while only 37% trust the government, a fall of 5%. Worryingly, it also […]
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Entering the Sussex Chamber Business Awards
The Sussex Chamber Business Awards are returning for 2024 to highlight and celebrate the expertise, achievements and outstanding contributions that businesses and individuals continually make to the growth of the county. Here are some hints and tips on how you can make the most of your entry… The judges Your entry will be assessed by […]
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2024 Support
What could possibly challenge us in 2024? Facing a general election is likely to distract from the work needed to improve the economy and deliver support for businesses, who generate jobs, taxes and contribute so much to their local communities. There is a lot of support available for businesses, but it does not always reach […]
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Business needs to be more than just a livelihood
With political and regulatory uncertainty in abundance, it’s understandable that most businesses will have little appetite for investment or expansion. However, this uncertainty will eventually pass, and the UK government, of whatever persuasion, will need to make its intentions around economic growth clear and unambiguous to unlock the UK’s trade potential. But the focus needs […]
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Employee Complaints
In a recent case we dealt with, our client had received a bullying complaint from an employee who didn’t want any formal investigation or action to be taken. What are the risks here, and what should employers do in this situation? Much will depend on the seriousness of the allegation/misconduct in question and the type […]
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SME Cash Reserves
Research from Allica Bank suggests that small and medium-sized businesses are holding an astonishing £273 billion in cash in low or no interest bank accounts. But just what should businesses do with cash reserves to make them work harder, asks funding experts, Abbey Watkins and John Walsham of Kreston Reeves. Research from Allica Bank suggests […]
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BeBa Energy completes major solar array for Thanet Earth
BeBa Energy has recently completed one of Kent’s largest rooftop solar arrays for Britain’s leading glasshouse grower Thanet Earth on its packhouse and office buildings at Birchington, Kent.
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Filter maker to host first meeting of manufacturers’ network
Process filter maker Amazon Filters is to host the inaugural meeting of a newly launched support network for Surrey manufacturers.
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Key steps for effective contract termination under English law
Sebastian Jones, a partner in the commercial team at Thomson Snell & Passmore, explores some of the crucial steps, considerations and best practices for effective contract termination in the UK.
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Security technology manufacturer launches new Brighton site with support from HSBC
Paxton, a security technology developer, has opened a 14,600 sq ft building in Brighton with support from HSBC UK.
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