Month: May 2024
Sussex-based Smart Monkey unveils new look to support future growth plans
Smart Monkey, an integrated digital marketing agency that specialises in SEO, digital PR and PPC for professional services, B2B, tech and SaaS, has revealed a new look as it heads towards an exciting milestone.
Read More
South East businesses joint most confident in May
Business confidence in the South East was the joint highest of any UK region or nation in May, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Read More
Psychology meets business
During her academic pursuits, Dr Marie-Claire O’Kane discovered her entrepreneurial calling. Now, as the founder of Surrey-based startup Beyond Consulting, she is dedicated to empowering teams and organisations to reach their full potential
Read More
Cripps apprentice wins at BPP awards
Kent-based top 100 law firm Cripps has announced that its paralegal apprentice Callum Benson has been named BPP Apprentice of the Year (Level 4-5) at the annual BPP Apprentice of the Year Awards.
Read More
McGoff Construction appointed principal contractor for new Herne Bay development
McGoff Construction has been formally appointed as principal contractor at a new mixed-use development on Canterbury Road in Herne Bay.
Read More
Asymchem selects Discovery Park as European base
Asymchem Laboratories has announced that it will operate the former Pfizer UK small molecule API pilot plant and part of the development laboratories through a new lease agreement with Discovery Park, establishing Asymchem’s first manufacturing footprint in Europe.
Read More
Thackray Williams announces record results
Kent and London law firm Thackray Williams has announced record results for the financial year 2023/2024, positioning the firm for potential inclusion in the ranking of the UK’s top 200 law firms later this year.
Read More
Barriers to accessing capital ‘stalling UK business growth’
Against a backdrop of lending to SMEs dropping for a third straight year, medium-sized businesses are facing difficulty securing the capital they need to make the ‘leap’ to large, according to a new report from advisory and accountancy firm Menzies.
Read More
Mayo Wynne Baxter reveals strategic new hires and promotions
East Sussex law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter has expanded its private client team with new hires and several internal promotions.
Read More
Raise a glass!
Folkestone Harbour Arm welcomes pioneering Kentish beer brand and brewery Floc. to The Goods Yard
Read More
100 years strong
In an exclusive interview with South East Business, Carpenter Box’s managing partner Alan Edwards discusses the firm’s phenomenal century-long journey and ambitious growth strategies for the future
Read More
Report reveals confidence in Kent property market grows
A review by Caxtons Property Consultants has shown that confidence and performance within the Kent property market is increasing. This sentiment is echoed by the Investment Property Forum, a leading industry organisation, which is predicting a slight improvement in UK performance this year and stronger performance in 2025.
Read More
Walker Construction offers Apprenticeship Levy transfer to support local businesses
Walker Construction, based in Kent, has announced a new initiative to support South East businesses through the transfer of up to 50% of its Apprenticeship Levy fund.
Read More
Kent businesses back Living Land event
Countrystyle Recycling played its part in celebrating 20 years of fun and interactive learning opportunities centred around food, farming and the countryside when it took part in Living Land.
Read More
Overtime epidemic plagues UK workplaces, research reveals
An embedded culture of overwork and unpaid overtime is taking a severe toll on businesses and workers across the UK, according to new research from Protime UK.
Read More
Functional business: Finance & accounting
Expert advice on finance and accounting to meet the dynamic needs of businesses in 2024
Read More
UVAC warns of threat to region’s skills gap posed by apprenticeship levy reform
A new report by the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) has warned that drastic reform or the abolishment of the government’s Apprenticeship Levy scheme will have a hugely detrimental impact on the skills gap across the South East.
Read More
South East builders merchants join forces to host charity football tournament
Chandlers Building Supplies, in collaboration with Parker Building Supplies and Fairalls Builders Merchants, is hosting a charity five-a-side football tournament, scheduled to kick off on 2 June at Tonbridge Angels FC, in support of Teenage Cancer Trust.
Read More
Brachers advises Future Generation Services on sale to Holiday Extras
Brachers’ corporate team has advised the shareholder of Kent-based Future Generation Services (FGS) on its sale to Holiday Extras.
Read More
New Locate in Kent CEO appointed
Locate in Kent, the official inward investment promotion agency for the Kent and Medway region, has announced the appointment of Nick Fenton as CEO.
Read More
Sharp Minds Communications rebrands after going national
PR and marketing specialist Sharp Minds Communications has evolved its brand to reflect an “increasingly sophisticated and tactical approach” to communications as the agency bids to go national.
Read More
Chichester campsite claims national title at FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024, held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, saw awards host and TV personality Tess Daly crown eco-friendly camping and caravan park Stubcroft Farm Campsite Ltd as the UK’s best sustainable business.
Read More
Empowering independence
A Q&A with Peter Kerly, managing director of Everon UK, a Maidstone-based company specialising in wireless digital living solutions for health, housing and social care providers
Read More
Wired for success
Join us as we sit down with Orbital Net CEO Ben Doherty to explore the Kent-based independent internet service provider’s remarkable 25-year evolution
Read More
Six venues in Ashford pass Best Bar None assessment
Six venues in Ashford – The Ashford Club, Cameo, Matches, The County Hotel, Valerie’s, and Ashford Truck Stop – have been awarded ‘Best Bar None’ accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to the highest standards of safety and service.
Read More
Chapel Down releases limited edition English sparkling wine for Royal Ascot 2024
English winemaker Chapel Down has released a limited edition English sparkling wine to mark its inaugural year as the ‘Official English Sparkling Wine’ of Royal Ascot.
Read More
CREST Business Awards Charity Golf Day raises £4k for Surrey Wildlife Trust
International explorer Nick Hollis, who has taken on the world’s most challenging feats of endurance to promote environmental responsibility, praised the golfers he joined at the CREST Business Awards Charity Golf Day, who raised £4,000 for Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT).
Read More
Dragon’s Den star teams up with Natwest for small business roadshow
TV Dragon and Small Business Sunday (SBS) creator Theo Paphitis is teaming up with NatWest to host the Small Business Sunday 2024 Regional Business Bootcamps, an event series offering local entrepreneurs the chance to meet and learn from some of the UK’s greatest business minds.
Read More
MGAC completes Mithras House student redevelopment project in Brighton
Brighton and Hove-based building consultant MGAC has completed a teaching facility project in Brighton on behalf of the University of Brighton.
Read More
Over 10,000 extra construction workers required in South East by 2028 to meet demand
The annual industry forecast from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) highlights the continuing persistent gap between what the South East needs to keep up with demand and the workforce available to meet the challenge.
Read More
South East office market witnesses highest level of average transaction size since Q2 2021
The average transaction size within the South East office market rose to the highest level recorded since Q2 2021 in Q1 of 2024, hitting 17,597 sq ft, demonstrating healthy demand for units in excess of 10,000 sq ft, according to Colliers’ South East Offices snapshot.
Read More
Cantium Business Solutions welcomes new education account director
Cantium Business Solutions, a public sector IT services specialist based in Kent, has appointed William Asare as its new education account director.
Read More
Crimson Tide recognised in The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work 2024 awards
Tunbridge Wells-based business Crimson Tide is pleased to announce its inclusion in The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work 2024 awards.
Read More
Business activity rises at sharpest pace in nearly a year
Rising demand in the South East of England has led to an increase in business activity for the fifth month in a row, according to the NatWest South East PMI.
Read More
Sussex mum toasts success as small business grows
In just a year, Sussex-based fruit infusions business Fruitology has seen remarkable growth, with owner Michelle Pratt gearing up to showcase the brand at multiple major food and drink shows in 2024.
Read More
Mid Sussex to promote 70 hectares of employment space at UKREiiF
Opportunity Mid Sussex, the inward investment platform of Mid Sussex District Council, will promote 70 hectares of employment space at real estate, investment and infrastructure show UKREiiF.
Read More
Surrey opticians recognised for sustainability efforts
Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists has achieved a sustainability certification after successfully offsetting carbon emissions and minimising its environmental footprint.
Read More
Panattoni acquires additional development site at Sittingbourne
Confidence in Kent as a location for high-quality warehousing and distribution space has been given a boost after logistics property developer Panattoni acquired a further 10 acres of land in Swale.
Read More
Brachers advises MWA Financial on the acquisition of KFA
Brachers’ corporate team has advised MWA Financial on its acquisition of Kent-based IFA Knighthood Financial Advice (KFA).
Read More
Discovery Park business A4P receives King’s Award for Enterprise
A4P, A LabConnect Company, based at Discovery Park in Sandwich, has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.
Read More
Carpenter Box announces 16 new promotions
Sussex and South East accountancy firm Carpenter Box has announced 16 new promotions to support the firm’s continuing business success and future growth plans.
Read More
Taste of Kent Awards reveals 2024 food and drink product shortlist
Produced in Kent has announced the food and drink product shortlist for the highly anticipated Taste of Kent Awards 2024, which celebrate and showcase the tastiest food and drink that Kent has to offer.
Read More
UK housebuilders back in the market for land as outlook brightens
Britain’s housebuilders are seeing a recovery in buyer interest and land purchasing activity in early 2024, according to the latest Knight Frank Land Index & Housebuilder Survey.
Read More
Lewis Denley partners with Lantern Legal
West Sussex-based law firm Lewis Denley has partnered with Lantern Legal, an Australian law firm which provides cyber and corporate/commercial legal advice.
Read More
The Channel Tunnel celebrates its 30th anniversary
It is 30 years this week since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Channel Tunnel, the world’s longest tunnel, connecting Folkestone, Kent to Calais, France.
Read More
Maximising Business Property Relief
At the start of 2022, there were estimated to be 5.5 million private sector businesses in the UK, of which 5.47 million businesses were in the small category (i.e. with 0 to 49 employees) – the very backbone of the British economy. But are these business owners maximising tax allowances available to them to ensure […]
Read More
Paternity Leave and Carer’s Leave
From 6 April 2024, where the expected week of childbirth or expected date of placement for adoption falls on or after this date, paternity leave will be able to be taken in two blocks of one week, rather than having to take two weeks leave consecutively. In addition, the leave can be taken at any […]
Read More
FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards South East winners gear up for UK grand final
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) recognised the brightest and best entrepreneurs from the South East at the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2024. The next stop for this year’s regional winners is the UK grand final at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on 9 May.
Read More
Employers expect talent retention to be challenging this year, survey shows
Some of the biggest challenges for UK organisations right now include retaining skilled talent, meeting pay expectations, providing a good work-life balance and supporting employees’ wellbeing, according to new research by HR software provider Ciphr.
Read More
Kent law firm Brachers announces nine promotions in 2024
Brachers, a law firm with offices in Maidstone and Canterbury, has shown its commitment to supporting staff to develop in their career by making nine promotions.
Read More
Weybridge charcuterie company Tempus Foods announces merger with Rare & Pasture
Weybridge charcuterie company Tempus Foods, owned by Masterchef finalists Tom Whitaker and Dhruv Baker, is merging its business with South Devon-based charcuterie and smoked meat brand Rare & Pasture to expand production and sales of both award-winning products.
Read More
Accountancy firm Carleys relocates to Medway after 74 years
Carleys, a leading firm of chartered accountants and business advisors first established 1950, is pleased to announce the successful relocation of its primary office to the Historic Dockyard in Medway Maritime, after 74 years of operating in Gravesend.
Read More
Reform of Holiday Pay
The basic right to annual leave is that a worker is entitled to 5.6 weeks’ leave each year. This is the equivalent to 28 days for those working five days a week. Subsequently, a part time worker is entitled to a pro rata amount of 28 days, according to the number of days they work. […]
Read More