Month: June 2025
EKC Sheppey College reveals new curriculum amid major extension
A transformative new curriculum tailored to meet local industry needs will soon launch at EKC Sheppey College, enabled by the site’s expansion, which enhances capacity and facilities.
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South East business confidence rises in June
Business confidence in the South East rose one point during June to 37%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds.
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HMRC names 518 employers for minimum wage breaches
Thousands of businesses in Kent could potentially face financial penalties for underpaying staff on wages, warns SME business advisor and accountancy firm Azets.
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Ex-military entrepreneurs benefit from Start Up Loans
Ahead of Armed Forces Day on 28 June, Start Up Loans (from British Business Bank) and X-Forces Enterprise have announced that over £4m worth of loans have been delivered to members of the Armed Forces community since July 2024.
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Sussex business DB Domestics expands with second store
Family-run Sussex business DB Domestics, which specialises in kitchens and home appliances, has opened its second store, based at the Bell Walk Shopping Centre in Uckfield.
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AI driving productivity gap in UK small businesses
A new report from global HR, payroll and employment platform Employment Hero reveals that AI implementation is now the top challenge for small business leaders, with four in five putting it ahead of economic pressures and talent shortages.
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UK B Corp awareness reaches record 51%
New data finds that more than half (51%) of the UK public are aware of B Corp Certification (heard of B Corp or seen the B Corp logo), representing the highest recognition of any country surveyed worldwide and marking a dramatic increase from 34% in 2022.
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Surrey dairy farmers launch mobile milk shop
A pioneering dairy farming couple in Surrey have taken a bold step to bring sustainable, nature-friendly dairy directly to their customers via a restored electric milk float named The Nutfield Express.
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2025 Kent Press & Broadcast Awards winners announced
The winners of the 2025 Kent Press & Broadcast Awards (KPBA), organised by Kent PR and marketing agency Maxim, have been announced.
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Entries open for The Spectator’s Economic Innovator of the Year Awards
Entries are now open for The Spectator’s Economic Innovator of the Year Awards 2025, which recognise and celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurial businesses across the UK.
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Pilbeam begins work on Worthing Theatres and Museum
Buildings at Worthing Theatres and Museum will retain heat better in winter when an £850,000 project by Sussex-based contractor Pilbeam Construction is completed to replace windows and improve energy efficiency.
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Slight fall in South East insolvency-related activity
Insolvency-related activity fell slightly in Surrey and the South East last month, according to R3, the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body.
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200-home development approved in Felbridge
Barratt David Wilson Homes’ new development on Crawley Down Road, Felbridge, has been approved by Mid Sussex District Council. The scheme will provide 200 new homes to the local market, of which 30% will be affordable, with prospective buyers able to view the show homes onsite from April 2026. Construction is expected to begin in […]
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Chapel Down unveils new 119-acre Kent vineyard
English wine maker Chapel Down has announced the launch of a significant new 119-acre vineyard on the Kent Downs, marking a major expansion in its mission to produce world-class sparkling wines.
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Southeastern and Network Rail Kent unite
Southeastern and Network Rail Kent have united to create South Eastern Railway, joining under a single leadership team to increase investment and deliver greater efficiency for passengers, with the goal of reducing operational costs by £50 million each year.
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Kent glass manufacturer invests in high-tech upgrades
Kent-based glass manufacturer Olympic Glass is investing in cutting-edge European machinery to improve production efficiency and sustainability, allowing the company to produce up to three times more glass while reducing water and glass wastage.
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Tech summit EVOLVE [25] to take place in Brighton this July
Community‑led, non‑profit tech support and networking initiative Silicon Brighton presents EVOLVE [25], the largest industry-wide tech summit in the South of England, taking place on 4 July at Brighton Dome.
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One in three UK small businesses stuck in “survival mode”
A new report from global HR, payroll and employment platform Employment Hero is calling for an urgent rethink of how the UK defines and measures productivity as new data reveals a striking disconnect between how productivity is understood by SMEs and their employees. SMEs say they’re more productive, but growth has stalled, according to ONS […]
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Underground devices trialed to monitor UK vineyard biodiversity
A new research project funded by Growing Kent & Medway to reduce carbon and increase biodiversity in UK vineyards will use cutting-edge technology to monitor the impact of its trials.
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South East ranks 11th for UK business growth
As cost pressures limit UK business growth to just 0.23% over the past five years, new research from money.co.uk has revealed that the South East ranks 11th compared to other regions, with a 2.56% decrease in VAT and PAYE-registered businesses.
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Sysco GB announces sponsorship of Ashford Pride
Wholesale restaurant food distributor Sysco GB will be the main sponsor of Ashford Pride this year as part of its Pride Month celebrations.
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Scaling up, standing out
Meet Amy Knight, the force behind Kent’s booming e-commerce brand Must Have Ideas
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Spa Breaks lease 8,000 sq ft of offices at Moore House, Brighton
Flude Property Consultants have let the third-floor offices at Moore House, Black Lion Street, Brighton to Spa Breaks, the UK’s leading spa booking agency.
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Businesses focus on affordable health and wellbeing amid NI rise
Private healthcare provider Benenden Health has found that more than half (58%) of businesses in the UK plan to maintain their existing health and wellbeing investment for employees, mainly due to April’s National Insurance increase.
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Heritage Lab Ramsgate to redevelop East Cliff shelters
Ramsgate not-for-profit Heritage Lab Ramsgate plans to renovate and refurbish the historic East Cliff shelters for a variety of uses, and is asking the public for their views and ideas.
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22.5 million sick days lost in the South East in 2024
New analysis from employment law specialists Clifton Ingram has revealed that the South East lost more working days to sickness than any other UK region in 2024, with a staggering 22.5 million sick days recorded.
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Kent’s property and construction leaders share outlook for the year
Law firm Brachers, accountancy firm Crowe UK and Caxtons Property Consultants hosted the annual Property and Construction Outlook event this week, bringing together professionals from across Kent to discuss the future of the region’s built environment.
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Kreston Reeves advises The Drinks Company on sale to Stock Spirits Group
Accountants, business and wealth advisers firm Kreston Reeves has advised The Drinks Company on its sale to the Stock Spirits Group.
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Boutique Modern celebrates landmark development in Eastbourne
Modular homes company Boutique Modern has signed contracts to deliver its most significant project to date – building 100 affordable homes at the Grade II Listed Victorian Pump House in Eastbourne. The scheme will deliver 100 affordable homes, including 59 houses and 41 apartments. Of these, 20 will be for shared ownership and the remainder […]
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WaterBear expands Brighton Campus
WaterBear – The College of Music has announced an exciting new phase in the evolution of its Brighton campus.
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DHA surpasses 1,000-mile charity fundraising target
A team from Kent-based consultancy firm DHA has smashed its ambitious target of running or cycling 1,000 miles in 24 hours, raising more than £6,000 for three charities.
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Optimism rebounds across South East amid signs of stability return
NatWest’s South East Growth Tracker showed tentative signs of recovery across the South East’s private sector, with declines in output, new orders and employment all losing pace and business sentiment strengthening.
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Burgess Hodgson attracts investment from leading US private equity firm
Established in 1938, Canterbury-based Burgess Hodgson has become the first UK accountancy services platform to complete a primary investment deal with a US private equity firm.
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Select Technology launches new IT service to support businesses
Kent managed service provider Select Technology has launched a brand-new service called WorkReady to support the fastest-growing businesses in the region.
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£20m contract to help unlock housebuilding in large area of Kent
As part of the development of its nutrient mitigation portfolio in Kent, Stour Environmental Credits Ltd (SEC) is seeking to appoint a suitable provider/installer to convert existing septic tanks and private package treatment plants to high-efficacy private package treatment plants (PTPs).
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Brighton MP visits Bird & Blend to support Better Business
Local MP Sian Berry, who represents the Brighton Pavilion constituency, visited independent tea company Bird & Blend, showcasing her support for local, purpose-driven businesses and the Better Business Act campaign.
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British Business Bank delivers £830m in finance to South East small businesses
The British Business Bank has supported 427 smaller businesses across the South East through more than £832m in lending, delivered via its ENABLE Guarantees and ENABLE Build programmes.
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Birketts welcomes two new partners to Sevenoaks office
UK Top 50 law firm Birketts has announced that two new partners will be joining its Sevenoaks office in May 2025.
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Employers asked to share insights on menstrual health and endometriosis in the workplace
HR software provider Ciphr and Endometriosis UK – the country’s largest charity supporting all those impacted by endometriosis – have teamed up to launch a new survey exploring how menstrual health and conditions such as endometriosis are being supported in UK workplaces.
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Shepherd Neame and Kent Crips announce partnership
Faversham-based brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame has teamed up with fellow independent business Kent Crisps.
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Kreston Reeves hosts complimentary finance focus webinars
Kreston Reeves, a firm of accountants, business and wealth advisers, is hosting two complimentary financial webinars this month – one tailored for finance directors and their teams and the other to cover the personal finances and wealth of business owners and shareholders.
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Kent housebuilder backs The Hive Thanet as 2025 charity partner
Barratt David Wilson Homes has announced The Hive Thanet as its charity of the year partner for 2025-2026.
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Christie & Co expands hotel team in the South East
Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has appointed Mike Maher to join its growing hotel team in the South East.
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Vail Williams announces new managing partner
Property consultancy Vail Williams LLP has announced a change in leadership, with managing partner Matthew Samuel-Camps stepping down after a decade at the helm.
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Team building linked to positive long-term benefits among South East businesses
Organisations neglecting team building could be missing out on wide-ranging and long-lasting benefits, new research from Team Tactics suggests.
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