Kent Business Newsletter - Issue 18

Hello Kent Business Community

Welcome to this week’s Kent Business Newsletter

This week’s newsletter brings together a mix of ambition, innovation and local success. Whitstable’s 22-year-old chef Charlie Askew is making national waves as the youngest finalist in Heinz’s Masters of the Menu competition, while plans for a major new truckstop near Dover could ease congestion and create over 100 jobs. Accountancy firm Azets has strengthened its Kent leadership with three key promotions, and young entrepreneur Alexander Galvin has been shortlisted for a prestigious RICS award after turning his start-up into a million-pound surveying business. Plus, we explore the technologies defining 2025 - from AI to green innovation, and share an important compliance warning from Azets urging Kent firms to act now on new fraud prevention legislation.

Got a business launch, win or story to share? Send it to [email protected] and we’ll help spread the word - for free!

If you missed previous editions you can catch-up here.

At just 22, Whitstable’s own Charlie Askew is the youngest finalist in Kraft Heinz’s first-ever Masters of the Menu competition, celebrating rising independent chefs across the UK. Mentored by award-winning chef James Cochran, Charlie is set to face four other finalists in a live cook-off in London.

His signature dish, a seafood creation featuring salmon, roast prawns and crayfish hollandaise, cleverly weaves Heinz classics into fine-dining flair. Could his fresh take on coastal cooking make him the next big name in British cuisine?

➡️ Follow Charlie’s journey and see who claims the title! 

A huge new HGV park could soon take shape just outside Dover, designed to serve thousands of lorries heading to and from the Port. The 70-acre site would offer 24/7 secure parking for 600 vehicles, a restaurant, gym, and top-class welfare facilities — tackling a long-running shortage of safe parking for drivers across Kent.

Developed by GSE Group, the team behind Europe’s largest truckstop in Ashford, the project promises to ease local congestion, cut roadside parking chaos, and bring 100 new jobs to the area. Could this be the breakthrough Dover needs to keep freight flowing smoothly and its roads clear?

Find out how this plan could reshape life around the Port of Dover. 

Azets has announced three senior promotions across its Kent offices as part of a wave of growth across the UK. The moves see James Dickman and Dale Nott step up in Maidstone, while Stuart Chapman takes on a Director role in Canterbury, reflecting the firm’s confidence in its next generation of leaders.

With more than 370 promotions across the UK this year, Azets is investing heavily in its people as it continues to expand. What’s driving this surge in opportunity across one of the UK’s fastest-growing advisory firms?

➡️ Discover the full story and meet the new leaders shaping Azets’ future here. 

In just 18 months, Alexander Galvin has taken London & Kent Surveyors from a solo start-up to a million-pound business with a nine-strong team and trusted partnerships across the region. Now, his remarkable journey has earned him a national nomination for Young Residential Surveyor of the Year at the RICS UK Awards.

From launching apprenticeships to supporting young people through Centrepoint, Alexander’s story blends business success with real social impact. What drives this young entrepreneur to keep pushing boundaries in such a competitive industry?

Discover the inspiring story behind his nomination and what’s next for his growing company. 

🌟 Kent Expert Insights 🌟

ACT NOW - Warning To Kent Businesses Over Fraud Compliance Legislation Changes

Kent businesses could be at risk of failure to prevent fraud if they don’t meet new compliance requirements, a senior accounting professional has warned.  

Paul Barwick, Forensic Accounting and Valuations Partner at UK top 10 accountancy firm Azets, gave the warning after the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCT Act) changed the scope of failure to prevent fraud for large businesses. 

As a result, a large UK business will be liable for prosecution if fraud is committed by someone acting on its behalf – even if senior leadership was not directly involved. Employees, Subsidiaries, Agents and other "associated persons" are all in the scope of Act as those who could act on a business’s behalf.  

Paul said: “Businesses who are found to be in breach of the new compliance requirements can face prosecution, reputational damage, and significant financial penalties – even if senior management had no idea the fraud was happening.”

“Firms need to act now to ensure they’re not at risk.” 

Azets, the UK’s specialist business advisor to SMEs, has Kent offices in Maidstone, Ashford, Canterbury, Sandwich and Orpington. 

Paul recommends companies review and strengthen their internal fraud prevention measures to comply with the ECCT Act. Specifically, he recommends:  

• Conducting fraud risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities

• Reviewing and updating internal controls, systems, and reporting lines

• Ensuring staff training and awareness around fraud risks and responsibilities

• Establishing clear procedures for reporting concerns or suspicions 

He added: “Government agencies are expected to take a proactive approach to enforcing this, and it is likely that the number of investigations will rise sharply now the legislation has taken effect. But by making these changes, firms can ensure their risk of falling foul of the new requirements is lowered, and that their fraud prevention is as strong as possible.”  

Under the ECCT Act, a “large organisation” is defined as one that meets at least two of the following criteria:  

• Employs more than 250 staff

• Turns over more than £36 million a year

• Has assets worth more than £18 million 

While smaller businesses fall outside the immediate scope, future expansion of the ECCT Act to medium-sized entities has not been ruled out.

https://www.azets.com/en-uk

🌟 Kent Networking Events 🌟

Connecting with fellow entrepreneurs, potential partners, and customers is vital for business growth. Kent offers a variety of networking opportunities (you could literally go to a different one every day if you wanted!) to help you expand your professional circle and enhance your business prospects.

Start with purpose, not promotion - Arrive with a clear goal, such as finding a collaboration partner or learning something specific, rather than just handing out business cards.

🌟 Business Events & Shows In Kent 🌟

🌟 Kent Business Radio Show 🌟

Jules and Paul bring you the latest business news and events from across Kent!

On the show this week was Linda and Keith Charles of Linda Charles Art. Really interesting interview covering Linda’s 25 year career as an artist. Find out how her original pieces became collectable and still feature in many galleries and private collections all over the world. 

To listen to this week’s show in full visit Kent Business Radio

Kent Business Community, before you go… 
➡️ Do you have exciting news to share about your business?
➡️ Would you like to advertise to an audience of decision makers in Kent?
➡️ Would you like to feature in the Entrepreneurs Deep Dive section?
➡️ Do you have a job vacancy you’d like us to post?

Contact us today - [email protected]

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