Kent Business Newsletter - Issue 20

Hello Kent Business Community

Welcome to this week’s Kent Business Newsletter

Maidstone’s Betsy Clara House celebrates a perfect 10 rating, while Opus strengthens its Kent team with a major partner appointment. Rose Media Group’s partnership with Cross Origin shows how PR and digital expertise are merging to help brands stay competitive.

R3 reports a rise in insolvencies across the South East, but there’s optimism too, with Kent manufacturers heading to Cranfield University’s ‘Factory of the Future’ event and Home Bargains investing £1 million in a new Hempstead Valley store creating 55 jobs. The sold-out Chatham Maritime 10K also brought hundreds together for a standout local race.

A major £120 million plan to redevelop Hythe’s golf course and Imperial Hotel has also been unveiled, bringing new homes, leisure facilities and community investment to the town. And finally, Azets warns Kent families to act fast as inheritance tax reforms draw near.

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A huge £120 million scheme could reshape Hythe’s golf course and bring major leisure and housing changes to the town. The privately-funded plan would remodel the 40-acre site into a public 9-hole academy course, an adventure golf park, and new community leisure facilities.

The proposals also include 291 new homes, a major upgrade to the Hythe Imperial Hotel with extra rooms, a new spa and pool, and a separate public leisure centre. Supporters say it will boost tourism, housing, and local amenities, while critics may question the scale of development. Could this be the project that finally unlocks Hythe’s potential?

➡️ Find out what’s being proposed and how you can share your views at the upcoming consultation. 

A Maidstone care home has achieved the highest possible score on the UK’s leading care home review site. Betsy Clara House in Tovil has been awarded a perfect 10 based on verified feedback from residents and their families.

The team’s person-centred approach and warm atmosphere have drawn heartfelt praise, with one reviewer calling the staff “angels”. The home’s focus on dignity, individuality, and family connections shines through every review. What makes this care home stand out so completely from the rest?

➡️ Find out what residents and families say makes Betsy Clara House truly special by reading the full story. 

Opus Restructuring and Insolvency has boosted its South East presence with the appointment of leading insolvency specialist Ben Stanyon as Partner. With over 25 years in the industry, Ben has handled high-profile cases, including the collapse of Safe Hands Plans, and brings deep experience from top national firms such as Kroll and FRP Advisory.

He says the firm’s open and collaborative culture drew him in. His goal is to strengthen Opus’s Kent operations, build a high-performing local team, and cement the firm’s position as a trusted name in restructuring across the region. What new approach will he bring to one of the UK’s most competitive insolvency markets?

➡️ Read the full story to find out how this appointment could reshape Opus’s regional strategy. 

Rose Media Group has announced a new strategic partnership with digital agency Cross Origin, creating a united team that blends storytelling, reputation and technology. The move aims to help brands build influence and visibility in a fast-changing digital landscape.

Together they bring two decades of PR experience and deep digital expertise across design, SEO and paid media. This alliance marks Rose Media’s third major restructure in 21 years, setting the stage for bold growth and measurable impact. What new opportunities will this partnership unlock for UK brands ready to evolve?

➡️ See what this collaboration means for the future of brand transformation! 

Insolvency-related activity in Kent and the wider South East rose 12.3% in October, with 210 businesses entering distress compared with 187 in September. R3, the UK’s insolvency trade body, said the rise follows a 10% increase the previous month, highlighting growing strain on regional firms.

Despite the monthly rise, insolvency cases remain 28.3% lower than the same time last year. But business confidence is fragile, with firms holding back on investment as they wait for the Chancellor’s upcoming Budget. Costs remain high, growth weak, and late payments are edging up. How many more months can struggling businesses hold out?

➡️ Read the full report for the latest data and expert insights from R3. 

Manufacturers across Kent are being invited to experience the future of UK industry at Cranfield University this November. The free Made Smarter event will bring together business leaders, technology experts, and innovators to explore how digital tools are transforming manufacturing. From robotics and automation to sensors, AI, and data analytics, attendees will see these technologies in action and learn how to use them to boost efficiency and productivity.

Delegates will gain insights from industry pioneers and discover practical ways to adopt digital solutions, whatever their business size. What new ideas will you take back to your own factory floor?

➡️ Register now to secure your place and see how small digital steps can create major results. 

Home Bargains is set to open a brand-new store in Hempstead Valley this November, creating 55 local jobs and investing £1 million in the site. The new 17,330 sq. ft store will open its doors at 8am on Saturday 15 November 2025.

With over 600 stores nationwide and more than five million weekly customers, the retailer continues to grow while many competitors scale back. What makes this store stand out from others across the UK?

➡️ Find out what’s behind Home Bargains’ latest expansion and what it means for local shoppers. 

Hundreds of runners hit the streets of Chatham Maritime for the ninth annual 10K race, cheered on by crowds lining the route through the docks and riverside paths. The event sold out weeks ahead, showing how quickly it’s become one of Kent’s favourite races.

Law firm Furley Page sponsored the event as part of its 300-year anniversary, with a team of staff, friends, and family taking part. One even achieved a personal best. With growing local support and a record turnout, will next year’s race be even bigger?

➡️ Find out what made this year’s event stand out and why it’s becoming a must-run race in Kent. 

🌟 Kent Expert Insights 🌟

Race On To Protect Kent Wealth From Inheritance Taxes

Kent families considering how to protect up to 40% of their wealth from being handed over in inheritance tax to the Treasury now only have a small window left to act.

Azets, the UK top 10 accountancy and business advisory, has been inundated with enquiries following the government’s overhaul of the tax (IHT).

These include restrictions to agricultural and property reliefs from 6 April next year and the extension of IHT to unspent pension pots at death from April 2027.

The latest HMRC data shows that in the South East, there were 6,650 estates, with tax liability of £1,450m in 2022-23.

Azets has Kent offices in Maidstone, Ashford, Canterbury, Sandwich and Sidcup.

Rick Schofield, a tax partner at Azets, working out of Ashford, Kent, said: “There are hundreds of thousands of families in the UK, if not more, with estates worth more than the IHT threshold of £650,000 thanks to accumulated savings, investments, pensions, raises in asset values, such as property, with many owning businesses as well which have significant value.

“If considered and compliant steps aren’t taken, they would need to hand over up to £400 in every £1,000 of their wealth to the Treasury.

“While the reforms will not take effect until 6 April, they are expected to have far-reaching consequences for many individuals and families.

“In most cases, IHT liabilities are expected to rise, making early planning essential for business owners, farmers and individuals with pension savings.

“Against this backdrop, we’ve been inundated with concerned callers unsure how to proceed – and frustrated that a large chunk of what is their private wealth is in effect earmarked by the state for public money down the line, having already paid taxes over their working lifetimes.

“Enquirers are now close to the point where they are starting to run out of time to make changes by the start of the next tax year, particularly if they are thinking of transferring shares in a trading business or putting a farm into a trust, to get the valuations done and the transfers across.

“It would be full-on for advisors, and we know conveyancing firms will be particularly busy next April so there is a danger of delays which could scupper matters.

“Changing how your estate is handed on following your death is complicated - and no-one wants to leave loved ones with the stress of financial liabilities.

“Also worth bearing in mind – HMRC non-compliance checks and investigations are on the rise.”

Rick added: “A look at HMRC’s IHT data for 2022-23 shows that 12,000 estates had £1m in cash and a further 4,500 estates had £2m in cash or above – cash which was clearly going to fall under IHT.”

Overhaul of the IHT regime, with draft legislation published in July 2025, includes key areas of change, such as:

• Newly imposed caps on certain IHT reliefs

• The implications for trusts

• Transitional provisions and their practical impact

• Reduced IHT relief on AIM-listed shares

• Changes to the IHT treatment of pensions

 Based on latest HMRC tax-year figures for 2022-23, 4.6% of UK deaths resulted in an IHT charge, with 31,500 estates paying the tax, with £6.7 billion raised, up by £0.7 billion from the previous tax year.

According to HMRC, the average effective tax rate paid by taxpaying estates was 13%, compared to the headline marginal rate of 40%, reflecting the impact of exemptions, reliefs and tax-free allowances.

The largest exemption set against assets were transfers between spouses and civil partners in 2022-23; nearly £6 billion was reported to HMRC as being transferred to surviving spouses and civil partners on death.

The combined value of agricultural and business property relief (APR, BPR) set against assets was £5.28 billion; the value of BPR claimed rose by £0.49 billion (17%), whilst the value of APR claimed rose by £0.37 billion (24%).

The value of exempted transfers to qualifying charities was £1.92 billion.

“In these HMRC figures, you can see how tax reliefs for APR and BPR have helped protect wealth,” said Rick.

l 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 🌟

Joining Jules and Paul on the business bunker this week was Michael Laws of Realign Your Career. Michael is a qualified career coach dedicated to helping people at key crossroads in their working lives. So whether you’re a mid-career professional seeking more fulfilment, returning to work after a break, or a recent graduate stepping into the job market for the first time, he can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

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

Kent Business Community, before you go… 
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