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Hi {{first_name | Kent Business Community}}

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Kent Business Newsletter.

You’ll read about Texcel marking 50 years of growth from a Kent start-up to a global electronics supplier, Maidstone-based Bedfont reaching a major milestone in UK healthcare, and why private equity expects M&A activity to increase in 2026.

We also cover what recent capital gains tax changes mean for Employee Ownership Trust sales, an international relocation led by a Kent law firm, and a positive local milestone from Cycle Ashford that shows how small innovations can drive real change.

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.

Texcel is celebrating its 50th year after growing from a small Kent start-up into a global supplier of complex electronics. The company began in 1976 with a ship loading computer that won rapid international approval. It moved early into digital systems, built its own hardware and software teams and used that foundation to enter telecoms in the 1980s, supplying operators such as BT, Sprint and AT&T.

Through the 1990s and 2000s it expanded overseas and settled into its Crayford base, which now houses 110 staff and a 35,000 sq ft operation. Today it serves sectors from subsea to medical, backed by major investment in automation and high-spec testing.

➡️ See how Texcel plans to grow its capabilities for the next decade.

You now have more access to fast, simple asthma testing as Bedfont and Intermedical deliver their 3,000th NObreath FeNO device across the UK. The device helps clinicians measure airway inflammation so they can diagnose and manage asthma with greater accuracy. Intermedical’s long partnership with Bedfont has been key to expanding these tests in frontline settings.

Updated UK guidelines place more focus on FeNO, and demand continues to rise. Bedfont is also widening access through new partnerships in Mexico and India, strengthening asthma care for clinicians who need reliable diagnostic tools.

➡️ See how this milestone could shape your local services.

Private equity firms are preparing to invest again, and that shift is expected to lift UK dealmaking. MHA’s latest global transaction report points to stronger economic confidence, more capital ready to deploy and a growing wave of owners planning to exit.

Experts across Baker Tilly’s network expect domestic M&A to rise as valuations strengthen and activity returns to mid-market deals. Demand is highest for solid, well-run companies that attract multiple bidders. Strategic buyers are also returning, and AI is starting to shape how deals are sourced and assessed. If the economic backdrop stays steady, you should see a busier market in 2026.

➡️ See what the report means for your financial plans.

Founders were worried when the Budget reduced the capital gains tax break on Employee Ownership Trust sales. The change lifted the effective rate to about 12 per cent, which looked steep compared with the old zero rate. But the shift has not put off most owners. Go EO says interest has held steady, because founders still want continuity for their team and a clean exit that keeps the business intact.

The bigger issue is timing. Tax is due long before most founders receive much of their sale proceeds, so cash flow planning matters. Those who understand this upfront are still choosing EOTs for long term stability and culture.

➡️ Read the article to see why values led founders are staying the course.

The International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation has shifted its operations from the UK to Lausanne to strengthen its link with the International Olympic Committee. The move places the federation among more than 50 global sports bodies and supports its long-term push for a place in the Brisbane 2032 Games. Brachers led the transfer of all assets and liabilities into a new Swiss association, working with advisers in accountancy and Swiss law.

IWWF leaders say the relocation brings them closer to the organisations that shape global sport and gives athletes better access to the support they need to compete at the highest level.

➡️ See what this change could mean for the future of the sport.

Cycle Ashford’s route planner has now been used more than 500 times, showing clear demand for easier, smarter cycling across the borough. You can map the fastest, quietest or most balanced route between any locations, add stops and export the file into your usual navigation app. It works across Kent and beyond, with options to highlight cafés, bike shops and parking.

Local riders say it helps them reach unfamiliar destinations with confidence. The tool also shows calorie burn and CO2 savings for anyone tracking New Year goals, giving you a clearer picture of each trip.

➡️ See how the planner could change your own rides and choices.

Panattoni has completed its Sittingbourne logistics park with a new 58,000 sq ft hub built for DPD. The automated site will handle up to 80,000 parcels a day and support DPD’s expanding EV fleet as it pushes toward net zero. The hub forms part of DPD’s £350 million UK network upgrade and marks another step in Panattoni’s £635 million investment across Kent.

Only one unit remains at the 35 acre park, which has top tier sustainability ratings, strong power capacity, and quick access to the M2 and key ports. The location gives operators fast routes to London, Dover, and wider European markets.

➡️ See how this hub signals where distribution capacity in Kent is heading next.

This week Paul Andrew’s very interesting guest was Simon Webster of Talis IFA.

Talis Independent Financial Advisers serve a wide variety of clients across the UK. They help them make smart financial decisions throughout their lives, and plan for the next generation. Taking the time to get to know you and your circumstances, they tailor their advice and take a ‘life first, money second’ approach to finding financial freedom.

When it comes to personal finances, they guide their clients based on a thorough understanding of how you want to live your life. Their corporate clients value advice on their financial arrangements that will help them to look after their business and their employees, or assets entrusted to charities and trusts.

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

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