Find The Perfect Local Networking Event
For You And Your Kent Business…
Our new sister-site Kent Business Events is now live!
Below are just a few of this week’s networking events in Kent.
You’ll find the full list at www.KentBusinessEvents.co.uk
Hi {{first_name | Kent Business Community}}
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Kent Business Newsletter.
Inside, we report on Furley Page closing its 300th anniversary year with a huge donation to Pilgrims Hospices, alongside a review of the community and fundraising activity that marked the milestone. There is also a closer look at Discovery Park’s push for higher apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week, as demand for paid STEM pathways continues to rise across Kent.
We cover Home Bargains’ £7 million investment in a second Ashford store and the creation of 87 new jobs, Medway Council’s confirmed plans for £1.5 million of Pride in Place funding, Europa Worldwide Group’s outlook for 2026 following strong international growth, and how Kent farmers are using on-site solar to reduce energy costs and improve sustainability.
➡️ Got a business launch, win or story to share? Send it to [email protected] and we’ll help spread the word - for free!
➡️ Would you like to feature your business in the new ‘Member Spotlight’ section of the Kent Business Newsletter (for free!) - click here
If you missed previous editions you can catch-up here.
In this issue: Kent Business News | Cyber Advice | Kent Business Events | Kent Business Radio
This Week’s Kent Business News
➡️ Furley Page Marks 300 Years With Major Hospice Donation
Furley Page closed its 300th anniversary year with a film premiere at Canterbury’s Gulbenkian Arts Centre and a £30,000 donation to Pilgrims Hospices. The event capped a year of fundraising, community work and sponsorships across Kent. Staff took part in local runs, the Dragon Boat Challenge and the National Three Peaks Challenge, with summer events and volunteering adding to the total.
The firm also backed Pride Canterbury, Kent Cricket Club and arts programmes at the University of Kent and the Canterbury Festival. Leaders said the anniversary was a chance to give back and strengthen community ties.
➡️ Kent Science Hub Pushes For A Bigger Apprenticeship Boost
Discovery Park is using National Apprenticeship Week to urge you to look again at higher apprenticeships as a direct route into STEM careers. Kent saw 3,850 young people start higher programmes last year, a sharp rise that shows real demand for paid training with recognised qualifications. Discovery Park now hosts 21 higher apprentices across companies such as Pfizer and Asymchem, covering fields from science to project management.
Apprentices like Phoebe Everitt say the mix of study, salary, and real workplace experience gives them an advantage they would not get from university alone. Employers say these programmes help them secure skilled talent when they need it most. With salaries from £20,500 and a new onsite sixth form opening in 2026, the pipeline into STEM is widening fast.
➡️ Home Bargains Opens New Ashford Store
Home Bargains is opening a second Ashford store on Fougeres Way after a £7 million investment. The doors opened on 7 February. The retailer has added 87 jobs to the town, most of them new roles. The 29,568 sq ft site brings a wide mix of goods, from homewares and health essentials to fresh and frozen food. It also includes a bakery, café and garden centre. Manager Lee Scott says the new team is ready to serve the area as the business continues its rapid national expansion.
➡️ See what this new site means for Ashford and why the chain keeps growing when others are slowing.
➡️ Medway Confirms Plans For £1.5 Million Upgrade
Medway Council has set out how it will use £1.5 million from the Pride in Place Impact Fund. Three schemes will share the money. A £300,000 shopfront grant will offer up to £2,500 for cosmetic repairs and up to £5,000 for structural work, giving small firms a simple route to improve their premises.
An £800,000 public realm package will back new work in Gillingham and Chatham and involve local residents and students. A further £400,000 will help bring an empty town centre site back into use through a partnership with private investors. The council says speed matters and work is already underway.
➡️ Europa Sets Its Course For 2026
Europa Worldwide opened 2026 with its largest global gathering in years, bringing teams from the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa together under one message: Better Together. Leaders highlighted how the group pushed through supply chain turbulence, expanded into new regions and strengthened every division.
Europa Road celebrated the continued rise of Europa Flow, which helped UK exporters manage customs changes with less delay. Air & Sea posted a 77 per cent jump in shipments and shifted nearly half its business to locally paid overseas work. Warehouse and Central Services reported solid gains and clearer systems that support the wider group.
➡️ Kent Farmers Turn Sunshine Into Savings
Farmers across Kent are turning to on-site solar to cut rising energy bills and shrink their carbon footprint. CS Horticulture have installed ground mounted panels that produce 2.4 kilowatts of clean power through 400 watt panels and a Growatt inverter. The adjustable setup lets them track the sun through the year, which helps push efficiency higher.
Other farms are choosing PPAs through providers such as Sunpower Services so they can use solar with no upfront spend. Some prefer to buy systems outright from suppliers like Solarvault. Both routes help reduce running costs and support greener production across the county.
Cyber Safety For Kent Businesses
Jason On Cyber
Fix This TODAY - Your Phone Is Leaking Your Life
Most people worry about hackers… Meanwhile their own apps are leaking more data than any cybercriminal ever could. Watch this and fix the silent hack happening on your phone right now.
Find out more: @jasononcyber is currently on: Youtube, linkedin, Facebook, X, instagram
Below are several business events coming up this week in Kent.
You’ll find the full list at
www.KentBusinessEvents.co.uk
Women In Business Network
Tunbridge Wells
The Tunbridge Wells Hotel
When: 12th Feb 2026 - 12pm - 2pm
Location: The Tunbridge Wells Hotel
Details:
The Women in Business Group in Tunbridge Wells is a vibrant community for women across Tunbridge Wells, West Kent, and nearby Sussex.
Our group comprises senior professionals, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and women from diverse industries. We welcome all businesswomen, whether you’re just starting or well-established, who are looking to grow through genuine connections.
At the heart of our network is a shared commitment to collaboration, mutual respect, and trust. Many of our members stay for years because of the strong relationships they’ve built and the value they receive from being part of such a supportive, inspiring community.
Website: Click here
FSB Connect
Ashford
Valerie’s Wine & Cocktail Bar
When: 12th Feb 2026 - 5.30pm - 8pm
Location: Valerie’s Wine & Cocktail Bar
Details:
Join FSB Connect in Ashford at Valerie’s Wine Bar in Ashford for some great conversations and networking in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.
Making new connections, finding valuable collaborators and seeking support from the local business community has never been easier, or more enjoyable!
Book your free place now.
The event is free and open to all businesses, so you don’t have to be an FSB member to book in, so feel free to share with your networks.
This event is all about networking, and importantly our host will be providing a complimentary glass of Prosecco and nibbles on arrival.
Website: Click here
Women In Business Network
Ashford
Jasmin Vardimon Company
When: 17th Feb 2026 - 12pm - 2pm
Location: Jasmin Vardimon Company
Details:
Grow your business through Women In Business Networking Ashford
The Women In Business Network Ashford group is a friendly meeting hosted by experienced networker, Katherine Vass. The group brings together businesswomen with a wide range of professional experience, so there is plenty of opportunity to gain support and share expertise and business contacts.
WIBN groups thrive when new businesses visit, so please join our next meeting and tell us about your business!
WIBN group members build strong business relationships through our regular monthly meetings. Members also receive access to the members area of the WIBN Platform.
Website: Click here
Get Connected
Tunbridge Wells
MetroBank, Tunbridge Wells
When: 19th Feb 2026 - 9.30am - 11am
Location: MetroBank, Tunbridge Wells
Details:
Simple, relaxed, informal, social meet-up for local businesses. Everyone is welcome.
This is a FREE and welcoming B2B networking event for businesses local to Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas. It provides a relaxed environment to catch up with connections – and extend your network to include new ones.
This is not ‘networking’ as you know it.
Website: Click here
Two Day Start Up Business Course
Online
Online
When: 18th -19th Feb 2026 - 10am - 3pm
Location: Online
Details:
Kent & Medway Growth Hub – Two Day Start Up Business Course
Free 2-day course! Turn your idea into reality with tools, knowledge & confidence. Perfect for aspiring & early-stage entrepreneurs.
Brought to you by the Kent & Medway Growth Hub , this interactive course is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners. Across two days, you’ll gain the tools, knowledge, and confidence to turn your ideas into a successful business.
Perfect if you’re just starting out or have recently launched your business in Kent.
Website: Click here
The Dockyard Business Club
Chatham
Online
When: 18th Feb 2026 - 10.30am - 12.30pm
Location: Chatham
Details:
Welcome to The Dockyard Business Club at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
Join us for a morning of connections, coffee, and great conversations, plus speakers that will deliver the quick wins in mindset, strategy & business tools. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is the perfect opportunity to meet new people and expand your circle.
Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with others in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. We look forward to seeing you there.
Website: Click here
FORE Business Golf Networking
Maidstone
Tudor Park Golf Club
When: 19th Feb 2026 - 7.20am - 9am
Location: Tudor Park Golf Club
Details:
“FORE” Business are delighted to welcome you to our Maidstone Group which is hosted at the Tudor Park Golf Club, Kent.
The business networking event in Maidstone has been established since Sept 2014 and business and friendship within the group is flourishing.
If you would like to attend a “FORE” Business golf event at our Maidstone group, please click on the below link. We have members eagerly waiting to pass referrals and at the same time enjoy an amazing round of golf at Tudor Park Golf Club.
Website: Click here
Kent & Canterbury Networking Event
Canterbury
The Kent & Canterbury Club
When: 19th Feb 2026 - 8am - 10am
Location: The Kent & Canterbury Club
Details:
Kent & Canterbury Networking Event| Strategy & Growth with Paul McCartney
Connect, collaborate, and enjoy a morning of networking at the Kent & Canterbury Club.
Join us for the launch of KC Networking Group – Canterbury’s new business networking breakfast. Enjoy open networking, a fresh breakfast with tea and coffee, and hear from a handpicked guest speaker sharing insights to inspire your business journey.
Connect, collaborate, and grow with professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners from across the region.
Website: Click here
IOD Coffee and Connect
Ashford
Ashford International Hotel
When: 19th Feb 2026 - 8.30am - 11am
Location: Ashford International Hotel
Details:
Institute Of Directors Coffee and Connect Ashford, Kent
IOD Coffee & Connect is a peer-level networking forum for Directors across Kent to build strategic relationships, exchange insight and stay connected to the region’s business landscape.
Designed as a time-efficient space for meaningful dialogue, it enables senior leaders to expand their sphere of influence, identify opportunities and strengthen their local network in an informal yet intentional setting.
This session offers a time-efficient forum for peer-to-peer dialogue, business intelligence sharing and relationship-building without the formality of a structured agenda.
Website: Click here
Synergy Networking Events
Various Locations Across Kent
Various locations across Kent
Details:
Synergy Networking Events: Building Meaningful Business Connections Across Kent
Synergy helps businesses across Kent grow through structured, friendly, and effective networking events in Kent. Whether you’re new to networking or an experienced business owner looking for genuine connections, Synergy provides a relaxed environment that delivers real results. You can attend an event with no long-term commitment and experience it for yourself.
Networking Made Simple!
Synergy runs professional networking events across Kent, with every session carefully planned to ensure every attendee gets value. Seating is pre-arranged to help members connect with new people, exchange ideas, and build long-term relationships.
Website: Click here
BoB Connections Business Networking
Various Locations Across Kent
Various Locations
Details:
BoB Connections networking meetings span across Kent, providing an invaluable platform for local businesses to forge connections that are otherwise hard to achieve. Book your spot at a bi-weekly meeting in your town.
Joining BoB Connections opens the door to unparalleled opportunities for your business growth. As a member, you'll gain access to a powerful network of like-minded professionals who are committed to helping each other succeed. Through structured and supportive networking, you'll receive high-quality referrals, expert insights, and practical advice to enhance your business strategies. Our collaborative approach empowers you to elevate your business, making it more profitable, efficient, and successful than ever before.
Let's create connections that matter.
Website: Click here
Kent Business Radio Show
This week Paul Andrew’s guest was Dan Grant of Gravesend Dynamite Wheelchair Rugby.
You can support Dan and the team by following their Facebook page to see:
🔥 Match results
🔥 Player updates
🔥 Coaching insights
🔥 Club announcements & events
To listen to this week’s show in full visit Kent Business Radio
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