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}}
Today’s Kent Business Newsletter focuses on growth, recognition and smarter operations across Kent.
DJH completes a £200,000 refurbishment and rebrand of McBrides Accountants, now trading as DJH Bexley, strengthening its position in London and the South East.
Maidstone’s Twister Marketing gains global recognition, with Celia Kelly’s agency ranked among the top 5.8 percent of 15,000 applicants after delivering strong SEO results for local firms.
We also look at Kent manufacturers upgrading ageing systems to tackle rising costs, with some cutting overheads by over 30 percent. And Acrisure UK posts its biggest fundraising year yet, raising more than £200,000 for charities across the country.
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If you missed previous editions you can catch-up here.
In this issue: Kent Business News | Cyber Advice | Kent Business Events
This Week’s Kent Business News
➡️ McBrides Accountants Rebrands As DJH Bexley After Major Upgrade
DJH has completed its move into the South East with a £200,000 refurbishment and full rebrand of McBrides Accountants, which now launches as DJH Bexley. The Sidcup office has been rebuilt around cleaner meeting spaces, upgraded tech and a new area for team events and client sessions. The change closes a ten-month integration that began when the 53-year-old firm joined DJH in April 2025. Since then, the Bexley team has won new clients in legal and energy and widened its offer with DJH’s specialist services in capital allowances, R&D tax credits, HR and IT.
Leadership on both sides say the new brand will support faster growth in London and the South East over the next year and help recruitment as the firm expands corporate finance and other areas.
➡️ Celia Kelly of Maidstone’s Twister Marketing Wins Global Recognition Award
Celia Kelly has taken Twister Marketing from a self-taught solo start in Maidstone to a place on the global stage. Her agency is now among the small fraction of applicants honoured by the Global Recognition Awards, a panel that selects just 5.8 percent of more than 15,000 entries. The judges highlighted her consistent ability to secure top rankings for valuable search terms while keeping a long view on growth. Local firms have seen clear gains. Glow World now holds the top Google UK spot for a competitive product term. Everyday Play ranks first across key regional searches. Maidstone Tree Surgeons dominates local results for core services.
Kelly’s approach focuses on strong SEO foundations, smart site structure, and buyer intent. It gives smaller businesses a way to compete against much larger rivals.
➡️ Manufacturers Modernise Ageing Systems To Keep Control
Manufacturers across Kent are moving away from ageing platforms as rising costs put pressure on day to day operations. Many mid-sized firms still rely on systems introduced years ago. They work, but they struggle with modern stock control, automation and real time reporting. The loss is slow but constant. Staff adapt, yet friction grows and costs creep upward.
Dev Partners, a Kent software firm, says demand for tailored replacements has risen over the past 18 months. Some companies are now cutting overheads by more than 30% after shifting from fragmented setups to systems built around how they actually work. The gains show up in clearer reporting, fewer manual steps and faster decisions. For logistics heavy firms, those delays and gaps spread across the whole business and are harder to absorb as they scale.
➡️ Kent’s Acrisure Has It’s Biggest Fundraising Year Yet
Acrisure UK raised more than £200,000 for charities in 2025, marking its strongest year on record. You see the impact clearly in the numbers. More than £120,000 came from its charity football tournament at Stamford Bridge. Staff raised £180,728 for Brain Research UK alone, beating the £150,000 target set in memory of a former colleague. Regional offices added £32,665 for local causes, and the Nomination Fund contributed another £10,053.
Leaders say the results came from steady effort across the country, with walking challenges, marathons, bake offs and quiz nights keeping teams engaged. The charity committee is now planning even bigger goals for 2026, with support reaching from London to Scotland.
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Below are several business events coming up this week in Kent.
You’ll find the full list at
www.KentBusinessEvents.co.uk
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
Women In Business Networking
Canterbury
The Corner House Restaurant - Canterbury
When: 24th Feb 2026 - 12pm - 2pm
Location: The Corner House Restaurant - Canterbury
Details:
The Women In Business Networking Canterbury 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
Maidstone Business Show 2026
Maidstone
Great Danes Hotel - Maidstone
When: 26th Feb 2026 - 10am - 3pm
Location: Great Danes Hotel - Maidstone
Details:
The Maidstone business show 2026 is the biggest networking event locally and provides companies a place to do business. The expo is an annual event and attracts many visitors. For many, it is the ultimate event to be seen networking at.
You can pre-register online via our website. Entry to the event is free however you can pre-register or register on the day at reception.
The business expo is FREE to attend as a visitor. This is made possible through the exhibitors who have paid to have an exhibition stand at the event to promote their business.
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
Women In Business Networking
Maidstone
The Spitfire - Kings Hill
When: 26th Feb 2026 - 11.45am - 2.15pm
Location: The Spitfire - Kings Hill
Details:
The Maidstone and Kings Hill Women in Business 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
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