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Hi {{first_name | Kent Business Community}}

Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Kent Business Newsletter.

This week - A Kent accountancy firm has made its first move under private equity backing, and it signals bigger plans ahead. Burgess Hodgson’s latest deal brings specialist tax expertise closer to local businesses, particularly those in property, development, and innovation.

At the same time, smaller firms are under real pressure. Rising labour costs are forcing hiring freezes and squeezing margins, with the gap between SMEs and larger businesses becoming more obvious.

Elsewhere, Birketts is scaling fast in Sevenoaks, a Kent firm is tackling workplace conflict with a new book and charity partnership, and logistics businesses are quietly battling outdated systems that could hold back growth.

➡️ 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.

Burgess Hodgson, the Canterbury-based accountancy firm with roots going back to 1938, has made its first acquisition since partnering with US private equity firm Abry Partners. The deal brings Wandsworth Consulting, a Surrey-based specialist in capital allowances and R&D tax relief, into the Burgess Hodgson group. Wandsworth was founded in 2014 and carries more than 70 years of collective team experience, with its leadership drawn from Big Four firms, boutique tax practices, and international real estate advisory. The combined business now offers clients a direct route to specialist tax relief expertise that was not previously available in-house.

For business owners, property investors, and growing companies across Kent and the wider South East, the practical effect is access to a deeper bench of specialist support through a firm they already know. Clients with commercial property, active development projects, or qualifying innovation investment stand to benefit most. Wandsworth Consulting will continue to trade under its own name in the near term while operating as part of the broader group. The deal is framed as the first step in a wider growth plan backed by Abry Partners, with further investment in specialist capability expected to follow.

➡️ Find out which businesses stand to gain the most from this deal

Smaller UK firms are under growing strain as rising labour costs and economic uncertainty weigh heavily on decision making. The latest Azets Barometer, based on responses from nearly 500 UK businesses, shows 40 percent see higher labour costs as the biggest threat, following recent increases in employers’ National Insurance and the minimum wage. Many firms have already frozen hiring to manage costs, signalling a slowdown in the jobs market. Economic uncertainty remains the leading concern overall, flagged by 67 percent of respondents, while more than half also point to geopolitical risks shaping the outlook.

The pressure is hitting SMEs hardest, with limited financial reserves and less ability to pass costs onto customers. Around a third report shrinking margins and cashflow strain, while nearly 30 percent have raised prices or seen shifts in consumer demand. Despite this, business leaders stress that quick, decisive action remains key to survival. The data underlines a clear divide between smaller and larger firms, as structural disadvantages leave SMEs more exposed to prolonged cost increases and policy changes.

➡️ See why rising costs are forcing hiring freezes now

Birketts is marking three years in Sevenoaks with sharp growth in both headcount and senior hires. The UK Top 50 law firm opened its South East office in 2023 after merging with regional firm Batchelor’s. Since then, the team has grown to 79 colleagues, a 243% increase from launch. In February 2025, the office doubled in size to meet rising demand. Over the past year, the firm has strengthened its regional offer with new Partners across Corporate, Planning and Environmental, and Private Client Advisory, signalling a clear push to build depth across key practice areas.

This month, Charlotte Sloan joined the Partnership, taking the total number of South East Partners to eight. She leads the Employment team in the region and advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters, with a strong focus on the education sector. Her promotion reflects the firm’s aim to deliver a full-service presence in the South East, positioning Sevenoaks as a growing hub for clients across business and the public sector.

➡️ See how Birketts built a full-service base.

Kent-based training firm Inspiring Cultures Ltd has released its first book, Before It Boils, aimed at HR managers, leaders and business owners who want to prevent workplace conflict before it escalates. Published through Kindle Direct Publishing, the book focuses on spotting early signs of tension and acting before problems grow. Founder Stephen Adams said the project was a major team effort, led by Head of Cultural Transformation Jenni Miller, and designed to give practical guidance to individuals and teams facing everyday pressures at work.

The launch comes alongside a new partnership with mental health charity Head In The Game. Inspiring Cultures will provide financial support and practical help to the organisation throughout 2026. Both announcements fall during Stress Awareness Month, highlighting the link between unmanaged stress, workplace conflict and wider mental health challenges. The firm says the timing reflects its wider mission to improve workplace culture while backing local causes.

➡️ See why stress can quietly damage teams.

Many UK logistics businesses are running on systems that have served them well for years. They are stable, familiar, and keep daily operations moving. But they were not built to connect easily with the newer tools businesses now need, and that gap is becoming a real problem. Sharing data, improving visibility, and scaling operations all become harder when the core system cannot keep up. For logistics operators, the stakes are high. These systems sit at the centre of live operations, handling shipments, documentation, and partner connections, so replacing them entirely carries significant risk.

Rather than replacing everything at once, many businesses are choosing to modernise what they already have. Dev Partners, a UK software development company, recently helped The Seacon Group do exactly that, updating a long-standing internal system while keeping operations running as normal. The project showed how complex these changes can be, and why understanding existing processes before making any changes matters so much. With AI and data tools now shaping how competitive logistics businesses operate, the ability to adapt existing systems may be the deciding factor.

➡️ Why waiting to modernise could cost logistics businesses more than time

Hub & Spoke was shaped by one of Britain’s darkest disasters. The 1987 sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise, which killed 193 people, exposed deep failures in communication and accountability. For the venture’s founder, it was a defining moment. The tragedy showed how siloed information and weak oversight can have devastating consequences. That lesson drove a forty year career focused on governance, leadership, and strengthening organisations so they never lose sight of the people they serve.

Over decades of board roles and frontline work, a clear pattern emerged. Charities are rich in purpose but stretched by limited resources and fragmented systems. Many know their mission but lack the tools or structure to deliver it fully. Hub & Spoke aims to close that gap. Its central model offers charities one clear point of support across governance, communications, crisis planning, and long term sustainability, helping them operate with clarity and resilience.

➡️ See how tragedy shaped this new model.

Plans for a new Lidl store in Ramsgate include the creation of around 40 jobs. The development would add to the area’s retail offer and support local employment. Read more.

A new trampoline park is set to open at North Farm Road in Tunbridge Wells, adding to the town’s leisure offering. The development is expected to attract families and increase footfall for surrounding businesses. Read more.

Small businesses have met in Ashford, Kent, to urge the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to do more to support them as there are fears the cost of the war in Iran will affect their futures. Read more.

On the show this week Paul and Jules brought Kent up to speed with whats happenning in the local business world!

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

{{first_name | Kent Business Community}}, before you go…

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