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This week in the Kent Business Newsletter, we look at the businesses, warnings and local stories shaping the county right now.

Kings Hill is getting a major £6.75 million office upgrade as demand grows for smarter, more flexible workspace. Sittingbourne’s Furnitubes is heading to Chelsea Flower Show with urban furniture designed for greener, longer-lasting public spaces. HMRC is stepping up scrutiny of charities and not-for-profits, with advisers warning Kent organisations to get their records in order. We also look at the hidden risks of borrowing from family when business finances get tight.

And in this week’s Business Spotlight, we meet Audrey Jurkoniene, the Chatham accountant helping business owners understand their numbers, not just file them.

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A £6.75 million refurbishment programme is now underway at Kings Hill as Praxis begins upgrading three office buildings at the Kent business park. The work covers 106,000 sq ft of existing space and is aimed at reshaping older offices into more flexible, modern accommodation that can help employers bring staff back into shared workplaces. Buildings at 10 and 35 Kings Hill Avenue and 30 Tower View are being refurbished to deliver Category A office space, with units ranging from 2,000 to 16,000 sq ft. Existing offices have been degassed, while new electric air conditioning and ventilation are being installed in updated areas to improve performance and support a wider mix of occupiers.

Praxis said the programme forms a central part of its long-term strategy for Kings Hill, with a focus on sustaining employment and protecting the park’s standing as one of Kent’s key business locations. Asset manager Harry Trahair said demand remains strongest for offices between 2,500 and 7,500 sq ft, as firms look for efficient space with stronger environmental standards and better fit-out. He added that existing occupiers are already moving into improved offices, while new businesses are also showing interest in smaller units. This first phase is due for completion by July 2026, with a second phase later this year including a further estimated £2 million investment.

➡️ Discover why flexible office demand is rising at Kings Hill.

Sittingbourne’s Furnitubes is using this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show to make a clear point about the role of urban furniture in building stronger public spaces. Working with the British Association of Landscape Industries, the company is part of a collaborative garden designed to show how landscaping can help tackle climate resilience, biodiversity, water management and social wellbeing. Instead of a standard trade stand, the garden is being used as a live example of what the sector can achieve when design, infrastructure and environmental thinking come together in one space.

Furnitubes’ contribution centres on practical products built for long-term use. Veeva Sol, its solar-powered charging bench, brings off-grid renewable energy into a public setting with wireless and USB charging plus low-level lighting. The company is also showing Hive, a modular seating and planting system shaped around a hexagonal design that can be expanded or reworked over time instead of being ripped out and replaced. That matters because local authorities, developers and place-makers are under growing pressure to create outdoor spaces that last, adapt and serve communities better.

For Kent businesses working in design, construction and public realm projects, the message is simple: durable, flexible infrastructure is becoming a bigger part of sustainable landscape planning.

➡️ Discover the infrastructure ideas shaping more resilient outdoor spaces.

Charities and not-for-profit organisations in Kent are being urged to check that their records, processes and controls are in order as HMRC steps up activity across the sector. The tax authority has launched Structured Risk Reviews, bringing a more detailed and data-led form of oversight that looks beyond standard filings. Using its Connect analytics system, now backed by AI, HMRC can compare tax returns, payroll data, VAT returns and Gift Aid claims with public records, social media and information from more than 30 external databases. That means even small gaps between what an organisation reports and what it says publicly could trigger closer attention.

Azets says the impact could be serious for charities that are not fully prepared. Reviews are expected to cover corporation tax, charitable expenditure, Gift Aid processes, VAT treatment, employment taxes, benefits and payroll controls. The firm has flagged several likely risk factors, including complex income streams, repayment claims, commercial trading, overseas activity and large or spread-out workforces.

For Kent’s charity sector, where many organisations work with limited resources and tight governance capacity, the warning matters. A review can be time-consuming, stressful and potentially costly if underpaid tax or weak procedures are uncovered. The message from advisers is clear: act early, check systems now and get specialist help before problems grow.

➡️ Check what HMRC could spot before a review begins.

As banks pull back and borrowing gets more expensive, more small business owners are turning to relatives for financial support, but a quick, trusted solution can carry serious risk for both sides. Mike Field of Opus Restructuring & Insolvency says family lending often begins with good intentions but little structure, especially when businesses are already under pressure. Without proper checks, legal paperwork or clear repayment terms, small loans can grow fast. One case started as £35,000 to finish a property development and ended with almost £750,000 advanced by a family member, with no proper due diligence or formal repayment plan in place.

The piece warns that the greatest damage is not always financial. Borrowers may hide problems to avoid upsetting relatives, while lenders may keep providing money out of loyalty or guilt. That can leave families exposed long after a commercial lender would have stepped away. The result can be unpaid debt, failed projects, inheritance disputes and broken relationships. You should get advice before any money changes hands, both to test whether a loan is sensible and to protect everyone involved.

For Kent firms facing tighter funding conditions, that matters because pressure on cash flow can quickly become pressure on family ties as well.

➡️ See what happens when family loans spiral out of control.

Kent property and construction leaders met in Maidstone for the Property and Construction Outlook 2026 event. The discussion covered commercial and residential market conditions, economic pressures, legal reform and investment trends, with particular strength reported in Kent’s industrial, logistics, science and business park sectors Read more.

Square One Padel is preparing to open a £3m sports, wellness and lifestyle venue at Larkfield Mill in Aylesford. The scheme will include ten indoor padel courts, golf simulators, a 200-seat restaurant, gym, Pilates studios, co-working space and wellness facilities. Read more.

Kreston Reeves and Lloyds Bank have launched a Southern Manufacturing Forum, building on the long-running Kent Manufacturing Forum, which is now in its 15th year. The forum is focused on helping manufacturers respond to uncertainty, interest rates, supply chain pressure and investment decisions. Read more.

On the show this week Paul and Jules was Darren Weale of Intune PR.

In Tune PR prides itself on its work, and in working with fellow professionals who can help their clients get exactly the help they need and the best results possible.

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

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