Hi {{first_name | there,}}

Welcome to the Monday edition of the Kent Business Newsletter.

A Kent entrepreneur who rebuilt after losing an £8 million business has earned national recognition for helping SMEs bring order to operational chaos. We also look at how Contracts Engineering is reshaping its leadership team for its next stage of growth, and how an Ashford manufacturer is using university talent to automate processes and reduce repetitive work.

Elsewhere, an Ashford-based metal detecting group has raised £12,500 for the region’s air ambulance, showing the impact local organisations can have on vital frontline services.

From hard-earned business lessons and manufacturing growth to digital innovation and community fundraising, here is what is happening across Kent this week.

➡️ 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.

Julie-Ann Adams, founder of Kent consultancy The Efficiency Method Ltd, has won the Most Influential Brand Award from Big Business Entrepreneurs after a sharp rise in demand for her practical work with SMEs. The business helps owners tackle the kind of operational disorder that quietly drains profit, time and confidence, from weak document control to unclear responsibilities and repeated rework. Adams says many firms are not short of effort or ambition, but are being held back by poor systems, trapped knowledge and too many daily interruptions. Her consultancy’s Your Efficiency Study is designed to uncover those hidden weaknesses early, before they become expensive problems.

The award also reflects Adams’ own business story. She previously built a recycling company to £8 million turnover with 160 employees before losing it in the financial crash, experience that now shapes her hands-on approach with clients across the UK. Recent projects have included improving systems for healthcare providers, professional services firms and fast-growing companies overly reliant on key staff. Founded in 2026, The Efficiency Method works with management and service-based SMEs employing between five and 100 people, and Adams is now preparing to launch the Efficiency Academy for start-ups and micro-businesses needing clearer structure without costly, overcomplicated support.

➡️ Read what turned one founder’s loss into a winning formula.

Contracts Engineering has overhauled its leadership team as it gears up for more high-volume work with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. The Kent sheet metal manufacturer has brought production, sales, supply chain, engineering and quality into one clearer management structure, with Daniel Mills promoted to General Manager from March 2026. Mills joined in 2024 as Production Manager, became Operations Manager in late 2025, and now takes charge of day-to-day running across the business. Craig Pagett moves into the Production Manager role, overseeing planning, labour, workflow and daily performance, while also leading continuous improvement work across the factory floor. Sean Johnson becomes Technical Manager, bringing engineering, quality, robotics and automation into a single function.

The shift comes as UK manufacturers face a tougher mix of rising material costs, shipping disruption and new carbon-related trade rules. Samantha Doy, now Purchasing and Supply Chain Manager, is handling supplier performance and cost control as pressure builds ahead of carbon border pricing in January 2027. Dave Fisk remains Managing Director but has stepped back from the General Manager role to focus on strategy and senior customer relationships, working with BAMUK Group CEO Catherine Barratt. Backed by a wider group that also includes finishing and street furniture businesses, Contracts Engineering is setting itself up for longer production runs, closer customer ties and a more demanding supply chain climate.

➡️ Read why the company changed course before 2027

An Ashford manufacturer is using university talent to speed up its digital overhaul through Made Smarter South East’s Digital Internship programme. Art4site, which specialises in fine art scanning and printing, brought in University of Kent computer science student Daniel Olusakin to help connect customer-facing systems with backend databases. The work is aimed at cutting manual administration, reducing errors and improving the flow of information across the business. For a smaller manufacturer, that means fewer repetitive tasks and a stronger, more practical platform for growth, without the cost and risk of a full-scale technology project from day one.

The placement also shows how the government-funded scheme is giving manufacturers access to specialist digital skills while helping students build experience on live commercial projects. Art4site founder Michael Setek said the internship had helped the business explore automation and create a more scalable process. Daniel said the project boosted his confidence as a developer because he was trusted with work that could directly make a real difference to the business. Made Smarter South East says five internships have already been completed, with 12 more under way or being recruited, as it pushes more regional manufacturers to test new technology through funded placements and wider support.

➡️ Read the move helping Kent manufacturers test digital change.

A Kent metal detecting group has handed £12,500 to Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, adding fresh support to a service that reaches some of the region’s most remote places in minutes. The Invicta Seekers Metal Detecting Group, based in Ashford, raised the money through donations, raffles and fundraising events, building on a charitable focus it has held since it was founded in 2011. The group says the cause is especially close to home because members often spend time in isolated rural locations, where rapid emergency care can make all the difference if someone falls ill or suffers an accident. Alongside fundraising, the club also promotes physical and mental wellbeing among its members and is looking to grow.

For KSS, the donation adds to a funding picture under constant pressure. The charity attends more than 3,000 incidents each year, operates around the clock, and can reach any location across Kent, Surrey and Sussex within 30 minutes. In 35 years it has responded to almost 50,000 incidents, yet it receives no central government funding and needs more than £20m a year to keep flying. KSS says 91% of its income comes from supporter generosity, making long-running local backing especially valuable. The Ashford group has supported the charity since 2013, showing how smaller community organisations can help sustain major frontline services across Kent.

➡️ Read what keeps this 24-hour emergency service in the air.

Icon Tower has secured planning permission for a new mast at Kings Hill Golf Course to improve mobile coverage for residents, visitors and businesses. Kent County Council says the neutral host mast will strengthen local digital infrastructure and support commercial confidence in the area. Read more.

Primark plans to open in County Square during the second half of 2027, combining the former Debenhams and Select units into a 29,000 sq ft store. The investment is expected to create jobs, increase footfall and generate additional spending across Ashford town centre. Read more.

SHW has secured a lease with Square One for a 39,963 sq ft warehouse at Larkfield Mill in Aylesford, where the operator plans a £3 million leisure complex. The centre will include 10 indoor padel courts, a gym, restaurant, Pilates studio and wellness facilities. Read more.

{{first_name | Hey}}, before you go…

➡️ Have you joined the Kent Business Community yet? - https://kentbusinesscommunity.co.uk
➡️ Don’t miss the latest networking events near you - https://www.kentbusinessevents.co.uk
➡️ Do you have news or announcements you’d like to share about your business?

Contact us today - [email protected]

If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, please subscribe and pass it on to another Kent business owner who might also like it! Thanks.