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Welcome to the Kent Business Newsletter…

This Thursday’s edition follows businesses and organisations making practical moves across Kent, from a historic Wye pub reopening after a major investment to local manufacturers adopting new technology with grant support. We also look at workplace recognition for a Kent consultancy, fresh charitable funding reaching the county and an important Making Tax Digital warning for those who may still need to act.

Taken together, these stories show the different ways local organisations are investing, adapting and supporting their communities, while offering useful context for anyone following the county’s business scene. Settle in for the detail behind the headlines, and use the links to explore each full article.

➡️ 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.

Wye’s historic King’s Head has reopened after a £1.5m purchase, refurbishment and renovation by family-run Kent operator Contemporary Pubs. Closed since February 2024, the venue returns to the village centre with locally sourced food, beer and wine, plus gastro food with a twist.

It takes the group’s county portfolio to four pubs, alongside the Marquis of Granby at Alkham, The Tiger Inn in Stowting and The King’s Arms in Elham. Those existing sites have all been named Kent Pub of the Year in the National Pub & Bar Awards. Discover how the restoration is positioning a familiar North Downs pub for its next chapter.

➡️ Step inside the story behind Wye’s pub revival

Embridge Consulting, the technology-enabled business transformation consultancy, has been certified as a Great Place to Work for the second year running. The globally recognised programme assesses workplace performance against data and insights drawn from around 10,000 organisations. Embridge is one of 350 organisations recognised in 2026 and says it has maintained an Employee Net Promoter Score for six consecutive years.

The consultancy supports more than 350 public and private organisations and points to accessible hiring, flexible working, career growth opportunities and wider inclusion initiatives as part of its people-first approach. The recognition also follows a series of client wins. Explore what sits behind the repeat recognition.

➡️ Explore what sits behind Embridge’s repeat certification

Two Kent businesses are among 17 South East manufacturers investing in digital technology through Made Smarter South East. Wye’s Art4Site has installed a large-format scanner, supported by a £20,000 grant towards a £40,000 project, while Rochester chocolate producer Cocoba is investing in tempering machinery to increase capacity and improve reliability.

Across the programme, £245,000 in grants is supporting £563,000 of investment, forecast to create 50 jobs and generate £3.8m in additional profits. Made Smarter South East also provides expert advice, leadership development and digital skills support through a partnership of 11 local authorities. See how the support is translating into practical change for local manufacturers.

➡️ See how Kent manufacturers are putting the funding to work

Frances Andrew Memorial Trust is among eight charities sharing more than £16,000 from Hendy Foundation’s latest grant window. The Kent charity supports affordable self-catering holidays at Holcot Group Holiday Centre for people with disabilities, disadvantaged young people and their families.

The independent foundation is affiliated with Hendy Group and has made the grants from fundraising in the first half of 2026. Since launching in 2018, it says it has awarded more than £420,000 to over 320 charitable projects and aims to reach £500,000 in donations by the end of 2026. Learn more about the local impact of the latest funding round.

➡️ Find out how the latest grants will support Kent communities

Azets says more than 580,000 people who should have registered for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax had not done so, following a Freedom of Information request. HMRC data cited by the accountancy and advisory group showed 282,637 of 864,000 people expected to register by 6 April had signed up by 20 May.

Azets is urging landlords, sole traders and self-employed people to check whether they are in scope, move to compatible software and prepare their records for quarterly reporting.

➡️ Read the practical guidance on preparing for Making Tax Digital

Next has opened a new 132,000 sq ft anchor store at Bluewater Shopping Centre, taking over the former House of Fraser unit and tripling its footprint at the Kent retail destination. The opening adds a major draw for shoppers, includes an in-store Costa and nearby Bath & Body Works unit, and strengthens Bluewater’s position as one of the county’s biggest retail hubs. Read more.

Kent County Council has opened a six-week consultation on its draft Minerals Sites Plan, including a proposed new allocation for Kentish Ragstone near Aylesford. The plan is directly relevant to construction, development and infrastructure businesses because KCC says Kent faces a future shortfall in hard rock supply, with existing reserves expected to be exhausted by around 2033. Read more.

The Universities of Greenwich and Kent are set to launch the London and South East University Group in September, creating a combined institution with more than 50,000 students across London, Medway and Kent. The merger is intended to strengthen financial resilience while supporting students, skills and the south east economy, with both university names and identities retained. Read more.

On the show this week Paul and Jules was Nigel Jones from 9KM BY 9AM.

Nigel helps men and women in midlife become alcohol-free and step into their next chapter with more clarity, energy and purpose.

It’s not about guilt, labels or endless willpower. It’s about changing your thinking, changing your habits and changing your identity, so that alcohol stops being part of the story.

If you’re ready for a different life, this is a good place to start.

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

{{first_name | Hey}}, before you go…

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Contact us today - [email protected]

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