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Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Kent Business Newsletter…
Five very different stories this week show how Kent’s businesses are changing shape: from a historic Pantiles hotel preparing for its next life, to a care home opening its doors in Kings Hill and a playground maker looking back on a decade of big ideas.
There is also a clear read on the pressure facing firms, alongside a national people-and-culture nomination for an Aylesford employer. And in this week’s Kent Business Spotlight, we meet Chris White of CW Licensed Bookkeeper & Accountant, who shares how he has built a growing practice around personal service, smart systems and more than 30 years of finance experience.
Each story has something practical to say about ambition, resilience and the people behind the work.
➡️ 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.
In this issue: Kent Business News | Kent Business Spotlight | In Brief | Kent Business Events | Kent Business Radio
This Week’s Kent Business News
➡️ Corporate insolvencies reach four-month high
August brought a four-month high for corporate insolvencies, with Azets reporting 1,946 cases and a rise in administrations. Rob Young says Kent firms are dealing with a difficult mix of employment costs, wage pressures, energy bills and increasingly cautious consumers, even where sales volumes appear stable.
The warning is particularly relevant for retailers, construction and hospitality businesses, where slender margins can be eroded quickly. Young points to the impact of political and geopolitical uncertainty, the summer heatwave and the prospect of another Budget, while urging owners worried about cashflow to seek professional support early, when there are still options and time to make informed decisions. That early intervention can protect jobs, suppliers and future trading plans.
➡️ Warners Solicitors advises sellers on sale of Tunbridge Wells Hotel to THE PIG
The Grade II listed Tunbridge Wells Hotel on The Pantiles has been sold to Home Grown Hotels, the operator behind THE PIG. The 20-bedroom property, run by Julian Leefe-Griffiths for 13 years, was sold for an undisclosed sum against a guide price of £2.695 million.
Warners Solicitors advised the sellers on the complex transaction, bringing together its corporate, commercial-property and employment teams. The buyer plans a comprehensive refurbishment focused on local suppliers and produce, giving this familiar part of Royal Tunbridge Wells a new chapter under a well-known boutique hotel brand while retaining its place at the heart of The Pantiles. It also safeguards an important landmark as it changes ownership.
➡️ Advo One named finalist for Investors in People UK Employer of the Year 2026
Aylesford-based Advo One has been named one of eight national finalists for Investors in People’s UK Employer of the Year. The HR consultancy and payroll bureau earned the recognition after retaining its Gold accreditation, following a period of growth, acquisitions and significant change to its workforce.
Advo says its post-pandemic reinvention has meant integrating new colleagues, developing skills and keeping culture at the centre of its commercial plans. Its Investors in People submission set out how the business has supported engagement, wellbeing and professional development while expanding its HR and payroll offer. The winner will be announced in London on 18 November. It is a notable Kent entry in this year’s finalist field.
➡️ From Garden Office to Playtime Powerhouse - Everyday Play Celebrates 10 Years
Everyday Play is marking ten years since founders Luke and Lewis started from a Maidstone garden office. Now based in Biddenden, the business designs, manufactures and installs imaginative playgrounds, sensory gardens and bespoke spaces for schools, nurseries, visitor attractions and communities across the UK.
Its journey has included establishing an in-house design team, opening a Bedford workshop and rebranding from L&L Creative Spaces. The company’s work ranges from traditional playgrounds to inclusive sensory environments and ambitious visitor-attraction builds. From schools to Wingham Wildlife Park, the team says its focus remains creating places that help children explore, play, build confidence and enjoy the outdoors. The anniversary is a marker of how far that original idea has travelled.
➡️ LOVETT OPENS 78 BEDROOM CARE HOME IN KINGS HILL
Lovett Care has opened its first Kent home in Kings Hill: a purpose-built, 78-bedroom facility offering residential, nursing, dementia and respite care. The official opening brought together the team, residents and Cllr Sarah Hudson, Deputy Mayor of Kings Hill, for a ribbon cutting and preview tour.
The new home includes communal areas, an on-site salon and technology intended to support residents’ safety and wellbeing. Lovett Care, which operates 29 homes nationwide, says it wants the home to become an active part of Kings Hill, building relationships with local groups, organisations and businesses as it welcomes more residents in the coming weeks. The opening adds new local capacity at a time of sustained demand.
Kent Business Spotlight
From Side Hustle to Trusted Accountancy Practice: How Chris White Built CWABC
Chris White has spent more than 30 years working in finance, but in 2021 he decided to use that experience to build something of his own.
From Hildenborough, Chris has grown CW Licensed Bookkeeper & Accountant alongside his full-time career, building a loyal client base of sole traders, landlords and small businesses.
His approach combines traditional accountancy with technology. Chris uses cloud software, automation and AI to make finances simpler, while firmly believing technology should support, not replace, personal advice.
In our latest Kent Business Spotlight, Chris talks about winning his first clients, growing through referrals, the challenge of building a business alongside a full-time role, and the systems he wishes he had put in place earlier.
He also shares a useful reminder for anyone thinking about starting a business: you do not need to have everything perfect before you begin.
Other Kent Business News In Brief
➡️ Kent housebuilder Chartway falls to £27m pre-tax loss
Maidstone-based housebuilder Chartway has reported a £27 million pre-tax loss, with the business saying several contracts have become loss-making because of market pressures. The partnerships specialist works with housing associations and local authorities and has faced higher construction costs and difficult market conditions, making the results a significant development for Kent’s construction and development sector. Read more.
➡️ Kent small businesses offered active-travel grants of up to £5,000
Kent County Council has opened a limited grant scheme offering qualifying small businesses and not-for-profit organisations up to £5,000 for facilities that help staff and customers walk, cycle or wheel to their premises. Eligible spending includes cycle storage, lockers, showers, pool bikes and e-bike charging. Applicants must operate a site in Kent outside Medway, employ at least two people and apply by 16 October. Read more.
➡️ Margate hotel opens cookery school and private-events space
Christmas in Margate has been cancelled after organisers could not secure the approximately £3,000 required to stage the High Street event. Traders at the upper end of the street said the annual programme, which has run for five years, normally produces their busiest trading day of the festive season. Businesses considered organising an alternative but learned of the cancellation too late to meet the required event-notification period. Read more.
Looking for business networking events in Kent?
Find them all here:
www.KentBusinessEvents.co.uk
Kent Business Radio Show
On the show this week Paul and Jules was Michael Laws of Realign Your Career.
Michael is a qualified career coach dedicated to helping people at key crossroads in their working lives. Whether you’re a mid-career professional seeking more fulfilment, returning to work after a break, or a recent graduate stepping into the job market for the first time, he is here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
To listen to this week’s show in full visit Kent Business Radio
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➡️ Have you added your business to the Kent Business Directory yet? - https://kentbusinessdirectory.co.uk
➡️ Don’t miss the latest networking events near you - https://www.kentbusinessevents.co.uk
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