Viva La Revolution!
Kent-based event management company Revolution Events celebrated 20 years in business just before the Easter break, with al fresco fizz and a team meal at the Poacher & Partridge pub.
Revolution is well-known for organising the long-running Business Vision LIVE and Kent Construction Expo events but until 2011 the company had worked with very few local clients, despite always being based in Kent. The business was started in 1999 by owners Nick Litton and Rich Tribe, who had already worked together for six years as directors of the Interactive Group, a trail-blazer in the IT events space, who almost singlehandedly invented the seminardriven exhibition format that has become ubiquitous in many markets. When that company was sold to a US private equity vehicle, Rich and Nick decided to take what they had learned to start a venture of their
own, this time surfing the wave of the dot-com boom and the emerging world of e-business.
In their first year, Revolution launched and ran ten own brand eWorld events for specific industry sectors, explaining how the principles of e-business could be applied to sectors such as finance, manufacturing, government and many more – and went on to organise thirty more the following year, including bespoke projects for high-tech clients such as Microsoft and Sage Software. Operating from offices at the castle end of Tonbridge High Street for the first ten years, the company organised a wide portfolio of niche events in London, Birmingham
Improved housing a focus for Dan
Local architect Dan Codrea has joined Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce with a vision to promote sustainable architecture, in particular independent and assisted living communities in the area. A fully qualified chartered architect and managing director of DC Architecture Ltd, Dan believes that ‘there is a great need for independent and assisted living accommodation communities - even the Government is crying out for it’. According to the Nuffield Trust, the ageing population means NHS care is expected to increase, because of longer life expectancy and the rising cost of treatments. NHS costs increased by £11bn from 2011/12 to 2016/17. In Kent, the number of people aged 65 and over is forecast to increase by 57.5% between 2016 and 2036. A recent study from Lancaster University found that elderly people living in adequate communities are more active, less anxious and were ‘never or hardly ever’ lonely. The residents’ improved physical and mental health also leads to cost savings for the NHS. Dan said: “The NHS is virtually not coping with elderly people who end
up in hospital. Even if they’re actually well, sometimes they can’t return home because nobody can look after them or their homes can’t be adjusted for home care. The Government is beginning to focus on home care, but for that you need suitable accommodation.” Dan has 35 years of experience working for architecture firms in London and Germany, specialising in sustainable residential and commercial projects. He established DC Architecture Ltd. as an independent practice in 2016. He has had the idea to work on a project tackling not only this specific housing need for a ‘long, long time’, but also to regenerate the sustainable building industry in the South East. Dan said: “I have a concept that I would like to discuss with developers. It’s an important project and people really need retirement homes. The ageing population and its strain on the NHS can be sorted if the right accommodation is built properly.”
and other European capitals (and even as far away as Thailand), establishing a core expertise in areas such as Procurement and Information Management before becoming a key strategic partner for John Prescott’s Department of Communities & Local Government, helping to deliver the Local e-Gov agenda. Having reached full capacity at its Tonbridge offices, Revolution started a new chapter when it bought a derelict farm building (together with nearly fifty acres of farmland) at auction in 2007, with a plan to convert the building to offices and relocate its team to the idyllic Kent countryside between Pembury and Colts Hill. Hawkwell Barn is now
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home to four other local companies, as well as Revolution’s team of twenty event specialists. The next major development happened in 2011 when Revolution were asked by BSK-CiC and Kent County Council to take over the organisation of the popular Kent 2020 Vision exhibition (now Business Vision LIVE). Revolution now organise all three of the county’s largest business events: Business Vision LIVE (which they now own), The Education People Show (for Kent County Council) and most recently Kent Construction Expo (for Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce).
Law firm appoints new head of Property Dispute Resolution
Kent-based law firm Furley Page has appointed a new head of Property Dispute Resolution.
(L-R) David Hall and Jeremy Ferris Partner Jeremy Ferris takes over the team following the retirement of Consultant David Hall after nearly 40 years with the firm. Jeremy is recognised by legal guides Chambers UK and The Legal 500 for his expertise in Dispute Resolution. Peter Hawkes, Senior Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution team
at Furley Page, said: “Jeremy is an outstanding lawyer and his background as a Chartered Surveyor gives him particular expertise in resolving property disputes. I am confident he will ensure that our business continues to go from strength to strength.
“David Hall is an exemplary professional and it has been my pleasure to work with him for many years.”
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