Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine May 2024

On the

Create Balance’s Danielle Friend and Jane Hodge on simplifying accountancy and tax

THE PERILS OF AI

How it falls down on the human touch

ELECTION ANALYSIS

What borough council looks like after the voting

KEY PLAYERS

Dynamic local businesses making an impact nationally

IN THE KNOW

Experts from finance, law, HR and recruitment

AFTER HOURS

Where to wind down when your day is done

BUSINESS

On the

EDITOR

Eileen Leahy

DESIGN MANAGER

Jason Stubbs

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Robin Singer

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

George Percy

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Richard Moore

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Nick Moore

Welcome to the very first edition of the Tunbridge Wells

Business Magazine. We are delighted to have you with us on this very exciting new journey where this publication has the honour of shining a spotlight on all that’s so brilliant and inspiring about our local business community.

From leading law, property and finance firms, to all the creative entrepreneurs, pioneering retail, tech and hospitality - not to mention all the exciting start-ups – who are all based in our town, there is so much to discover and celebrate about the economic landscape.

We are here on a monthly basis in print to bring you all the latest news, interviews and expert opinion from various professionals and organisation. But remember we will also have a comprehensive online offering too. So make sure you follow all of our social media platforms listed below. This is where you’ll get all the relevant news and information surrounding Tunbridge Wells on a daily basis.

In our first issue we’re delighted to reveal our cover interview is with Danielle Friend and Jane

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine is published by JJL Media & Marketing Ltd, 3 Chapman Way, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3EF. Registration no: 15546231 For enquiries please email hello@twbusinessmagazine.com or call 01892 574474 www.twbusinessmagazine.com

Hodge from Create Balance

– a dynamic accountancy and tax firm making a real and refreshing difference to your money matters. We hope you’ll find their story as fascinating as we did when we visited them at their Eridge Estate offices earlier this month.

We also bring you the latest on the future of Tunbridge Wells courtesy of the TWBC’s Vision 2040 plans, all the recent election analysis and general breaking news you need to know. We also profile some dynamic local firms who are making a real difference on the national and global stages too courtesy of their unique way of doing business.

We’re also here to help you relax with our brilliant After Hours lifestyle section which this month includes interviews with Charlotte’s In The Pantiles, a preview of Black Deer Festival and an expert events guide to what’s happening in our local area over the next month which will certainly boost our local economy. Enjoy the edition and do let me know your feedback at hello@twbusinessmagazine.com

Printed by:

© Copyright 2024. Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine and JJL Media & Marketing Ltd are fully protected by copyright; no part of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted without the complete and expressed permission of the publisher. The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy, however there can be no liability accepted by the publisher for errors and omissions. We can under no circumstance be held responsible for any materials, matter or photographical copy submitted for publication or not within the website or magazine. We cannot be held responsible or liable for any breaches of copyright from adverts, materials or photography or any other such material supplied by a third party. The views and opinions expressed within our publications are not necessarily those of the publisher or Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine or any featured parties.

Thank you to our launch party sponsor, Rubix VT

Rubix VT is a dynamic comms company that kindly helped sponsor our Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine launch party. If you’re not familiar with them then here’s a brief overview of what they do:

“Our company’s motto is ‘Telecoms. Simplified.  We can recommend the best internet connection and a flexible phone system to help your business. Whether you work at home or in the office, make calls using a desk phone, mobile or laptop, we will get you connected.

“At Rubix we believe telecoms don’t need to be complex. We like to keep things simple for clients and customers. Good quality telecoms simply means when someone rings your business or organisation, they can talk to the person they need to or easily find

key information. In other words you can make calls efficiently and monitor volumes and answer times.

“If someone calls at a busy time, they’re kept updated and not left waiting in silence. We also help you monitor metrics so you can make improvements and integrate your phones with your CRM and productivity tools.

“In short, Rubix VT has the communications expertise so you can get on with running your business in confidence.”

www.rubixvt.com

Meet the EXPERTS

Every month in Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine we will bring you a wealth of local expert knowledge on all aspects of doing business. In our first edition, we are honoured to have the following professional experts on board…

Jess Gibson MD of the TN card

Mark Hill Antiques Expert

Neil Simmonds MD TN Recruits

Gillian Palmer Founder The Finance Hub

Kevin Steele MD FOX Group

Darren Austin Director of Synergee

Sophie Forrest-Lavery Founder the Forrest Group

Deborah Richards Founder of Maddisons Residential

Alex Green CEO at RTW Together

Siobhan Sterling MD Sharp Minds Communications

Simon HowsonGreen Technology Expert

Helen Williams Mindset & Business Coach

Matthew Sankey Director of Sankey’s

Clare Lush-Mansell Founder of My Tunbridge Wells

Becky Moran CEO TN Lettings

Henry Adekoya Health & Fitness Specialist

Arrival of Danish homeware brand likely to prove a major attraction for shoppers

Royal Victoria Place shoppping centre has been given a boost with the news that a popular Danish retailer is to open a store at the Tunbridge Wells site.

Sostrene Grene has 285 outlets worldwide and will open its first operation in Kent later this year. It offers 'affordable homewares ' coupled with a 'unique store design'.

Director of Finance, Policy and Development at the borough council Lee Colyer said:"We think vistors to the town centre will be delighted to see this new arrival.

"When we acquired ownership of the centre, we were committed to seeing occupancy and footfall increase. This is already happening and the clear message is trhat Tunbridge Wells is a good place to be."

The arrival of Sostrene Grene, at a date to be announced, will be welcomed by shoppers who over recent years have seen a growing number of shop closures at Royal Victoria Place.

Centre Manager Nicky Blanchard said "It's another fantastic new retailer to add to our expending retail mix."

Announcement on future of the BHS  site delayed as speculation mounts

A high-profile new retailer is understood to be heading for Tunbridge Wells in a move that would boost the town centre.

A 'major announcement' concerning the old BHS site in Royal Victoria Place shopping centre was expected earlier this month but did not happen.

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine believes that whatever is planned for the site will be a game changer involving a household name.

Since BHS closed its doors in 2016 speculation has been rife with the name of Primark being mentioned.

The Borough Council has declined to comment about what might be happening or about any possible announcements.

A multi-million pound leisure centre complete with go-kart track was intended for the site in 2022 but fell by the wayside.

To find out the latest about BHS plans visit our website www.twbusinessmagazine.com

Private hospital bought by the NHS

THE NHS has paid just under £10million from capital funds to purchase a private healthcare facility in Tunbridge Wells.

The purchase of Spire Hospital at Fordcombe by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust (MTW) is aimed at reducing long term waiting lists.

It will enable the Trust to develop clinical services in a number of areas and provide additional NHS capacity across Kent and Medway.

MILES SCOTT

The Department of Health’s capital budget can be used for long term investments in buildings.

The current Spire staff of 173 will eventually transfer their employment to MTW.

Miles Scott, Trust Chief Executive, said of the purchase: “It will enable us to develop planned procedures and diagnostic services and I am delighted this investment will benefit patients across our communities.

“By working in collaboration with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board and NHS partners the facility will enable us to improve patient experience by reducing waiting lists and supporting the increase in demand all hospitals are responding to.”

The hospital at Fordcombe will provide MTW with additional facilities including: two theatres, 28 inpatient and day care beds, diagnostics including X-ray, MRI, CT and endoscopy, plus a number of consultation and treatment rooms.

This will increase NHS capacity and enable MTW to carry out more procedures for ‘long waiting patients’ across Kent and Medway.

Following a transition period some NHS patients will access care at the Spire site and the new facility will free up capacity at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals. Additional patients will be seen at those sites.

Mr Scott said: “MTW continues to be one of the best performing hospital trusts in the country against a backdrop of recordbreaking attendances, and colleagues recently ranked the Trust in the top 10 hospital trusts in England to work for.

“Our focus now is on welcoming and supporting the Spire Tunbridge Wells staff and working with our clinical teams on the development of services at the new facility.”

Following the acquisition there will be a transition period, which is expected to be around six months, while MTW works on the development and integration of services.

The hospital currently treats both private and NHS patients and during the transition Spire management will continue to run the hospital and patient care will continue as normal.

MTW will work with the Spire team to expand the use of the facility for NHS patients during this period and once the transition has completed the management will be taken over by MTW.

Natasha Smith, Senior Associate in the Employment team at CooperBurnett LLP, discusses the new changes that came into effect in the workplace last month. Read on to discover how they will affect you and your place of work…

Some important changes came into effect in employment law from 6 April 2024, which primarily focus on the extension of family-friendly rights in the workplace. Breaking them down they include the following:

Flexible working requests

• A ‘day 1’ right, removing the need to have a minimum of 26 weeks’ employment.

• Staff can make two requests in any 12-month period, as opposed to one.

• Employers must deal with requests within two months, not three months.

• Staff no longer have to explain what effect their request has on the organisation.

The eight business reasons an organisation previously had available to reject a flexible working request have not changed, and employers should remember that an employee’s right to request flexible working is not the same as having a right to have the request agreed. However, they should prepare for a potential increase in requests and ensure policies and processes comply.

Carers Leave

• Employees can take one week’s unpaid leave every 12 months to give or arrange care for a dependent.

• A dependent is somebody who has a physical or mental illness/injury that they are expected to require care for more than three months, someone who has a disability or someone who has care needs due to old age. They do not need to be a family member.

• Leave does not have to be taken as a whole week – it can be taken in single or half days throughout the year.

The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023

• Introduces the ‘protected period’ during pregnancy. It applies during pregnancy, maternity leave and for six months after maternity leave ends.

• In the event of redundancies arising, those who are within the protected period must be given priority in respect of being offered a suitable alternative role (if there is one) over other staff.

If you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact Natasha Smith on email: nes@cooperburnett. com or tel: 01892 515022.

www.cooperburnett.com

This blog is not intended as legal advice that can be relied upon and CooperBurnett LLP does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of its contents.

TW Business Magazine lends its support to Amplifi as Official Media Partner

JANUARY saw the official launch of Amplifi, a Tunbridge Wells based organisation facilitating Tunbridge Wells businesses to work together to be more sustainable.

The brainchild of joint-founders, Pete Kenyon (Partner at Cripps LLP) and Jenny Kitchen (CEO of Yoyo Design), the event saw over 120 businesses from across the borough coming together to find out how they can work together to drive action and consider their environmental impact.

Working with a programme developed by Simon Heppner, a renowned sustainability expert and the Founder of Net Zero Now, Tunbridge Wells businesses split into sector-specific groups to discuss initiatives that would deliver the most effective results. Discussions ranged from the supply of green energy to using e-bikes and electric cars for deliveries, maximising natural light and installing motion sensitive lights to eco-friendly digital devices. With the financial support of RTW Together Business Improvement District (BID), around 40 businesses will be the first cohort to work through the Net Zero Now Programme throughout 2024, collectively

Guests mingle at the launch event

reducing their environmental impact and maximising their sustainability.

Amplifi is a not for profit company that is also supported by a local collective who have offered either their expertise for free, or financial support, and includes; Cripps, Yoyo Design, Crowe, Childrensalon, Handelsbanken, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, RTW Together BID, Fuggles, AXA Health, Colley Raine & Associates and the TN Card. The Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine are delighted to announce that they will be the official media partner of

Sat Nav for Business

with Darren Austin at Synergee

The Cash Basis of accounting for self-employed individuals and unincorporated partnerships was introduced in 2013. It was an option for businesses with a turnover below £150k, intended to simplify annual accounts for tax purposes. These simplified accounts are based on cash in and out rather than the standard Accruals Accounting which is based on income earned and expenses incurred in a reporting period. In addition, purchases of items such as computers, plant & machinery, or vans, are shown as an expense in the period they are paid for, rather than being shown as an asset and depreciated over their expected useful life. The cash basis also had certain restrictions, such as limits on deductions for loan and bank interest, and fewer options on the use of losses. Simplicity is good but is does come at the cost of accuracy. Recognising expenses when paid and income when received skews your reported profit. For small uncomplicated businesses, this may not be an issue. For most businesses however, their cash in and out will vary significantly from

Whilst I am all for simplification,I think businesses need accurate management information to make informed business decisions “ ”

their actual profit due to items such as unsold stock, deposits received, or projects that span reporting periods which are invoiced at certain stages, usually after third party sign-off. In order to have an accurate picture of their profit, a second set of accounts prepared under the accruals basis would be required.

In the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced that from April 2024 the turnover threshold will be removed and the Cash Basis will be the default for accounts preparation. The restrictions on loan interest deductions and use of losses have been removed. You will be able to opt out of the default cash basis, and use Accrual Accounting. Whilst I am all for simplification, I think businesses need accurate management information to make informed business decisions. Having accounts that give a different profit if you, for example, delay payment for stock from the last day of the period to the first day of the next is a recipe for disaster. I think this is one occasion when keeping it simple may not be the best option.

Amplifi, joining other businesses in the collective who are supporting this critical initiative. Nick Moore, Managing Director of Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine commented;“We are both delighted and proud to be the official media partner for Amplifi. At a time when sustainability is high on most businesses agendas, we are looking forward to supporting and collaborating with the other local businesses involved to take action and make a real difference to the community and beyond.”

Simon Heppner, Founder of Net Action Now believes the scale of the Amplifi programme in Tunbridge Wells is a UK first, commenting; “This type of sustainability initiative, amalgamating the sector approach with a well-connected business community, has not been delivered to this scale elsewhere in the UK and I really feel Tunbridge Wells could be trailblazers in their approach to the climate crisis.”

If you are interested in being a part of Amplifi, or to find out more, there is a wealth of information available on the website, amplifi.tw .

If you have any questions you'd like to ask Darren he can be contacted on 01892 772960

www.synergee.org.uk

Darren Austin is a director of Synergee Limited, a firm of Chartered Accountants & business advisers based in Tunbridge Wells.

Local relationship banking

Handelsbanken has a different perspective from many other banks. We’re driven by satisfying our customers, taking a long-term view and investing time to get to know each customer, their needs and ambitions.

Here at Handelsbanken, we’re committed to relationship-led banking, with a dedicated account manager who gets to know you and your aspirations. Our unique approach means our colleagues are empowered to make key decisions in branch. It’s this approach that has seen us ranked top for customer satisfaction in an independent survey of UK banks for personal and business customers, for 15 years running (epsi-rating.com, 2009-2023). We have also been named as the most recommended provider for relationship / account management for SMEs by the Competition and Markets Authority’s Independent Service Quality Survey (August 2023).

Handelsbanken was founded in Sweden in 1871, and has built a network of branches serving communities across Great Britain. We have a wide range of services, from mortgages to wealth management for personal customers, and services for businesses including financing, FX and treasury services and financial planning.

01892 553070

Lib Dems must now deliver on those election promises

BY RICHARD MOORE

VICTORIOUS Lib Dems will ‘breathe life back into’ Tunbridge Wells after ‘decades of decline’ under Tory rule.

At least that’s the pledge to voters who put them in overall control of the town hall, for the first time since 1996, at the borough elections on May 2. They captured an extra eight places taking their total number of seats to 22 out of the 39 on offer.

The rest went to the Conservatives who took seven seats, Labour kept five, the Alliance held four and then one to an independent. There was an overall turnout of 37%.

Under the old system with 48 seats on the Council the Lib Dems had 17, Tories

11, Alliance 12 and Labour 7.

Because of boundary changes every seat in every ward was contested, making it an historic vote. Normally they are rotated. This time round they were elected for four years, three years and two years depending on where they came in the polling.

The big surprise of the May 2 election was the collapse in support for the Alliance Party. They had been part of the previous controlling TWBC coalition with the Lib Dems and Labour.

Lib Dem Leader Ben Chapelard announced after the declarations: “We have been given a two-year mandate by residents [voters]to deliver and I can’t wait to get started.”

So the question is, started on what? In the build up to the vote, the party made a string of promises stating they would:

Put a freeze on parking charges across the borough for 12 months

Breathe life back into the town centre

Continue to improve Royal Victoria Place shopping centre with more familyfriendly shops and leisure activities

Fight for the right infrastructure for new housing developments

Plant a tree for every resident in the borough

The pressure is now on the Lib Dems to deliver on those promises. Failure cannot be blamed on others.

Alliance dreams are dented

THE demise of the Alliance Party, reduced to four seats, heralds the end of an era in local politics. The party burst onto the scene seven years ago with the coming together of a few people sharing a common interest ... stopping the development of a £90million pound theatre complex in Calverley Grounds. Something many saw as the most ambitious development in the town centre for decades.

What followed was a bruising battle with

the ruling Tory group that was often fought out on social media and not always in the most pleasant of fashions.

The Alliance went on to halt the development and win seats on the borough council where it matured and developed as a political party of some influence. With the tide turning nationally against mainstream parties it was hoped this independent group would fare well on May 2. It was not to be.

One of the driving forces behind the Alliance, Nick Pope, lost his seat. He had represented Park Ward since 2018.

Nick Pope was shortlisted in 2019 for the Civility in Politics award that recognises efforts to bring 'honest, integrity and kindness' into politics.

Another high profile Alliance member Matthew Sankey managed to hold on to his seat. Prior to the vote he was Small Busness Champion for the council.

Tunbridge Wells votes for change

THIS year’s Borough Council elections have been historic on a number of levels. Firstly there were the boundary changes, which saw the number of councillors reduced by nine – from 48 to 39 - and meant that every seat was contested. Each of the 14 wards in the borough elected between one and three members according to each one’s population size. And then there’s the fact the Liberal Democrats have taken overall control of the Council after working alongside the

Alliance and Labour as a coalition since 2021.

It is the first time since 1996 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has been under the Liberal Democrats’ full control. Twenty seats were required for any party to have a majority and the Liberal Democrats took 22.

Mike Martin, who is the prospective Liberal Democrats MP for Tunbridge Wells took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate his party colleagues saying: “I’m incredibly proud my friends and

colleagues in the Tunbridge Wells Lib Dems. We have majority control of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council with 22 out of 39 seats.”

TWBC’s Leader Ben Chapelard said: “Thank you Tunbridge Wells for the trust you placed in Tunbridge Wells Lib Dems. We have been given a two-year mandate by residents to deliver and I can’t wait to get started.”

For a full set of election results for the borough visit tunbridgewells.gov.uk

BOUNDARY CHANGES - A GUIDE TO THE BOROUGH'S 14 WARDS:

Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden ● Culverden ● Hawkhurst ● Sandhurst & Benenden ● High Brooms ● Paddock ● Pantiles ● Park ● Pembury & Capel ● Rusthall & Speldhurst ● Sherwood ● Southborough & Bidborough ● St James' ● St Johns.

Victory for Re-Elected Police Chief

MATTHEW Scott has been re-elected as Kent Police and Crime Commssioner (PCC). He comfortably beat off Graham Colley for the Liberal Democrats, and Labour’s Lenny Rolles with 44% of the votes cast on May 2. The results were announced on May 5.

He has held the post since 2016 and will serve a further four years. Since 2012 PCCs have been responsible for police budgets and priorities. They are also able to appoint Chief Constables.

Mr Scott said: There is still some work to do for the party to set out a clear positive agenda going forward, but I think that the performance of police and crime commissioners shows we have bucked the trend.”

PRINT

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine talks to Kevin Steele, Managing Director of FOX, printers of this publication along with many others including those for Trailfinders, Mercedez-Benz and IKEA, about the company’s eco-conscious approach and why it's their mission to reverse the negative narrative around the print industry being bad for the environment

It’s fair to say that printing - be it newspapers, magazines or flyers – has something of a negative reputation. Why? Because a lot of people believe that forests are being destroyed to make paper which of course helps, print all of the above.

But did you know that enormous efforts are now being made in the printing industry to protect endangered forests and the environment as a whole?

FOX, a Tunbridge Wells-based company specialising in print, direct mail and distribution for the likes of Trailfinders, Mercedez-Benz and IKEA - and also this publication - is one of the many companies in the printing industry who are ensuring their approach is as ecoconscious as possible.

“Being environmentally friendly is something we’ve always been really passionate about,” explains the company’s Managing Director Kevin Steele.

“We’re always committed to doing better

Kevin Steele MD of FOX

FOX constantly reviews its environmental performance to ensure that it continues to improve the ways in which it helps to protect the environment. This is done by the following:

• Reducing energy & water consumption

• Reducing waste

• Reducing carbon emissions

for the planet. We have always held the ISO14001 Environmental Management System and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certifications, and consistently push and promote ethically sourced carbon-balanced paper, sustainability and environmentally friendly options.

“We know our industry has done and continues to do so much to support and protect the environment but what we see in the big wheel of manufacturing never seems to be advertised or promoted to consumers.”

He says that unfortunately, all they get to hear about is the negative news about global warming and increased C02 emissions.

“Because paper is made from wood, and wood comes from trees, paper and printed paper products are automatically seen as a negative. This is despite it being the world’s most sustainable product, which is produced from managed forests that do not damage the eco-system.”

Did you know?

“The paper, pulp and print sector is one of the lowest industrial emitters of greenhouse gases, accounting for 0.8% of European emissions”

Source: European Environment Agency, Annual European Union Greenhouse Gas Inventory 19902018, 2020

Kevin states the perception is that print and direct mail are bad because the industry is seen to be ‘cutting down trees’.

“However most consumers are unaware of the extraordinary efforts made by everyone involved in our industry to protect forests and the environment. And there is overwhelming evidence to back this up.”

Kevin says there are huge benefits to supporting the print and mail industry and that people shouldn’t think using ‘recycled paper’ or ‘no paper’ is the only way forward.

“We’re always committed to doing better for the planet. We have always held the ISO14001 Environmental Management System and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certifications, and consistently promote environmentally friendly options

more sustainable tree plantations,” adds Kevin.

Even the renowned broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough agrees with this line of thinking.  In a video on FOX’s website he explains how there is a ‘simple solution’ to restoring the planet’s forests – and that’s growing trees like you would any other type of crop.

“Wood is an extraordinary renewable resource. And taking it from wellmanaged sources benefits both the forest and the planet.”

But, explains Sir David, on their own natural forests can’t provide all the wood which is why we need to farm trees, just like we do other crops, and eventually create a new generation of plantations.

“Around the world there are an estimated 2billion acres of degraded land where forests could be restored. That’s twice the size of Europe,” he says.

Trees can be planted in areas that do not interfere with our natural forests and

“According to the World Land Trust, paper is now regarded as one of the world’s great sustainable products as it’s biodegradable, recyclable and made from a renewable raw materia

”

FOX are Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified, FSC® – C133929

• They offer carbon balanced paper via World Land Trust

• Use 100% Carbon Neutral packaging

• 100% of paper used by FOX is FSC

• Offer carbon neutral shipments

• Use 100% renewable energy

•  Use soy based inks

Did you know?

“Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing streams of waste globally – more than 50 million tonnes is generated each year, averaging 7 kg per person”

Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2024

wildlife, thus allowing them to rewild, using more sustainable wood leads to more tree plantations, which reduces carbon and reduces pollution.

Kevin adds: “We know how important it is to look after the world, so being ecofriendly and environmentally conscious is a big part of our ethos.”

audited by approved organisations including the Soil Association who inspect forests and supply chains, with UK FSC forests managed by organisations such as Forestry England.

“FSC’s mission is to promote environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world's forests, so holding the FSC logo on your product shows that you are committed to your environmental objectives,” continues Kevin.

He reveals that according to the World Land Trust, paper is now regarded as one of the world’s great sustainable products as it’s biodegradable, recyclable and made from a renewable raw material.

“Recycling is a good thing. But there are other ways to create a sustainable environmentally friendly paper model. Wood, which makes paper, is a renewable resource so we can use trees that make high-quality paper without cutting down old-growth forests that are so important to our environment.”

This can be done using virgin fibres that have been sustainably sourced, controlled, managed and certified by the FSC.

“We should use more FSC certified wood, paper and packaging as this encourages

He explains FOX uses carbon neutral printing presses and professional, reliable waste management companies so plastic drums become pipes, aluminium plates become car parts, wooden pallets are turned into chipboard and printing blankets become safety surfaces for children’s play areas.

“We are accredited by some of the world’s biggest environmental bodies and are always seeking new ways to do more good.”

FSC certified suppliers like FOX are

“There are many reasons that paper is good for the environment and for the economy. We should use more FSC certified wood, paper and packaging as ultimately this encourages more sustainable tree plantations.”

Show of support

Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre hosts its annual St George's Day fundraiser

The Exiles’ annual St George’s Day lunch took place on 26 April at The Spa Hotel raising over £22,000 for the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre.

The charity, whose home is on Monson Road in Tunbridge Wells, offers emotional support to people who have cancer and also their families. This year Pickering, which was founded by Polly Taylor, along with friends and volunteers, marks its 20th anniversary.

For the past decade The Exiles, who are a group of Tunbridge Wells businessmen

by David Bartholomew

and friends, have organised a special annual fundraising lunch on or around St George’s Day to raise money.

This year’s was the biggest one yet, boasting a record 188 guests who all enjoyed a delicious three-course meal, before beginning the serious business of bidding in auctions and various raffles.

Sponsors for this year included Maddisons Residential, The Beacon, Tek Seating and G Collins & Sons. Singer Emily Price provided the musical soundtrack while comedian and auctioneer Adger Brown compered.

Pickering’s co-founder Polly Taylor told Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine that it was a ‘pleasure’ to be part of the

Photography

‘incredible’ St George’s Day Lunch.

“We are so grateful to The Exiles for the amazing amount of money they’ve raised over the years for Pickering. We also want to say a big ‘thank you’ to the companies and groups of friends and associates who book a table, returning year after year. And a huge thank you to The Spa Hotel for their wonderful support.”

“It’s the one day in my year that I so look forward to and enjoy with these wonderful people.”

In addition to Polly’s heartfelt thank you speech, another very moving and poignant one was made by Pickering visitor Leigh Stevens who told the audience about her shock cancer diagnosis and the 20 challenges she is

currently undertaking to raise funds and awareness for the charity.

Polly said: “Caroline McGibney and I were so touched that Leigh agreed to join us at the lunch. You could hear a pin drop in the room whilst she spoke – no mean feat at a St George’s Day Lunchand there wasn’t dry eye by the end.”

Taking the fantastic images of the day was David Bartholomew who is also Pickering’s Chair of Trustees.

“He definitely captured the atmosphere in the room with his wonderful photographs, and so we extend a huge thank you to him,” added Polly. She went on to say that the money raised will help the charity continue to make Pickering the ‘special haven’ it is for people with cancer across Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area.

Making Connections

The Amelia hosted the latest gathering from local professional networking group enTWine, the business forum for Tunbridge Wells. It was hosted by Victoria Sampson from CooperBurnett LLP and Ben Holt from Loch HR.

Members enjoyed a talk from Dr Ian Beavis, Research Curator at The Amelia, and Carole Winter who revealed exciting plans for this year's Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival.

Also at the meeting was Alex Green, CEO at Royal Tunbridge Wells Together BID, who told members about what another five-year-term for the BID will mean for

business owners and past Presidents of West Kent Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Lynne Gadsden from Eight Wealth Management, Pam Loch from Loch Associates Group and Victoria Sampson from CooperBurnett. It has the philosophy – we listen, we share, we benefit.

Due to the pandemic, the first meetings were held online – where enTWine’s popular break-out rooms were first introduced; now the majority of meetings are in person.

At The Amelia meeting, there were two break-out rooms – with books as the theme. In the first, members talked about a book which had inspired them and, in the second, with books now available on platforms such as Audible

and Kindle, how are they adapting to new technology in their businesses?

enTWine's next event is a summer party with a festival vibe at The Deer Park Cafe in Eridge on the evening of Thursday 27 June. To find out more about more, email: entwinertw@gmail.com

Are you prepared for the new flexible working regulations?

Sophie Forrest-Lavery CEO of Forrest Group, which specialises in HR, Training, Health & Safety and Payroll for its clients explains the latest legislation around flexible working…

Reports show that 55% of workers are planning on making a flexible working request, since new regulations came into effect on 6th April.

The “Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023” will give employees the right to make a flexible working request from day one of their employment. Previously, workers had to have been employed for at least six months before making a request.

Whilst many are aware of the new regulations, businesses are feeling the pressure of the impending influx of requests.

The new regulations have been praised for increasing employee engagement; however, the short-term administration impacts could be significant for your business.

What do the new regulations mean for your business?

Firstly, it’s important for businesses to be prepared for an influx of flexible working requests. Many of these requests could have significant impacts to your day-to-day operations of the business.

Employees can now make two requests in any twelve-month period, rather than the previous one request.

All requests will require an adequate consultation and consideration period; therefore, this time must be accounted for. A decision on the request must be made

“It is important to note, that the regulations

were

put in place to positively impact the workplace

within two months of receiving it. It’s vital to have your policies up to date. Planning your flexible working policies out

in advance, will help ensure that you can achieve sustained productivity over an extended period.

Additionally, it is suggested that to ease the administration burden long-term, it is advisable to look at updating your onboarding processes. Adapting your new starter onboarding to accommodate flexible working from day one, will alleviate any future disruptions to operations.

What are the impacts long term?

It is important to note, that the regulations were put in place to positively impact the workplace. The purpose of the regulations is to boost employee productivity, by making them feel more valued in the workplace. Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, more businesses have adopted flexible working practices; it’s encouraged to embrace the change rather than resist the movement.

Businesses that already support flexible working, should see no impact of the new regulations. This is due to the fact, that they are already embodying the spirit of what is trying to be achieved by the new regulations.

For advice and guidance on the new regulations, and how best to support your team, get in touch with our experts.

For more info contact: www.TheForrestGroup.co.uk  01892 726060

SOCIAL NETWORK

Leading female business owners from Tunbridge Wells met to network and brainstorm solutions to common business challenges at the April meeting of Make It Your Business – Continuing The Conversations.

Run and chaired by Siobhan Stirling, Managing Director of Sharp Minds Communications, Continuing The Conversations is open to former speakers at Make It Your Business, Tunbridge Wells.

Guests at the event on 24

April at Hotel du Vin discussed solutions for challenges including attracting target audiences, customer retention during the ongoing cost-ofliving crisis and where to network.

“It’s a privilege to be able to bring this group of amazing women together to make new connections, strengthen existing relationships and help one another devise imaginative strategies,” commented Siobhan Stirling.

Make It Your Business is the fastest growing female

entrepreneurial network. It was set up by businesswoman and broadcaster, Alison Cork MBE, to encourage and support women entrepreneurs.

The next Make It Your Business, Tunbridge Wells is on 14 June at The Finance Hub on The Pantiles. The keynote speaker will be Deborah Turner, the National Policy Lead for Women in Enterprise for the Federation of Small Businesses. Also sharing their business stories will be Claire

Passos, founder of Caracol Glamping; Debbie Waite, Founder of Stronger Inside & Out; and Gemma Farina, Managing Director of GFHR Consulting.

“Make It Your Business is our favourite event to host at The Finance Hub – there is always such a buzz”, said founder Gillian Palmer. “Tickets are free but must be booked in advance through Eventbrite because we normally have a wait list.”

Five tips for fi rst-time investors

Investing for the first time can be daunting, but for those who are in it for the long term, it could help you achieve your goals more quickly. Although the stock market goes down as well as up, history shows that, over long periods, shares tend to perform more strongly than cash and grow ahead of inflation.

Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Know your goals

Setting a goal will give you something concrete to work towards. You will need a relatively long-term aim to give your investments the time to ride out any market volatility. Perhaps you wish to save towards retirement, for example, or your children’s future.

During short-term market falls, focusing on your goals will also reduce the risk of you selling out and crystallising losses.

2. Set up regular investments

You don’t need a large sum to start investing. In fact, dripfeeding what you can afford each month – or gradually whittling away a lump sum – could be bene cial during times of stock market turmoil and economic uncertainty.

Your money buys more shares at a cheaper price when the market falls, and fewer shares at a higher price when the market rises. This averages out the price at which you buy investments and, over time, could help to smooth portfolio performance.

3. Use your tax allowances

Remember your Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance, which renews on 6 April. This amounts to £20,000 for the 2024/25 tax year. Investments inside an ISA grow free of tax, which means more of your money goes towards your future.

4. Manage your emotions

Letting your emotions dictate your investment decisions isn’t the sensible route to returns. It’s understandable to experience some jitters if the stock market falls, particularly as a rst-time investor.

Try to hold your nerve, and once you’ve dipped your toe into the market, stay there.

5. Diversify

It’s wise to choose a spread of investments – including equities, bonds, and cash – because different assets tend to behave in different ways in a range of market conditions. This could help to even out returns and reduce the impact of any particular asset falling in value.

I live and work local to you. I would be delighted to help you and your family achieve nancial clarity and stability.

Paul Cannons

Senior Investment Manager

E: paul.cannons@brewin.co.uk T: 01892 739580

RBC Brewin Dolphin, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1NU W: www.brewin.co.uk/royal-tunbridge-wells

The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested. This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy. Neither simulated nor actual past performance are reliable indicators of future performance.

The truth about AI tech

Benenden announces appointment of new Head to lead the school into its

IT HAS recently been announced that Benenden School’s Head, Samantha Price, will leave her role at the end of this academic year.

The all-girl independent school’s Chair of Governors Anna Birkett told pupils, parents and staff that Ms Price would be stepping down at the end of the summer term after ten years at the helm of the school, which has just celebrated its centenary. She will be replaced by Rachel Bailey in September.

‘I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed to lead such a wonderful school as Benenden...’

Artificial Intelligence – or AI as it’s commonly known - is here to stay and already surrounds our everyday lives. But, as Communications Consultant Simon Howson-Green finds out this ever-evolving tech is a long way from being word-perfect. After talking to a slew of experts, he discovers the main problem is that AI still lacks that all-important human touch…

‘This is exciting news for the future of the school but for now it is very much a case of business as usual at Benenden’

IMs Birkett said: “I am delighted to let you know that, following a thorough recruitment process, the Governing Council has appointed Ms Rachel Bailey as the next Head of Benenden. She will take up her position from September 2024.

t is a fact universally acknowledged that a business in possession of a product but without a digital presence is in need of a website. These are the online shop windows for a business and shop windows need to be spectacular in order to lure customers over the threshold and onto a virtual sales floor.

“Rachel is an experienced educational leader in both the independent and state sectors, with a clear track record of delivering a holistic education centred on strong academics while building the confidence, resilience and self-esteem that is so necessary for life and work in the 21st century.”

She added that Ms Bailey is currently Head of Senior School at

When a Tunbridge Wells entrepreneur told me he was planning to create website copy for his new business by sidestepping expensive agencies and leaving it all to AI, I thought he’d lost his marbles. By his own admission he’s a sales guy and not a wordsmith… But

come on, old chap. Get a grip…

Despite my disapproval, he still went ahead. And what he - or his AI buddycame up with was not half bad. That said, the other half was rubbish. But to be fair this chap realised this without any help from me.

“Rachel attended Badminton School for Girls and Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the University of York and completed her teacher training at the University of Warwick. Rachel is also an accomplished musician and music aficionado, and is passionate about equestrianism and reading.”

and vision to build on Sam’s enormously successful decade as Head of Benenden.”

Commenting on her appointment, Rachel Bailey said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed to lead such a wonderful school as Benenden as it moves into its second century at the forefront of girls’ education in this country and, increasingly, internationally.

“I am very much looking forward to getting to know the girls and the entire Benenden community over the coming months.”

Opportunity

it needed that human touch to put the meat on the bones of our message.

“We could have left things as they were. But it would always have felt somewhat hollow.”

HEAD START: Benenden School and (inset) Rachel Bailey

“It’s not bad for a first attempt,” he said. “We were actually pleased with what we got. It was accurate, clear, and most of all, inexpensive.” All good. But he then admitted that something was missing.

Royal Masonic School for Girls, having previously been its Senior Deputy Academic.

Prior to that she was Assistant Head Teacher Academic and Head of Sixth Form at John Hampden Grammar School.

“We realised little by little we were adding, subtracting, embellishing and tweaking what we had. The AI version felt sterile; it was a good skeleton but

Samantha Price’s decision to leave Benenden was announced in June last year which led to the school, which counts the Princess Royal among its alumni, saying the Governing Council would be looking for ‘an outstanding candidate with the experience and qualities which will be needed to lead Benenden successfully into its second century’.

“Benenden is clearly a remarkable school and I am excited about working with such an outstanding staff body to continue to build on Sam Price’s success.”

A Benenden spokesperson told the Times that Ms Bailey will be visiting the school informally throughout the next two terms.

Of course, some businesses may well be happy with AI copy strewn across their digital landscape. But deep down, a human being knows the difference.

“She will be working closely with Samantha and the Senior Leadership Team to ensure a smooth transition.”

Signing off her letter, Anna Birkett said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sam for her steadfast support during the process to appoint her successor. Sam has been as keen as the Governing Council that she should eventually hand over to an exceptional candidate to continue the Benenden legacy.

In her letter, Ms Birkett added: “We are confident we have delivered on this aim with our appointment of Rachel. As you would expect, this vacancy attracted a strong field of candidates and Rachel possesses the expertise

A recent study by University College London (UCL) found that almost threequarters of humans can detect a deep fake voice. Apply that to traffic on your website reading AI copy and that’s a lot of potential customers who are being put off from the get-go.

“This is exciting news for the future of the school but for now it is very much a case of business as usual at Benenden. There is an enormous amount ahead of us in the coming months, not least the remaining events to mark the school’s centenary.”

In a quest to find out more, I spoke to a senior academic from the Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Group. (AIDA) at the University of Kent who is working on the use of AI in business. They didn’t want to give their name but we can assure you they were human.

“We are doing a lot of work on how to make AI even more real and acceptable,” they told us. “However, there is more work to be done on exactly why a person can sense that AI is not human and what it will take to fool all of the people all of the time.”

Kent-based Henry Hemming, the CEO of Rooster, a leading PR and communications agency says there is another aspect to AI which holds it backnot only here in the UK but across Europe.

“ While companies should harness AI, they still need to put their best team members into making the copy more realistic, believable and ultimately more human-sounding ”

And that’s the fact that a quarter of all AI development is based in the US. Hemming suggests that although AI research and development is worldwide, when it comes to the copy it produces it remains ‘tongue tied’ by its

American twang. AI is being trained on LLMs (Large Language Models) that are biased towards the American voice – American vocabulary and turns of phrase. So many apps fail on voice-based questions or commands from an English voice. One of the most popular is ChatGPT which is a chatbot developed by OpenAI. First launched in November 2022 it allows users to steer and finesse a conversation towards a required style, length and format.

“While companies should harness AI to help create compelling content and to optimise their online profile, they still need to put their best team members into making the copy more realistic, more believable and ultimately more human-sounding,” says Hemming.

There’s another aspect which should be worrying anyone who runs websites for their business and captures eyeballs with real-time news copy.

Former Sky News Presenter and media communications consultant Martin

Stanford says producing AI marketing content is one thing but using it for news copy opens up a whole new can of words. This is not malicious fake news or clickbait – which is far more easily detectable – but AI interpreting a range of news sources and aggregating together what it ‘thinks’ is a news report around certain events.

“This is moving us away from being able to believe a trusted source. It dilutes news values. Preventing the blurring of these boundaries is our biggest challenge,” says Martin.

The overriding message – and this one is not created by AI engines - seems to be that no matter how much you can trust and rely on AI to distill and articulate what you want to say DO NOT let it be the be all and end all of the words which encapsulate the real personality of your business.

On a final note, and as one last hurrah to the past and a nod to the future, here is a confession: This article was mostly written on a 1968 Hermes 3000 typewriter. The hard copy was then digitally imaged and converted into digital text and then emailed to the news desk at Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine. Why? Well for no other reason than it appealed to this writer to inject a little nostalgia into the piece. Oh, the irony...

Putting you at the heart of what we do.

Solving problems. Championing ambitions

SIMON HOWSON-GREEN

Finance Taking the fear out of

Danielle Friend and Jane Hodge of Create Balance tell Eileen Leahy all about their modern and innovative accountancy firm which aims to take the fear out of finance and approach money matters in a more personal manner

You wouldn’t usually associate funky geometric rugs, plush velvet seating, peace lilies and copies of Living etc magazine with an accountancy firm’s reception area but then as I discovered on my recent visit to Create Balance’s HQ this particular accountancy company is certainly doing things differently to the norm.

Another immediate point of difference is Create Balance’s idyllic location.

It isn’t tucked away in an anonymous office or hidden down a side street. It’s located in the beautiful grounds of the Eridge Estate, in an attractive two-storey period building. It even boasts a gorgeous garden its team can retreat to when the weather is fine.

“We want our offices to reflect the fact we are different to most other accountancy firms,” says Create Balance’s founder, qualified accountant and finance specialist Danielle Friend as we sit down to talk.

“We are modern and innovative and I wanted the décor here to also echo this. I

truly believe we offer something different so when clients come to visit us they can immediately see that.”

The firm specialises in all aspects of accountancy, bookkeeping and tax for

“

My main goal is for our clients to understand finance. We don’t use industry jargon, because if they don’t understand something then how can they agree to it?

”mainly small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) as well as general business advice. It prides itself on a personal approach and aims to demystify money.

“My main goal is for our clients to understand finance. We don’t use industry jargon because if they don’t understand something then how can they agree to it?”

It’s a refreshing and very valid point made by Danielle who has 25 years of experience in the industry.

She goes on to tell me that during her career, which began with her doing an apprenticeship aged 18 in 1999, she has not only developed her accountancy skills but also acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the daily challenges businesses face.

“After working in a number of places I started my first company, Friends Financial, in 2013 and so I know a lot of the issues that will crop up. I have buckets of resilience and am always looking for innovative ways to deal with things.”

The types of services Create Balance provides include traditional ones associated with accountancy such as statutory accounts, payroll, bookkeeping, VAT and tax returns and estate planning. Danielle also specialises in advice for

not-for-profit organisations having worked with various charities including the Wiltshire Air Ambulance for over a decade.

She founded Create Balance in 2021: “My main aim was to diversify and work with different types of clients and take more risks,” explains Danielle who is AAT qualified.

“I always wanted to do more but you’ve got to have a lot of self-belief to achieve that. At the start of this year it felt like a switch was flicked on inside me. I thought ‘Right I am going to really do this’. I realised I just had to get on with it. And now I am running at 100 miles an hour!”

Around this time Jane Hodge, Create Balance’s Chartered Tax Adviser and now Director, became a more integral part of the business.

Danielle and Jane had originally worked together at a firm in Tunbridge Wells many years previously and had always kept in touch.

“We’d send each other Christmas cards and promise that one day we’d meet for coffee,” smiles Jane who has over 25 years of experience, spanning across various sectors, including accountancy, law practices, and wealth management.

“When Danielle took on this premises a couple of years ago I decided that I would pop in for that long overdue coffee. At the time I had taken a brief career break after working in a very highly pressurised firm,” she explains.

“I originally trained at the London College of Fashion so I started teaching sewing classes. At the time I was also trying to source a school for my son so taking a break worked out for me.

“When I arrived at the new Create Balance offices in October 2022 we chatted and then Danielle showed me a spare desk and asked if I’d like to be on board. What made the decision a fairly easy one was that

and that a ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn’t work for most SMEs.

“We like to really get to know our clients and understand their business inside out. We are committed to each one,” says Danielle.

“We like to really get to know our clients and understand their business inside out. We are committed to each one

”

she told me that if I accepted a role then it would be on my terms.”

“I pride myself on flexibility,” adds Danielle. “I like to think I’m supportive and treat everyone like an adult. If you allow people to be responsible for themselves then you get the best results out of them.”

Both women have worked both locally and in London for various prestigious firms. But despite their impressive achievements they tell me that it’s only now they think they’re starting to make a difference for their clients.

Ultimately they understand that every business is different

Jane’s expertise lies in the field of tax planning. Her clients are made up of individuals, trustees, and small-to-medium sized law firms. She deals with individuals who need help with day-to-day tax compliance as well as IHT planning, Capital Gains tax issues and when disclosures need to be made to HMRC. “It is very varied and keeps my week interesting,” Jane tells me.

Both agree that Create Balance is about personality and not just anonymous number crunching for their clients who are both local and based elsewhere in the country.

“They are investing in us and what we can do for them. They want to work with us because they know we are highly experienced, and transparent and will provide the best service,” adds Jane.

Danielle says she is very much enjoying seeing her style of innovative accounting and management succeed.

“I have so much belief in myself now about the things I can do. For me it’s about saying ‘Yes’ and I know Jane agrees.

Photography by David Bartholomew

“

I have so much belief in myself and Jane has played a massive part in that. I don’t think I could have done it without her cheerleading behind me

We want to say yes to everything at the moment.

“Since the beginning of the year I have noticed a real boost in my confidence and Jane has played a massive part in that. I don’t think I could have done it without her cheerleading behind me.”

Danielle says that over the past few months the business has moved forward in myriad ways.

“We’re doing lots more marketing, we’ve redesigned our website, brought in new clients and changed to a subscription model where we charge monthly for doing tax returns and accounts.

“I’ve also eliminated traditional timesheets - this is where you charge clients for every 15 minutes you’re talking to them. I have also invested in a lot of new software which is already making our lives easier.

“For example, we have access to

Croner-i which is an advisory service for complex tax queries.”

Danielle points out the specific software she has brought in is also helping to streamline as much of the day-to-day business they do as possible.

“I don’t like admin so by investing in tech that does jobs like that for us we can focus on the client relationship and the important stuff.”

In addition to Jane, Danielle also employs another three people at Create Balance: Hanna Smith, the client/ practice manager, accountant Lisa Lawson and client manager Becky Pay. And although they are all female Danielle says this isn’t at all deliberate.

“It’s just the way it’s happened. I’m actually looking to recruit at the moment and have a guy in mind who is in the process of setting up his own business. I want to be able to help him because another thing I am passionate about is supporting others. I want to give back, to empower and give those who are starting out the skills they need.”

In terms of her own mentors Danielle cites a person called Jeri Williams who runs the Accountants Wealth Academy (AWA) in addition to her own firm Smooth Accounting in Portsmouth.

“She launched the AWA in January 2023 and I joined later that year. It’s been transformational as it affords you the opportunity to speak to like-minded people who all have their own businesses and practices.”

As a result that enables the Create Balance team to concentrate on clients and make the businesses as successful as possible.

“People think profit is a dirty word but

Create Balance’s Key Services:

The following areas are available from the team in person or remotely:

• Business Consulting

• Accounting

• Bookkeeping

• Financial Accounting

• Tax Preparation

• Small Business Tax

• Project Management

• Financial Consulting

• Financial Reporting

• Financial Analysis

I don’t believe that for a second – and I make that very clear to my clients,” continues Danielle.

“You want them to do as well as possible with their business and in turn for yours too. We have new clients who say to us ‘I used to only hear from my accountant once a year’,” states Jane.

“How on earth can they be looking after your business if you only hear from them once a year? How are you ever going to grow your business as a result? For me that’s a disconnect. Surely accountants

“

We

are passionate about supporting others and want to give back, to empower and give those who are starting out the skills they need

”

should always be there, guiding you?”

Danielle says: “I give as much passion to each of my clients as I can and some use me as a mentor and motivator. I’m absorbing all the time and seeing things from both sides.”

She adds that it’s important to note that her staff are also very well looked after.

“We pay them above the market rate as we want to attract and retain talent. I hope that when people read this article they will want to come and work for us.”

In terms of the Create Balance plan for the next year Danielle and Jane tell me it’s all about growing the business’s profile and proving what they can offer clients as a genuine USP.

“We’re very much specialists in SMEs and we really care. Some practices say if your turnover is below 100K we’re not dealing with you and if you’re not on a certain software we don’t know want to know. But that’s not us. We run a number of software services like FreeAgent, Xero and Quickbooks and we know we’re experts in all of those so we like to think we can serve everybody.”

And although Danielle says she thinks the jury’s still out on whether AI is going to take their jobs she says nothing can ever compete with face-to-face communication with people.

“It’s about being approachable and taking the fear out of finance. We’re not just looking at facts and figures – we’re making it personal too.”

Preserve and Protect Your Family Wealth:

An Invitation for Individuals seeking estate planning guidance.

The passing of the Baby Boomer Generation heralds not just a transfer of assets, but a profound reshaping of familial prosperity presenting both opportunities and challenges. In this pivotal moment, the need for expert guidance in estate planning, and the protection of assets and the transfer of wealth has never been more crucial.

Consider this: over the next three decades, its estimated that a staggering £5.5 Trillion will transition hands within the UK. This wealth, painstakingly amassed over lifetimes, represents not just monetary value, but the hopes and aspirations of generations. Yet, without strategic planning, much of this legacy could be jeopardised.

At the heart of estate planning lies the desire to secure a prosperous future for loved ones while ensuring one's own financial well-being. However, the complexities of modern life—from prolonged life expectancies, the potential funding of long-term care, and the everevolving family structure—demand a meticulous approach.

Without proper guidance, the consequences can be dire. Inheritance disputes, underinsured assets, and erosion of estate values through taxation loom as significant threats. Moreover, the risk of family wealth seeping away through unforeseen circumstances like divorce. is ever-present.

But there is a solution: proactive planning today for a secure tomorrow. One such strategic manoeuvre involves going beyond the mere drafting of Wills.

Consider establishing Trusts and engaging with a network of professional advisers to ensure comprehensive estate plans that overcome these challenges.

By making gifts into Trust during your lifetime, you not only facilitate the efficient transfer of assets but also provide a degree of flexibility and control over your legacy. Contrary to popular belief, Trusts are not solely the domain of the ultra-wealthy; they can be a powerful tool for any family with surplus capital or income.

In an era where the cost of long-term care is a growing concern, estate planning can also provide peace of mind. By strategically structuring your assets, you can ensure that provisions are in place

to cover potential care fees at a standard you can afford, alleviating financial burdens on your loved ones.

We invite you to an exclusive event hosted by The Finance Hub, located on the Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, where you'll have the opportunity to glean insights from industry experts on the intricacies of long-term financial planning and asset protection. Learn how to safeguard your family's legacy, mitigate tax liabilities, and ensure financial security for generations to come.

Join us and discover the power of proactive estate planning. Secure your family's future, preserve your wealth, and embark on a journey towards lasting financial prosperity.

Preserve and Protect Your Family Wealth

An Invitation for Individuals seeking estate planning guidance, where industry experts will provide invaluable insights into protecting assets and preserving family wealth. Don't miss this opportunity to secure your financial legacy for generations to come.

Date: Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024 Time: 10am – 12pm

Location: The Finance Hub, Unit B, The Potteries, Linden Park Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5QF Reserve your place using the QR code : Contact The Finance Hub on 01892 280000

Bidding on a successful future

Having won a second five-year term earlier this year, here the RTW Business Improvement District team tell us all about their exciting plans for the next development phase to ensure Tunbridge Wells continues to be a great place to live, socialise, shop and work…

Royal Tunbridge Wells has long been a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, set within an area of outstanding natural beauty. The town prides itself on its wealth of heritage, hospitality, shopping and entertainment, making the town a great place to live, work and play.

The town is an all-year-round destination attracting over 9 million* visitors a year with annual events including Live at the Pantiles (formerly Jazz on the Pantiles), live music, music festivals, TW Literary Festival, food and drink festivals alongside walking tours, open gardens, historical guided tours, the Tunbridge Wells circular walk, foodie experiences and seasonal events.

Royal Tunbridge Wells is also a premier shopping location with a broad range of big brands and independents within the key shopping areas; Royal Victoria Place, The Camden Quarter, The Old High Street, Chapel Place and The Pantiles. (*source: MRI OnLocation for Footfall Analytics data 2023 – 2024)

Alex Green, CEO of RTW Together (RTWT) Business Improvement District (BID) reveals plans for the future development of the town over the next five years ….

“Members of the BID recently voted YES

to us continuing to enhance, support and promote the town and our members, and their feedback helped us to set out our vision for the next five year-tenure and beyond. They want a town that is buzzing, welcoming, inclusive, safe, communityfocused and creative. In the coming months we will be focusing our efforts on a number of key initiatives. They include the following:

“RTW Together Business Improvement District (BID) are proud to support the local business community and one of our key messages to residents and businesses alike is to ask people to ‘Love Local’, ensuring this vibrant town continues to be a great place to live, socialise, shop and work

ENHANCING THE TOWN

Improvement Projects - The first in a number of planned public realm enhancement projects is the ‘High Street Project’. A key street in the town, we are planning to build on the works completed during the pandemic to improve the pedestrian environment for visitors to the area. The project will include a permanent, smarter decking structure along one side of the street along with planting and street art.

Environment - We are committed to helping the town work towards net zero and have invested in Amplifi, which supports businesses to take action to address the climate emergency. As a result of our support, the first cohort of businesses to follow the Net Zero Now programme will shortly be starting their journey.

Creativity - We continue to champion the growth of one of our burgeoning industries, the creative sector, in the town. We are supporting Creative TW, set up to provide comprehensive support, collaborative opportunities and advocacy for the growth and success of the local creative sector. This incorporates: • Advertising & Marketing

• Architecture

• Craft & Visual Arts

• Design & Fashion

• Film, TV, Radio & Photography

• IT, software & computer services

• Museums, Galleries & Libraries

• Music & Performing Arts

• Publishing

SUPPORTING THE TOWN

Safety - We will continue to support the Safe Town Partnership and work closely with the town CCTV network, Police and local businesses to clamp down on any anti-social behaviour in the town.

Training & Resources – BID members have access to over 200 free training courses, conferences and workshops as well as free digital and physical resources to support their businesses including gazebos, music and event equipment and a photography library.

PROMOTING THE TOWN

Events to bring visitors in – RTWT BID provides financial support to a wide range of local events to ensure we have a lively calendar of events for residents and tourists alike, designed to bring more footfall and spend into the town. We are delighted to officially announce in TW Business Magazine that the successful grant recipeints of the 2024 Event Grants Programme are:

• TW Literary Festival

• Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival

• The Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival

• Unfest

• Love Fairs (Pantiles Antiques Festival)

• *New project - Art of the Pantiles Festival

• Local & Live

• Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival

• The Winter Lantern Parade

• *New project - Bollyfest on The Pantiles

every £1 you spend with a local business, between 50-70p circulates back into our local economy*.

*source: www.indieretail.net

Members of the BID recently voted YES to us continuing to enhance, support and promote the town and our members, and their feedback helped us to set out our vision for the next five year-tenure and beyond

Love Local - RTW Together Business Improvement District (BID) are proud to support the local business community and one of our key messages to residents and businesses alike is to ask people to ‘Love Local’ in Royal Tunbridge Wells, ensuring this vibrant town continues to be a great place to live, socialise, shop and work. Supporting local traders, their suppliers and the people they depend on to run their business, means that for

WHAT IS A BID?

Tourism – Marketing and advertising campaigns have been planned to attract more local and overseas visitors to the town, making RTW a destination for day trippers, weekend escapes, coach and tour operators and local tourists coming to rediscover what the town has to offer. Advertising will be seen at London rail stations, airports, on double decker bus wraps, in magazines and through national radio campaigns.

What’s on - Our indispensable RTW Guide will be produced in print and digital format four times a year and will be distributed to 55,000 businesses, tourist locations and households. We are also working on plans for a few special events this year to attract people to RTW, which we will announce in due course. www.rtwtogether.com

There are over 350 BIDs around the UK and their role is to enable coordinated investment in the marketing and management of a specific commercial area. RTW Together (RTWT) is a Community Interest Company that runs the Business Improvement District for Royal Tunbridge Wells. In Royal Tunbridge Wells there are over 600 members who make payments proportionate to their rateable value and the fund is directed by a board of ‘member’ local business owners, and spent exclusively on supporting, promoting and enhancing the BID catchment area within Royal Tunbridge Wells.

by David Bartholomew

Added Added VALUE

Our new money expert is Gillian Palmer who runs The Finance Hub in The Pantiles. Eileen Leahy met with the successful businesswoman to find out more about her mission to simplify money matters and why the financial market is stronger than ever…

Gillian Palmer founded her business The Finance Hub with one sole aim: to demystify, simplify and humanise the oftencomplicated world of money and finance.

Launched in February 2022, The Finance Hub brings many financial services under one roof, helping both businesses and individuals to plan and achieve the best deals for their circumstances.

“Think of us as a one-stop shop,” smiles Gillian when we meet at her smart offices, which are located in the 1887 development at the bottom of The Pantiles.

“We want to make financial matters accessible,” adds the serial entrepreneur.

“When I set up my other business, Lending Made Simple, I noted that clients were returning to me again and again for a number of different reasons connected to their loans. And that’s what gave me the idea for setting up The Finance Hub. I thought if people are asking me for advice about mortgages or pensions then why not have them all in one place?”

Gillian, who is originally from Dublin, set up her Finance Hub business with eight

specialist advisers on board and now, just two years later, she has 25 experts under The Finance Hub umbrella.

“And that number is growing,” she explains. “There are so many areas of

“

I think business is in a very positive position right now –my lending has quadrupled - confidence

is coming back into the market

”

finance that not even I know all of them!”

She goes on to tell me that she set up The Finance Hub because she wanted to create a very transparent environment.

“I wanted a place where people could come for the most straightforward yet expert monetary advice.”

The impressive office’s open plan design and welcoming ambience are testament to Gillian’s approach to doing business. She says it’s very important that potential clients are made to feel immediately at ease as she knows many individuals can feel very intimated by finance.

“My thing is ‘let’s talk!’ So I’m happy for people who are wandering by to pop in.”

Gillian explains that she works in what is known as the alternative funding market.

“It’s one step down from your typical high street bank and there are now lots of different products in this particular area.

“I set up Lending Made Simple because I saw there was a real opportunity to do something alternative. I look at things in different ways. Instead of just selling a product I look at what it will do for a client to ultimately improve their business or finances.

“I am definitely not about the hard sell. There is no fee to discuss things with me or any of The Finance Hub partners and if people do want to proceed then they will already know how much that will cost. We have everything you need to help you achieve your business or personal goals

Photography

under one roof - it’s all straight talk,” states Gillian who has partnered with local charity West Kent Mind to raise both funds and awareness of its valuable work.

“I’ve been in business for over twenty years and so I recognised I could offer a more personal and holistic customer experience. When I talk to people I don’t just ask them how much they want to borrow: I say: ‘Tell me about the business, where did you come from and where are you looking to go? What’s your end goal?’ I call it a consulting approach.”

In addition to Gillian’s bank of experts in everything from wills, mortgages, pensions to equity, she has a property division to her business which she launched in 2023.

“We have a carefully selected team of experts to assist you with all your property requirements, making what can be a very stressful and confusing process,

even had people asking me if I can set up a Finance Hub in their town but to be honest I still want to keep growing here in Tunbridge Wells. As I’ve always said we are about humanising finances – we’re not a call centre!”

Gillian goes on to tell me that since last Christmas the amount of business lending she has been doing has dramatically increased.

“I think business is in a very positive position right now – my lending has quadrupled so people are clearly investing in their businesses - confidence is coming back into the market. Prior to the pandemic, I would do a lot of debt consolidation. But I think Covid has cleared a lot of that out now. Some businesses didn’t make it after the pandemic but the ones that did are now thriving. They have really streamlined themselves and are looking to move on in

simple and hassle-free.”

As well as having the opportunity to have face-to-face meetings with various advisers at The Finance Hub about all manner of money matters, Gillian and her team also offer a number of regular specialist talks - such as her recent Cash Flow Clinic - as well as advice seminars on mortgages, wills and commercial loans.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS:

Friday, June 14, 2024

Time 10:30 am - 12:30pm

@The Finance Hub

CHAMBER 3RD THURSDAY

NETWORKING TUN. WELLS Thursday, June 20th, 2024

Time 10:30am - 12:00pm

@The Finance Hub

PRESERVE AND PROTECT YOUR FAMILY WEALTH: Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024

Time: 10am – 12pm

@The Finance Hub

“They are all free of charge and bookable through our website,” she continues. “We have had some exciting events recently including one on cyber security with some members of the Met Police and another with a GDPR expert who came into talk.”

Gillian tells me these specialist events don’t just attract locals but people from all over the place.

“We have visitors coming from Canterbury, Essex, Birmingham. I’ve

better shape.

“The type of funding I am doing now is more for growth. Businesses have trimmed down and taken the inefficient costs out and are ready to evolve and therefore need the right kind of funding to make that happen.”

Gillian adds that she has also seen many more mergers happening.

“That seems to be either due to a business’s original owners wanting to retire or they are being bought out by their competitors. There’s a lot of that going on but it is all very positive.”

She points out that lots of young entrepreneurs are now coming to her for advice: “They want to grow their business but don’t know how to finance that process.

“A lot of the time people feel if they need finance in their business it’s because they

have failed but that’s not the case! Even if you talk to multi-millionaires they will all have used finance at some stage of building their business.”

Gillian explains that another of The Finance Hub’s USPs is to educate people about what is out there in a way that’s straightforward and devoid of any complicated industry jargon.

“The fact is a lot of people don’t know where to start. They’ll go to Google and look things up. But if they understand what’s available out there then they can

“ Finance doesn’t have to be London-centric. You can get excellent expert advice here too. All you have to do is walk through our door and let’s talk…

”

make a properly informed decision that is right for them. You can’t push finance on people so we are about giving them an opportunity to have some background information and advice.”

This could be a high-net-worth individual looking to protect their family’s wealth or someone wanting advice on inheritance tax - or it could be a contractor wanting to take the next step with the expansion of their business.

“Most people come to me after having looked online and I feel relieved that I can provide them with proper and sensible solutions courtesy of our in-house experts. I can source insurers, mortgage advisors, architects, planners – all under one roof. We are multi-faceted, and we take the fear out of finance.

Before I leave I ask Gillian if she feels that the Tunbridge Wells business community is a collaborative one. She tells me that she believes it is.

“We’ll always have local accountants and solicitors attending our talks. We also work closely with the Borough Council, local networking groups and also the BID. They have done so well bringing businesses down from London. Prior to the pandemic, it was always ‘Visit London’ but now I have people coming down from the capital to see us or to join our various property and finance events.

“This proves to me that finance doesn’t have to be London-centric. You can get excellent expert advice here too. All you have to do is walk through our door and let’s talk…”

getting down to BUSINESS

Tunbridge Wells is a vibrant place to live and also work given the amount of companies that are based here. From leading law and financial firms to tech companies, entrepreneurial start-ups, independent retailers and restaurenteurs, there is room for everyone.

In the first issue of Tunbridge Wells Business

Magazine we chat to five local firms who are making an impact both nationally and globally and discover what makes their particular commercial offering so unique and why they like being based in TW...

Elsewhere we take the temperature of the jobs market by talking to Neil Simmons of TN Recruits and courtesy of our new Appointments section. We also find out what the current development plans are for Tunbridge Wells thanks to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Vision 2040 project and bring you all the latest from the property and hospitality markets.

Evolving news landscape requires revised PR strategies

Any business planning its marketing and PR spend needs to know which platforms are best for reaching its target audience. Siobhan Stirling, Managing Director of Sharp Minds Communications, examines the findings of recent research and the implications for marketing and PR strategies.

We all know that the pandemic accelerated the move to online, but new research suggests this trend has continued post lockdown. YouGov’s UK media report 2024 reveals that between 2020 and 2024 the number of people engaging with online national newspapers increased from 20% to 24%, with other media websites increasing their reach from 25% to 29%.

The proportion of people that prefer to read news content online rose from 52% in 2020 to 58% in 2023, with an even greater increase in people who would no longer pay for a printed newspaper (up from 36% to 43%).

Not surprisingly, younger demographics show greatest affinity for digital, but the move from print to digital holds true across all age groups.

The YouGov survey found that television has retained its stronghold as the most popular news source, but it is waning, down from 30% in 2020 to 28% in 2023. Against this, YouGov reported that 15% of people last year relied on social networks as their main news source, compared with 12% three years earlier. This aligns with a recent Ofcom survey, which reported that 64% of adults (and 71% of 16- to 24-year-olds) use online intermediaries to access news, with Meta being the third largest source of news in the UK after the BBC and ITV.

This evolving news landscape means that businesses wanting to get in front of their target audiences need to adapt their marketing and PR strategies, with digital and social

PR becoming ever-more significant tactics. More detailed analysis of the research – to understand exactly which channels your ideal clients rely on for their news – will help you determine the right balance to optimise your marketing and PR investment, particularly depending on the age of your target customers. Successful PR currently offers multiple bites of the cherry, enabling you to reach your audience from different angles; many titles are now multi-platform, so if you get your story in print or broadcast it will probably also appear online. But with more and more becoming digital only, and the BBC license fee yet again under scrutiny, multiplatform opportunities are likely to shrink, tipping the balance even further towards digital.

MEET THE EXPERT

Siobhan Stirling is the founder and Managing Director of Sharp Minds Communications, a multi-awardwinning marketing and PR agency that provides intelligent communication with power and purpose to help its clients punch above their weight.

Infinity and beyond…

Infinity Group is a leading Microsoft Partner in the UK, offering technology services, and solutions. Its CEO Rob Young reveals what makes them stand out from the IT crowd…

“Infinity Group is one of just 12 UK Microsoft Solutions Partners that holds all six solution designations, this means our expertise covers products from Business Applications Modern Work and Security and we help businesses deploy and support these technologies,” explains the business’s CEO Rob Young.

Infinity Group is based on Spencer Mews, just off Camden Road here in Tunbridge Wells but it also has offices in London and operations in the EU and United States. The company, which was founded in 2011 by Rob, employs 165 people.

“We have over 500 small to medium businesses and also midmarket customers. With Microsoft being at the forefront of AI through their Copilot motion, we deliver the latest technologies to help solve business problems creating a more productive and secure working world at the same time helping organisations do more for less.”

Rob goes on to say that as one of the UK’s leading Microsoft Partners, the Infinity Group team has the expertise to help.

“We can break away from legacy tech,

“

From large digital transformation projects to fully managed services and outsourced IT, we’ll help you level up your IT, systems, processes and objectives

streamline your processes and get better value from your investment in the Microsoft stack. From large digital transformation projects to fully managed services and outsourced IT, we’ll help you level up your IT, systems, processes and objectives.”

As a Microsoft Solutions Partner covering Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 and Azure, Infinity Group is uniquely placed to support your transformation journey.

Rob adds that the company is very much anchored in its local community – not just in terms of supporting the local retail and hospitality sectors by being based in the heart of Tunbridge Wells – but also through its charity commitments.

“Locally we are involved with Tree of Hope, Nourish Foodbank, Trinity Theatre and Tunbridge Wells Together where we provide some of our services free of charge or heavily subsidised.

“We also get involved in various charity events and offer all our team volunteering days each year.”

It’s therefore no surprise to hear that the Infinity Group was recently awarded one of the UK’s best places to work.

“We are a privately owned people-first organisation that believes in giving our teams purpose, autonomy and continual learning. This helps us maintain and attract the best talent from around the world. We are currently recruiting for over 30 roles so encourage people to take a look at our website and see what's on offer…” www.infinitygroup.co.uk

we know how hard, brave & exhausting it is to create & open up an independent business in tunbridge wells.

it takes the dedication, talent & determination of a team of brilliant people to do this.

at sankey's we recognise this & that is why we are proud to take this advertisement space to support this new magazine.

to nick & your team, we wish you the very best with your new project, we are right behind you.

wishing you all thew very best

from everyone at sankey's

ROB YOUNG

“We are fully committed

to Tunbridge Wells”

Cripps has been headquartered here since 1852 and has decades of experience advising businesses and entrepreneurs both locally and globally. Although it has an office in London to serve its national and international clients, Tunbridge Wells will always be its home. Read on to discover why…

Cripps cites itself as one of the pre-eminent businesses in Tunbridge Wells and the leading law firm in Kent. It is placed within the top 100 UK law firms, as ranked by revenue, and boasts 500 employees, 370 of which are based in Tunbridge Wells in its Mount Ephraim HQ.

“We provide a full range of legal services for businesses and individuals, with sector expertise in real estate, technology, retail and leisure as well as not-for-profit.

Cripps has a clear purpose to be the difference: to solve problems, champion ambitions and make a positive and lasting impact on its clients, people, communities, and our planet. The firm treats its purpose on an equal footing with profit and does not see the two as mutually exclusive.

This is demonstrated through its level of investment in the community and long-term approach to partnering with charities, schools and other sustainable businesses across the borough.

“ Cripps has a clear purpose to solve problems and champion ambitions ”

Some highlights from 2023 included supporting Aspens charity’s ‘Natural Affinity Garden’ at the Chelsea Flower Show, helping fund the nature projects for six primary schools, and being part of the committee to create a net zero protocol for law firms across the country, backed by The Law Society. Cripps also supports a charity of the year, which is currently Demelza.

EDI is a priority for Cripps, with active programmes around encouraging and nurturing diversity and inclusion. The business is proud to have a genuine gender balance throughout all levels up to Partner. It is also driving apprenticeships as a way to showcase law to a more diverse audience of young people. Together, our purpose is to be the difference. This means solving problems and championing ambitions to make a positive and lasting impact.

We make our purpose a reality by channelling our actions through four key pillars: our clients, people, community and planet.

www.cripps.co.uk

Why Tunbridge Wells is a great place to do business by Cripps’ James Beatton (Pictured above left with Mike Scott)

“Cripps has been headquartered in Tunbridge Wells since 1852. We moved into our purpose-built building on Mount Ephraim in 2016, it is a fabulous, collaborative space and we are fully committed to the town and all it has to offer.

It's important to have an office in London too so that we can capture a wider talent pool and have a base when we do travel there to see national and international clients. Plus, of course, London is the world's legal capital and it will help our business to continue to grow. However, we have 370 out of our 500 people based in Tunbridge Wells itself. The main reason the town continues to serve our business best as a HQ location is that it's where our people want to be and Tunbridge Wells is a hugely attractive place to live, work and play.

Firstly, as a workplace, Tunbridge Wells offers everything that supports a happy and healthy working life with so many fresh open spaces and a plethora of local hospitality offerings on our doorstep. It's well connected so those who live outside of the town can get to us easily via road or rail and it's only 45 minutes from London.

Secondly, the local community is second-to-none. Far from being competitive with the numerous other law firms based here, we aim to collaborate to enact real positive change - such as our combined commitment to Demelza Hospice together with Thomson Snell and Passmore and CooperBurnett.

In 2023, Cripps and Yoyo led the launch

on Amplifi, an initiative which was set up both to share best practice when it comes to sustainability and the planet, and to pool resources that can make a real difference to the local community and its very worthwhile causes. Alongside Yoyo, the collective now includes other Tunbridge Wells corporates such as AXA and Childrensalon.

Tunbridge Wells has been a huge factor in our ability to attract the brightest female talent. We have created the right environment here, with a combination of flexible working arrangements, enhanced maternity pay, the ability to buy additional holiday and a parents/carers network; to name but a few.

Providing flexibility that can be adapted as an individual’s needs change significantly contributes to the scale of our female talent pool, whether that be childcare, care for the elderly, or even to pursue a passion or hobby. We have recruited large numbers of young women and mothers as a result. In fact, today we have more qualified women than men which is a rarity and in five years' time this will come through to equity partner and board level which we are very excited about.

We have a number of initiatives launching to further support our efforts to attract and retain high-performing female talent.

These are all positive factors in achieving B Corp status for the firm, which we successfully attained in December 2023.”

by DESIGN

Jenny Kitchen of Yoyo Design tells us about how her independent B Corp accredited brand and digital agency, based in Tunbridge Wells, excels in delivering world-class design

Tell us a little about what your business is..

We are a brand and digital agency, delivering strategy, design, and development for brands that want to do some good in the world. Our work is highly creative but rooted in insight and focused on delivering commercial results.

Who are your clients?

We have always been sector agnostic, which has meant working on some really diverse and exciting projects. Our travel clients like Asilia Africa, and local company, Gap 360, make us routinely jealous of all these incredible places in the world. Our work within the charity sector, like Marie Curie, Sustrans, and Worldwide Cancer Research fires up the passion in us to help deliver critical impact. Our e-commerce clients, like Vivobarefoot, are highly creative and give us the opportunity to make a tangible impact on their bottom line.

How have you attracted national brands?

Given it’s Yoyo’s trade, our website performs very well to bring in new clients, and our work has attracted the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Universal Music. But apart from this, much of it is reputation and word of mouth, as well as the events that we run. These include topics like accessibility, sustainable web design or branding, or female leadership.

Congratulations on being one of the first in your sector to gain B Corp status… Thank you, it’s one of my proudest moments getting that accreditation. It’s something that’s very purposeful and action-driven. You’re looking at making changes at a business level to improve society and reduce our impact on the

planet. I’m now in a position to get other businesses to embark on their own sustainability journey through my role as a B Corp Ambassador and co-founder of Amplifi, a local organisation to support businesses in reducing their emissions. (For more on this see our business news section.)

Does having B Corp status help source new partnerships?

Yes. Ultimately with B Corp accreditation, you are shortcutting an introduction, as clients know immediately what type of business we are. One of my proudest achievements is working with both B Corp and Sustainable Restaurant Association in the last few years. These organisations are making a huge impact in the world, and I love that our agency is playing a part in that.

Your HQ is here in Tunbridge Wells. What are the advantages of working here?

There are so many. I love living and working in Tunbridge Wells, as do many of the team. Walking to work is one of the biggest benefits, and with kids at a local primary school, I rarely have to drive. It’s easy to jump on the train to London for meetings but I’m very glad I’m not running an agency there. It’s expensive, competitive and transient, whereas the core team at Yoyo have been with us for years - decades even.

Is the local business community a collaborative one?

Definitely - there’s always things that you can tap into from breakfast meet-ups, to Royal Tunbridge Wells Media group events, and other events run by the local business community. People feel more inclined to support, make introductions or offer advice.

What are the key benefits of providing staff incentives?

We’re a team of 20 and are big believers in creating a strong community around Yoyo. Whilst I’m hesitant to say ‘we’re a family’, there are a lot of similar dynamics. Many of us feel like we’ve grown up together, being there at all major life moments (kids, weddings, funerals). This doesn’t happen by chance - we invest time in the team and each other.

Does the type of work you do feed into this?

Yes, what we do at Yoyo is, by its nature, very collaborative. To create a digital product, you need a fairly large team of UX, design, development, project management, strategy, quality assurance, and SEO. We know that we get better results and enjoy the process more if our relationships with each other are strong.

What do you think Yoyo brings to the local economic and creative landscape?

As our client portfolio is mainly national and international, I love introducing new people to Tunbridge Wells and talking about its vibrant business community. I’ve always been a big advocate of the town, and by running and speaking at events, I hope my passion for the local area rubs off.

What makes working in Tunbridge Wells so special?

Our work is highly creative and has won many awards for its impact, as well as its innovation. I love that a small-ish creative agency in Tunbridge Wells can deliver world-class design. I hope we can continue boosting its reputation and encourage creative professionals to make their home here.

www.yoyodesign.com

Fashion ICONS

If anyone’s in a position to comment on doing global business locally it’s the award-winning Childrensalon who have been dressing the world’s most stylish babies, toddlers and teens right here from Tunbridge Wells for over 70 years…

Established in 1952 by Rene and Sybil Harriman, Childrensalon, which is still family-run, has since become a hugely successful online retailer and one of Tunbridge Wells’ biggest employers.

Specialising in designer childrenswear - from babies to teens - the business, which started in Sybil Harriman’s home in Tunbridge Wells seven decades ago, now sells 250 high-end labels including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Tartine et Chocolat and Zimmermann to their loyal customers who are located all over the globe.

Over the years it has been transformed from a boutique shop on Tunbridge Wells High Street into a global, multi-million pound player in the world of fashion and e-commerce.

Boasting 500 employees, most of whom are based in offices in Kingstanding Way, here in Tunbridge Wells Childrensalon continues to grow in huge popularity… We discover the key to its success…

What’s the key to Childrensalon’s success?

Our customers have always been at the heart of everything we do, and so much of that has come from listening and responding to their needs. We can do this either by email, live-chat or on the phone. As we have so many global clients we like to learn about their culture, and communicate with them in where we can. Many of our 500-plus staff speak a number of languages.

Why do you remain in Tunbridge Wells despite your national and international success?

Tunbridge Wells is where we are from and is our heritage. Over 80% of the team who work at Childrensalon live in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas. Many companies relocate to save money, however we’ve always believed our team make us. Remaining in Tunbridge Wells is very important to us.

What are the key advantages of running your business from here?

Tunbridge Wells has a highly-skilled population, a local government that really cares about the needs of local businesses and strong transport links. It’s also a desirable place to live for our team with good schools and services.

How are you able to still reflect your famous family-run ethos online?

We have a passion for providing the most beautiful product for our customers to shop and are always looking to ensure their user-journey is a pleasurable one. That also applies to shipping goods as efficiently as possible. Our creativity and love of technology also helped us with this. We always strive to improve our service and user-experience - especially in the challenging e-commerce and retail landscape.

Where are the key foreign markets you trade?

Our key foreign markets are the Middle East, the USA, Asia and Europe, however we ship to over 150 different countries in total.

How do you select your designer brands?

We’ve got a team of very talented buyers who are passionate about childrenswear. We really care about providing our customers with beautiful quality and often work with smaller brands that we feel strongly about – many of them have grown with us. The relationships we have with our brands also ensures we provide our customers with what they want based on what we know sells. This has always worked well for us – both as a business and for the brands we work with.

Why do you think your company has been so successful over the decades?

We don’t really have a secret formula. It’s truly always been about loving what we do and having fun, looking after our team, and most importantly, always putting our

customers first and at the heart of what we do.

Are customers who bought for their children now buying for their grandchildren?

Yes definitely. We have many multigenerational customers both here and abroad which we really value.

What is your key USP as a business and as an employer?

As a business it’s always been about dressing children beautifully. We’ve always helped parents do that well as we have 70 plus years of experience, and knowledge of childrenswear – as well as the best selection in the world to suit any style. As an employer we believe in staying true to our values, being a happy place to work with progression for our team and giving back in the community.

How does your company benefit the local community?

Childrensalon has always believed in being active in the local community and doing good in the world. Through our foundation, we’ve been supporting local charity partners such as Nourish Community Foodbank, DAVSS, Lookahead, RefugEase, Taylor Made Dreams and more. We have also supported several international charities such as Porridge & Pens Ghana and Word Forest with their missions.

And what about teamwork outside of the office?

We also enjoy volunteering and helping to organise regular fundraising events, both internally and externally. We have also recently become members of the Tunbridge Wells group Amplifi, offering help, sharing knowledge, and assisting other local businesses with their sustainability journeys to reduce the impact of climate change.

www.childrensalon.com

Southpaw is a globally strategic creative agency located in the heart of Tunbridge Wells. Boasting clients as diverse as Honda, Estrella Galicia beer and e.l.f cosmetics it prides itself on doing things differently. Here its MD Claire Lambell tells Eileen Leahy more about Southpaw’s unique way of working…

Located down a quiet street in the heart of Tunbridge Wells is a large old warehouse where you’ll find the HQ of Southpaw, a creative agency that is renowned for its innovative thinking and dynamic approach to creating ad campaigns across multi-media landscapes.

I’m here to meet Claire Lambell who joined the company in 2009 as an account manager and was promoted to MD in 2022. It is she and her senior leadership team who are now leading the charge to continue driving the agency forward.

Established 50 years ago, it rebranded as Southpaw in June 2014 from Nexus/H. The H stands for Hakuhodo, a top 10 global network from Japan and the second largest agency network in Asia which has owned the company for many years.

“They’re huge and have agencies all around the globe. We caught their attention because of the work we were already doing with Honda, one of our first clients,” explains Claire.

“Hakuhodo wanted a more global footprint and a UK agency and so they got in touch. I go out to Tokyo every December to chat through strategy plans but we feel like an indie agency but with the backing of a global should we ever need it.”

So how did the agency come to choose the name Southpaw and the bear branding ten years ago?

“Our name comes from the analogy of the left-handed boxer who is often viewed as the underdog and has to outsmart its competitor. And that’s what we do here.

“We like to do things differently and bring a challenger mindset to our clients in order to outsmart the crowd.”

Claire says the agency likes to work with ‘brave brands’ who are really making a difference. It’s about looking for the opportunities to disrupt, create high impact but also persuade.

“It’s really important that clients see we’re enjoying what we do and are always striving to get better.”

Southpaw’s clients include e.l.f cosmetics, Estrella Gallicia beer, Sanctuary Spa, Brown Forman’s premium spirits portfolio, Honda, GHD beauty products and Eurotunnel to name just a few.

The agency’s client portfolio is 70%

“

A huge part of our strategic perspective is thinking about how humans behave. We know that emotions drive behaviour ”

global and the rest is European but what Claire and her team really like is being based here in Tunbridge Wells.

“A lot of people here at the Agency have all done the big, London agency jobs so we’re here as a lifestyle choice. And given technology has advanced so much it means we can be anywhere if we want to talk to overseas clients.”

Claire says she wants everyone who works for the dynamic agency to really grab this notion of thinking about Southpaw as if it were their own.

“It’s about having ideas and how we can always move forward. Our culture at Southpaw is built around growth – for our clients and for our people.”

Claire works very closely with her senior team who include Head of Strategy Niki Jones and Creative Director Glenn Smith. Their collective experience over many years helps other Southpaw staff, who total 40, to learn and grow.

The team is a mix of full and part-time and each one has the opportunity to work on a hybrid basis.

“We want to feel like everyone plays a part in the success of Southpaw. Whenever we hire we always put attitude over skills because the latter can be taught.”

Southpaw prides itself on using the science of emotion using a clever bespoke neuro-mapping methodology which gives the creative agency a ‘unique insight into what emotionally motivates’ consumers. These insights are then used to build brand positioning, visual identities and communication strategies that disrupt categories and grow market share.

“A huge part of our strategic perspective is thinking about how humans behave,” states Claire.

“We know that emotions drive behaviour. It’s all about how something makes you feel - and that’s a huge part of us.”

www.southpawagency.com

Creativity is our strongest weapon, so we never hold back. Anything we present back to a client must first pass four tests: Is it BOLD enough? Does it DISRUPT the category? Is it CHALLENGING the norm? Does it create a positive EMOTION?

Claire Lambell

“We

take a personal and innovative approach to recruitment”

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine is delighted to introduce Neil Simmons as its recruitment expert. Eileen Leahy caught up with the TN Recruits founder and entrepreneur to discover more about the evolution of his business and what the current job market is looking like for 2024 and

TN Recruits was founded by Neil Simmons in 2014. Since then the Tunbridge Wells-based business has established itself as one of the region’s most successful recruitment agencies courtesy of its unique approach to sourcing and placing candidates and thanks to its highly experienced and dedicated team.

As well as offering both temporary and permanent positions in a variety of sectors including hospitality and marketing, TN Recruits also has three key specialisms to its business: TN Recruits Finance, TN Recruits Law and TN Recruits Automotive.

From leading organisations to niche companies, Neil and his team place

“We have great competency frameworks in place so people who are employed here know exactly what they need to do to get to the next stage of their career. Everyone is always looking to develop and grow

”

candidates in a variety of roles, both in the local area as well as across Kent, Sussex and London.

When I met Neil at his Lonsdale Gardens HQ he tells me why he decided to establish his own recruitment company

after working in the industry for a number of years.

“I could see where we could improve certain areas of the recruitment process and I know that Tunbridge Wells has a very strong business community –especially in terms of finance and law.

“People are always going to need solicitors – whether that’s moving house, looking after family affairs or general business. So I knew the local legal sector would be a strong one for us,” he says.

“We have been able to grow this particular area thanks to my colleague Emma Moss, who came on board five years ago. Originally she wanted to study law but decided to stay with TN Recruits as she now she talks law all day long. Her knowledge and skills have really helped enhance our legal recruitment sector.”

Neil adds that he decided to specialise in finance recruitment because the area is steeped in successful businesses of all sizes.

“Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area both have a wealth of specialist finance companies and whether things are going great or they are slightly tough, accountants will always be in demand.”

TN Recruits’ third key area of specialist expertise is in the car trade. “Our automotive division is another strong one for us. We work with a number of dealerships and independent garages in Tunbridge Wells, the general TN postcode and also nationally.”

Neil explains that he and his colleagues recruit for a full range of roles – from car technicians to MOT Testers and from office support staff to service advisors. “We will always see cars on the road so there is a lot of job demand in this particular sector too.”

It’s clear that dividing TN Recruits into these key sections and also offering a slew of jobs in others, all enhanced courtesy of the latest technology, has ensured the business has thrived over the past nine years.

“We have actively invested in innovative tools that will enhance and simplify the recruitment process – not just for us, but for our clients and our candidates too

”But Neil, who now employs 20 staff in Tunbridge Wells and an additional team, headed up by Helen Barham for his ME Recruits division for Maidstone, is not one to sit still.

He tells me that he and his colleagues are always looking to enhance what they do to ensure they stay one step ahead.

“Our approach to recruitment is a highly personalised and innovative one,” he states. “We always want to recruit the best people to work with us.

“Our database is unique to us and has been built up over the years. We have thousands of quality candidates on it who have all been pre-screened by us and can be accurately matched to any job. So

when a client comes to us looking for a member of staff it gives them a huge head start in terms of finding the right person.

“Before the Covid pandemic hit we used to interview everyone face-to-face but obviously various lockdowns forced us to do more online. However, the long-term gain of doing this has been fantastic as it’s allowed us to move along the whole recruitment process so much quicker.

“We have invested in our own video technology which allows us to film a candidate for around three to five minutes, then we send that video, along with their CV, to our clients and they love it. By doing this, it instantly allows potential employers to see if a particular person is right for the job via their inbox.”

Neil adds that he and his TN Recruits team have over 30 methods of finding the right type of candidate. These include using traditional ways such as job boards and networking - something Neil is very proactive in doing with his local BNI chapter - as well as being active on most social media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and even Tik Tok.

“We are having to embrace technology more and more so we have actively invested in innovative tools that will enhance and simplify the recruitment process – not just for us, but for our clients and our candidates too.

“AI is becoming massive for us in our industry and is really helping us to be more productive. Having the ability to automate manual processes such as writing job descriptions has really enabled us to speed up certain parts of our role and that’s been of paramount importance to us.”

Neil says that by using AI at the elementary stage of the recruitment process then allows him and his colleagues more time to do the things that give TN Recruits that all-important personal touch.

“By employing AI we now have more time to spend with our candidates and to also go out and see our clients. So we are embracing this type of technology.

“I think AI is a big part of the conversation for a lot of businesses now. People are using it more and more but also putting their own spin on it.”

Neil adds that continually investing in his team is another key goal of the business.

“The structure of TN Recruits is something we have worked on over the past two years and we now have two directors, Ellie Waterman and Emma Moss on board. I believe that having that additional support around me and a more diverse range of ideas to consider makes us a far stronger business.”

Neil adds they are also working on TN Recruits’ next layer of management so the business has ‘constant succession plans’.

pandemic but instead a way of retaining staff.

“This has proved to be a great attraction and retention tool for us. We operate with a buddy system so we are never closed. One buddy will have Monday off and then their buddy will have Friday off and then they’ll switch the following week so every other weekend for us is a four-day weekend.”

In addition to this perk, there are also attractive commission and healthcare packages, free parking and great quarterly days out for all staff. “I try to make TN Recruits a place I would have loved to have worked myself,” smiles Neil.

In his new role as Tunbridge Wells

TN Recruits Law covers legal recruitment at all levels from director and partners, to solicitors, legal executives and secretaries. It can help with all types of placements including temporary, permanent and contract. Its clients range from some of the larger practices in the Southeast to smaller local independent firms. It also runs ME Recruits which concentrates on the Maidstone postcode area.

“We have great competency frameworks in place so people who are employed here know exactly what they need to do to get to the next stage of their career. Everyone is always looking to develop and grow.”

Other benefits for TN Recruits staff include a four-day working week structure which, Neil says wasn’t borne out of the

Business Magazine’s new recruitment expert can Neil tell us a little bit about the current recruitment market and whether he thinks Tunbridge Wells is the exception to the rule given we were officially declared in a recession at the end of 2023?

“Since the beginning of last year the market has certainly normalised after the exceptional circumstances of 2020. In March of that year it fell off a cliff. We personally went from having 70 vacancies to just three overnight. But by September 2020 the market came back stronger than ever.

“Now there are lots of vacancies out there, so yes, it’s a competitive job market again and I do think Tunbridge Wells does buck the national trend. Recruitment is good: we have a great variety of vacancies and a steady flow of good candidates.

“I have always thought Tunbridge Wells sits in its own little bubble. For example, when the financial crash of 2008 happened, the Tunbridge Wells market remained buoyant.

“The beauty of what we do here at TN Recruits is if one particular business sector slows down for whatever reason we can then focus on another area. So yes, I think Tunbridge Wells is still a vibrant place to recruit and do business.”

The TN Recruits HQ

Pair promoted at the law firm where people ‘join and stay’

SOLICITORS

CooperBurnett has boosted its top tier with the appointment of two new Partners.

Lisa Connolly and Glen Webb from the Residential Property team at Tunbridge Wells have been promoted bringing the number of Partners to 14, many of whom have been part of the firm for a number of years.

Corporate and Commercial Partner, Victoria Sampson, recently marked 28 years with CooperBurnett; while Joseph Oates, Partner and Head of the Contentious team, will be celebrating 25 years in the Autumn.

“Across the firm, growing and developing our team is absolutely key,” said Joseph. “A number of our lawyers joined CooperBurnett early in their careers. We endeavour to nurture our colleagues’ progress and provide opportunities to further their career”.

Victoria Sampson, trained with CooperBurnett and became a Partner in 2001.

“This firm is pretty much all I’ve known and I love it,” she said. “I remember how proud I was when I became a Partner here and I know Lisa and Glen are feeling rightly proud as well. CooperBurnett is a firm which people join and stay with.”

The Residential Property team at CooperBurnett has been a key feature of the firm since it was established nearly 45 years ago.

CooperBurnett has ‘always led the way in residential property law’ and was one of the  first firms to have been awarded the Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation by The Law Society.

“Across the firm, growing and developing our team is absolutely key ”

“I think what sets us apart, in addition to the experience and skill within our team is that we really care,” said Jennifer Irving, Head of Residential Property, who has worked at CooperBurnett for 28 years. “Buying and selling a property can be very intense and stressful, particularly

if there’s a long chain involved, so we try to make the process as smooth as possible.”

Lisa Connolly joined the team eight years ago, having previously worked as a conveyancer in East Sussex for ten years; she qualified as a Licensed Conveyancer in 2015. Lisa deals with all aspects of conveyancing, including freehold and leasehold transactions, re-mortgages, lease extensions and transfers of equity.

She is is an active member of CooperBurnett’s charity committee, helping to encourage and drive fundraising across the firm. Lisa was part of the team which completed the Three Peaks challenge in 24 hours in 2016 for the hospice charity ellenor.

Glen joined the Residential Property team five years ago. He read law at Homerton College, Cambridge University, graduating in 2013 and, after finishing his LPC (as top graduating student), he joined a firm in Buckinghamshire. Whilst there, Glen spent time undertaking private client and property work but was drawn to residential property.

In addition to dealing with the general day-to-day activity of transacting residential property, Glen has a particular interest in high value rural property. He enjoys the technical drafting of complex transfer deeds – sales of part or the negotiation of deeds of grant of easements for access or services.

Raft of promotions at Cripps where being green counts

Top 100 law firm Cripps has announced 36 promotions across its offices in Tunbridge Wells and London. It has around 500 staff.

The promotions span the firm’s legal and business services teams, and include three promotions to partner; Kay Evans (commercial real estate), Alex Gallyer (commercial real estate) and Katie Haylock (corporate).

James Beatton, Managing Partner, said: “Our people are at the heart of our success, and empowering their growth is key to achieving our strategic objectives.

“Building on last year’s promotions of 22 individuals, this year brings the total to nearly 60 in twelve months and serves as a powerful testament to the strength and

quality of our team.”

Cripps aims to foster a culture of professional development and recently implemented a competency framework for all of its people, which provides clear guidelines for promotion based on demonstrated skills and experience, rather than solely on years of post-

qualification (PQE).

James added: “Our purpose is to be the difference, creating an environment where people can have enriched careers and contribute to meaningful work. The launch of our competency framework is significant to our purpose. It empowers our people to take ownership of their career path, whilst also ensuring recognition for their valuable contributions.”

Cripps is not only dedicated to fostering a culture of professional development ‘but also one of social responsibility’. The firm is a certified B Corporation, signifying its commitment to ‘balancing profit with positive impact on its people, clients, communities, and the planet’.

LISA CONNOLLY GLEN WEBB

Solicitors reap rewards after ‘investing in future leaders’

BERRY & Lamberts has announced three promotions as the law firm continues to recognise ‘professionalism and hard work’.

Property Solicitor, Eleanor Lister, began her legal career with Berry & Lamberts as a Trainee Solicitor in 2014. Over ten years she has risen quickly through the ranks to become Partner.

Eleanor deals with residential property sales, purchase, transfers of equity, leases and lease extensions as well as commercial property work. She features regularly on West Kent Radio as their monthly property expert and is well-known and respected amongst local estate agents for her professionalism and client-centric approach.

Private Client Solicitor, Emma Houghton, has been promoted to Partner after nearly five years with the firm. As well as dealing with all matters in relation to estate administration, including those with complex family and taxation issues, Emma is experienced in preparing wills, lifetime and will trusts.

She is a qualified Trust and Estate

Practitioner (TEP), an internationallyrecognised qualification that demonstrates an advanced understanding of the trust and estates field. She is also a member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers.

Partner, Darren Forrester, has been made Head of Dispute Resolution after three years as Partner in the Commercial & Dispute Resolution team. Darren ‘understands the importance of explaining the range of dispute resolution options available to clients as a cost-effective and often quicker way to resolve disputes when @compared with court proceedings.’

Darren ensures that he gives his clients ‘clear costs and time estimates when

advising of the options and commercial risks associated with the litigation and dispute resolution process.’

Paul Reader, Managing Partner, said “We are fortunate to have a very loyal and hardworking team and actively encourage career progression, wherever possible, to further develop skills and confidence. We are, after all, investing in the future leaders of the firm.’

ELEANOR LISTER EMMA HOUGHTON DARREN FORRESTER

Recipe for success

In his first column for Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine, Alex Green, CEO of RTW Together BID highlights some of the new hospitality businesses who have made Royal Tunbridge Wells their home in the past few months

Royal Tunbridge Wells is a thriving town full of businesses at all stages of growth, a hotbed of creative, financial, property and legal talent not to mention the huge variety of shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and hotels.

Over 5,000 businesses have set up in the town over the last five years, and whilst Tunbridge Wells is famed for its plethora of entrepreneurial businesses, it is also home to over 500 with a turnover in excess of £1m.

It also boasts 59,000 residents and is one of the most well-balanced places to live and work in the county, with over 100 open green spaces within walking distance of the town centre.

Since the Covid pandemic, the town has seen an increase of 3,000+ workers who are ex-

Harbourfield Fish & Chips – Located on Monson Road, the team describe the secret batter recipe and use of local, sustainably sourced fish being behind their great fish & chips. Enjoy one of the ‘last remaining bastions of Britishness’! www.harbourfields.co.uk

commuters, now working from home or from one of the many flexible office spaces now available in the town.

The rise in the number of people working in the town centre and the steady population figures have led to more and more hospitality offerings wanting to be part of the scene.

In the last few months alone we have seen a large number of hospitality outlets open their doors in Royal Tunbridge Wells, including:

Atul Kochhar’s Essence - on The Pantiles – a chic restaurant bringing Michelin Master Atul’s

pan-Indian menus, served with a contemporary British Touch. www.essencerestaurants.co.uk

Lemons Bar – soak up the beautiful décor and relax in the main bar on The Pantiles with their signature cocktails or a cold beer or cider. Alternatively hire one of their two private areas - The Snug or Dining Room www.lemonsbar.co.uk

Black Sheep Coffee – Serving the world’s first speciality grade robusta beans, this new café on Mount Pleasant Road is from the innovators in the coffee industry. www.leavetheherdbehind.com

Charlie’s Angels Kitchens – A great community café from local resident, Charlie Moore and her team, that aims to tackle food waste. The café turns surplus food into meals for the wider community and offers diners the chance to ‘pay what you feel’. www. charliesangelskitchens.co.uk

“My work is 80% mindset and 20% strategy”

Helen Williams is a qualified business coach specialising in mentoring women who run online businesses to reach their potential. Here she tells us what her motivational business growth work involves…

“I coach entrepreneurial and ambitious women who run online businesses to go from feeling hesitant and stuck, to confident and consistent in their online posting,” says online business coach Helen Williams in response to how she would succinctly sum up her job.

“I guide clients step-by-step to create and share content that’s tailored to their unique voice and style. I help build their confidence and skills which then allows them to engage authentically with their audience and achieve their goals of growing their online presence and generating income.”

So far, so interesting but how did Helen get here?

“I was working as a contractor in IT Project Management but I always had a strong desire to run my own business. I’d tried many things over the years, from e-commerce to network marketing. My job complemented that as it allowed me the freedom to try out different ideas in between contracts.”

Helen says that during her last one, the entrepreneurial calling got ‘even louder' so she made the decision to leave her corporate role in February 2022.

Initially she set up as a small business consultant, offering process improvement, project and event management to local businesses in Tunbridge Wells.

“This worked well but after a few months I realised it was too close to the corporate career I’d walked away from. I wanted to help people more closely so I looked into business coaching. I had plenty of mentorship experience from my corporate days but it was helping people, specifically

women, that really interested me.”

She adds: “There has never been an easier time to make money online and to run your own business doing something you truly love with just a mobile phone and internet connection!  I strongly believe we all have a story to tell and skills to share and therefore social media is the perfect shop window for that - and it’s free!”

“Our biggest strength is our authenticity and uniqueness. I love guiding and supporting to build confidence and ultimately inevitable success

Making the switch from corporate to creative was relatively easy for Helen as she says she is a great problem solver.

“I can find a solution to just about any obstacle. A great technique is to reframe the internal dialogue of telling yourself something isn’t possible.”

Helen says her clients are usually at the stage where they’ve already decided they want to run an online business when they approach her for guidance.

“Maybe they’ve been going for a while and got disheartened by the lack of engagement or maybe they want to get more visible online but don’t feel confident enough or don’t know where to start.  My work is 80% mindset and 20% strategy.”

In terms of qualifying to do this type of work Helen says she has a qualification from the Institute of Leadership and Management in Mentoring and has also volunteered for a government-backed

scheme to provide business mentorship to small businesses.

“I’ve also done coaching programmes in positive psychology, sales and social media training and worked on a one-to-one basis with mentors who were already highly successful in this field.”

She adds she’s actively taken the decision to always work with a coach since qualifying as it’s great for accountability and inspiration.

Helen says the majority of her clients come to her via Instagram.

“Social media is an ever-changing landscape so that’s how I know it works as a client attraction tool - when used the right way. You don’t need to have a huge following to make sales. It’s more important to have the right followers who are engaging with your content and ready to buy your offers or services.”

In terms of what clients gain from Helen, she says there’s a lot of identity work that goes on.

“Women often get caught in a cycle of losing parts of themselves as they go through life as there’s a lot to think about! I help women to believe in themselves, start prioritising and make things happen.”

And finally, what does Helen enjoy most about her job?

“I love the transformation! Helping women by empowering them to be more and to feel more worthy and independent is what lights me up inside.

“Our biggest strength is our authenticity and uniqueness. I love guiding and supporting women to build their confidence and ultimately their inevitable success in growing their online presence and generating income.”

CONTACT:

Visit: Hey Helen Williams online at www. heyhelenwilliams.co.uk for free resources to get you started in your exciting new online adventure

Follow: Hey Helen Williams on Instagram @heyhelenwilliams

future VISION

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is working on its Vision 2040 strategy for Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Centre which will in turn create a more prosperous and sustainable town. Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine discovers more about the plans…

TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council (TWBC) finished holding the first stage of its public consultation period for the public to have their say on the drafted long-term plan for the town centre, named VISION 2040. The public consultation started on February 23 and ran until April 15.

The Council has been working in partnership with organisations and residents to develop a strategy for the future of Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre to help create ‘a more prosperous and sustainable town centre.’

The Town Centre Plan is a separate document from the Borough-wide Local Plan which is currently subject to independent examination.

The plan will provide a vision, objectives and a planning framework for the future of the town centre up to 2040. Including diversifying and adapting the town, making sustainable improvements to public spaces and travel, attracting investments for high-quality living, working, shopping, learning, leisure, and cultural spaces, all while preserving and enhancing Royal Tunbridge Wells’ heritage status and historic attributes.

TWBC is also issuing a ‘Call for Sites’ in the town centre, to identify sites which might be available for

development or redevelopment in the period up to 2040.

The Call for Sites is particularly aimed at landowners, developers and their agents but it is open to anyone to submit a site.

Key provisions are that the person submitting the site can confirm that the landowner is willing to make the land available for development and it must be located within the defined Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Centre boundary.

During the seven-week consultation period residents were asked to give their thoughts on what changes and developments they would like to see evolve as well as their current views on Tunbridge Wells town centre.

A TWBC spokesperson told Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine: “Our ambition is for Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Centre to maintain and enhance its reputation as a

“

“Royal Tunbridge Wells should be a welcoming spa town of the future that will benefit from high quality and connected developments that protect and reinforce the town’s distinctiveness” ”

historic spa town. We want to ensure that it is an appealing and vibrant destination for residents, businesses and visitors alike with accessible and improved services and facilities as well as acting as a commercial, leisure and cultural centre serving the town’s residents, workers, businesses, visitors, and the surrounding area.”

They added: “Royal Tunbridge Wells should be a welcoming spa town of the future that will benefit from high quality and connected developments that protect and reinforce the town’s distinctiveness.

“It is a great place to live, work and play with a rich mix of jobs, services, homes, diverse public realm (i.e. the spaces between buildings, the streets, parks, street furniture, such as seating and landscape features), and cultural and leisure facilities, which meets the needs of people at all stages of their lives. Its diverse, passionate, creative and entrepreneurial community works together with energy and passion to achieve a common vision.”

The Council has worked in partnership with a range of organisations including LDA Design who carried out a ‘Town Centre Study’ to help inform the preparation of the Draft Plan. This has informed the preliminary vision and strategy for the town.

LDA Design’s draft ‘Masterplan Framework’ guides

future development up to 2040 and divides the town into four areas (known as ‘quarters’ – see breakout for more information). This, says TWBC, sets out priorities for possible intervention and change.

“The Town Centre Study recognises that Royal Tunbridge Wells is a linear town centre which is characterised by distinct quarters that give the town its sense of place. A range of uses are found within these quarters, which collectively contribute to the success of the town centre.

“The quarters are defined within the Town Centre Study document and areas of opportunity are highlighted for each quarter.”

A number of key ‘Principles and Ambitions’ have been identified within the Town Centre Study. They include creating the following: a low carbon future, connected landscapes, a sustainable and resilient economy and Tunbridge Wells being a creative destination.

“The next steps will be to produce a full draft plan which will be informed by the results of the consultation and by further

supporting documents and engagement which the Council will undertake,” confirmed the TWBC spokesperson.  The full Draft Plan is due to be published for further consultation later in the year.

The spokesperson added that this will include more detail on sites and uses as well as detailed policies to guide future development within the town centre over the plan period to 2040.

For more information visit: tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/ planning-policy/rtw-town-centre-plan

All in the detail - Vision 2040 draft plan

LDA Design drew up a draft ‘Masterplan Framework’ to guide future development up to 2040 dividing the town into four areas (known as ‘quarters’) illustrated below. This sets out priorities for intervention and change and a brief summary of each 'quarter'...

North Quarter – Grosvenor Road and Camden Road

A vibrant destination that appeals to shoppers, tourists, local residents and those from further afield. Opportunity to enhance the existing spirit of local businesses, diversifying the shopping centre, promoting town centre living, improving the public realm and linkages to open spaces.

North Quarter Opportunities include:

● Transformation of Royal Victoria Place

– enhancements and alternative uses

– leisure and cultural and town centre living

● Enhancement to Grosvenor Road as a gateway into the town

● Redevelopment opportunity at Meadow Road Car Park whilst maintaining public car parking

● Public realm and street scene improvements on Camden Road

● Improvements to retail experience at Calverley Road and shopfronts

● Town Centre repurposing of vacant retail and office space to other uses

● Improved links to the town’s green spaces and parks

East Quarter – Mount Pleasant Road and Crescent Road

This quarter is at the heart of the town centre and acts as an important link between the north and south of the town. Focus should be on public realm improvements and reinforcing this area as the community focus for residents, visitors and workers and hosting events as well as being a destination for culture, leisure and the arts.

East Quarter Opportunities include:

● Redevelopment of the former cinema site

● Enhancements to the public realm and streetscape around Mount Pleasant Road –around the Town Hall and the Amelia

● Improvements to Crescent Road, Civic Way and Monson Road

● Re-purposing of the Civic Complex •

● Celebrating the town’s heritage within this core area of the town

● Mount Pleasant Road and Church Road junction improvements

● Improvements to the public realm within this area and support for existing and new events.

● Evaluation of potential development sites over the plan period

South Quarter – High Street and the Pantiles

Area characterised by the High Street and the Pantiles, the historic environment as well as the town’s spa heritage. The area attracts visitors and residents and future development should enhance the quarters sense of place including promoting events throughout the year and celebrating existing cultural and heritage assets and improving connections and accessibility to the Common and this part of the town.

South Quarter Opportunities:

● Enhancements to the street scene of London Road and Frant Road

● Public realm improvements in the High Street

● Further celebration of heritage and culture at the Pantiles including its spa town status

● General public realm and connectivity improvements within this quarter and

linking to the surrounding area

● Opportunities around Grove Hill Road/ Vale Road/High Street

West Quarter – Train Station and surrounds Important gateway for residents, visitors and people working in the town. The sense of arrival should be enhanced with opportunities to create new public space, building on the town’s Spa town character. Range of mix of uses would be appropriate to improve the area as a destination as well as a point of arrival or departure.

West Quarter Opportunities:

● Enhancement to Tunbridge Wells Train station and Mount Pleasant Road

● Infill opportunities at Lonsdale Gardens, Clarence Road and surrounds

● Improvements to character and linkages around London Road, the Common and the lower end of town

● Improvements to the entrance of Calverley Grounds and opportunity for new uses at Mount Pleasant Avenue

● Possible additional uses alongside parking at the Great Hall and Torrington Car parks

“My work is varied and rewarding”

Restaurateur Matthew Sankey tells us in his own words about what his roles as both a local councillor and the borough’s Small Business Champion have involved and why he believes this is now a pivotal moment for the future of Tunbridge Wells town centre…

“As a local Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor, I find myself dealing with all sorts of different situations. I often explain that there are three distinct parts of the role: Ward work, running the Council, and the politics.

Ward Work: This is by far my favourite part of the role and probably the busiest part. The main job here is to hold the hand of residents who have contacted you with a problem, or something they are upset with, or they simply just might need some help. I have met so many different people through this part of the job; people whom I would never have met had I not been elected. From helping people to object and support planning applications, to raising queries with the Council’s benefits team, to rehoming a lost lamb! It's really varied and wonderfully rewarding.

Running the Council: Depending on which side of the chamber you sit (in administration or in opposition), the amount of work this creates varies. I

“

I field all manner of different calls varying from business rates queries to indepth questions on policy. The other part of the role is to help other Councillors understand how their decisions affect small local businesses

currently sit in administration, so on top of the usual committees that help steer the way our Council operates, I am also there helping our Cabinet make

The Art of Financial Planning

At first it might be the facts and figures, but what Panoramic Wealth loves to know are the things that really matter; the goals and dreams that person, couples or family have their eyes set upon. The art of Financial Planning is first understanding who we are advising.

Life has a funny way of making itself more complicated on its own, which is where we come in to help.  It might be that matters are somewhat complicated when Financial Planning goes hand in hand with running your own business, but we are used to that.

Based in Tunbridge Wells since 1989 specialising in advising many family businesses, and as one ourselves we can totally empathise. We have been able to guide clients on their different business journeys from inception to sale.

their delegated decisions. This is where the majority of the day-to-day work is carried out, and our portfolio holders manage each of their responsibilities. It's fascinating to be part of and really quite enjoyable when you watch a new policy work its way through the system to become part of the Constitution.

For businesses and their owners, we can assist on:

• Tax efficient profit extraction.

• Succession and continuity planning.

• Using pensions to buy commercial property.

• Employer Ownership Trusts.

• Estate and Later Life planning to mitigate inheritance tax.

Planning for Individuals:

With so much more to retirement than just pensions these days, we can also ensure you know the answers to the following questions:

• “How much is enough?”

• “When can I retire?”

• “What will retirement look like?”

The Politics: The uglier side of the council is an area I’m really not fond of at all. The tribal nature of it is often really detrimental to the running of our Local Authority. With different sides picking battles for the sake of it to grandstand and score points. This often overshadows critical feedback on policies and all sides are to blame. I try very hard to steer clear of this as it's distracting and designed to be so. I’ve watched many people become obsessed with this and achieve absolutely nothing from it.

As well as being Councillors respresenting their Ward (mine is Speldhurst & Bidborough for the Alliance) some Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) members also have additional roles. For example, I was asked to become the Small Business Champion by Council Leader Ben Chapelard in May 2022 and in this role I have two main jobs.

Firstly, I am charged with being the conduit for business through Council communications.

I field all manner of different calls varying from business rates queries to more in-depth questions on policy that affects business. The other part of the role is to help other Councillors understand

how their decisions affect small local businesses.

I act as their voice and am able to do so with authority as I live and breathe small business in my day job at Sankey’s. I am contactable via the TWBC website and encourage people to make contact as it's vital we continue to bridge the gap between business and the Local Authority. Tunbridge Wells, and in particular its town centre, has just reached a turning point in my view. We finally have the redevelopment of the cinema site underway which will remove the ‘grot spot’ for good. But the single biggest change we will see in the town centre is in Royal Victoria Place.

With TWBC buying the leasehold of the shopping centre and marrying it with the

freehold they already owned, this provides the Council with the control it needs to really be able to shape the future. I was proud to be on the team that interviewed Rivington Hark who were successful in becoming the centre’s management team along with KnightFrank, and I’m confident that this will prove to be a pivotal moment.

By now you will know that TWBC have announced the signing of a high-end retailer for RVP: Søstrene Grene. This is the first of many exciting new tenants…

This investment, brought on by TWBC, is only possible because the administration over the last two years: The Borough Partnership. It has brought our finances under control and regained control of our town centre from the hands of multinationals who just don’t care.

Our town centre really is going to be one to watch, and I am pleased to have been part of this change. I’m delighted that my neighbours voted to re-elect me on May 2 and I look forward to continuing the work I started two and a half years ago.

To contact Matthew Sankey about

Let’s work together

by Rose Bainbrige

Town Hall is a new coworking development in part of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s HQ. Run by TownSq, it offers coworking, office spaces of all shapes and sizes, plus meeting rooms and a soon-to-belaunched communal cafe. Offering both flexible and long-term working solutions – with the option to bring your dog to work if necessary – we’re delighted to discover more about this inspiring new development which promises to breathe new life into one of our most historic buildings…

High streets across the country have certainly had their challenges in recent years, and Tunbridge Wells is no different.

Vacancy rates in the town centre have been steadily rising, hitting a record high of 18.1% in 2021. So therefore the challenge is clear: we need to do more with our local spaces that have the room for other businesses and ventures to grow.

One of the landmark spaces in the centre of Tunbridge Wells is the historic Town Hall. Pre-pandemic this Grade-II listed building was occupied solely by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) employees. But since the Covid crisis, many TWBC staff have moved to a more hybrid work-from-home model.

This has resulted in a sizeable part of the building being renovated and repurposed for alternative working spaces. Coworking and small business specialists, Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq), have been appointed to operate this part of the TWBC HQ building which they have named Town Hall Tunbridge Wells.

Mandy Weston is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of TownSq, and we were recently given the opportunity to ask her about the company, how it is

Please tell us how you got into coworking?

My business partner Gareth Jones and I started TownSq in 2017 after previously founding a coworking and innovation hub in Caerphilly. That space was very much a ‘proof-of-concept’, and while it wasn’t a first of its kind - there was nothing like that in that particular area. We were told that it would never work and that these kinds of spaces had to be in city centres – and not small or medium-sized towns. But ironically, that particular sector grew to contribute a net Gross Value Added benefit of £63.1m on the Welsh economy and, as a result, created thousands of businesses and jobs.

So how did you come to create TownSq?

After a decade of experience supporting and creating small business communities, we exited the aforementioned company in order to found TownSq. We wanted to take what we had learned over the years and build these special spaces across the UK. We now have communities in London, Wales, Oxfordshire, West Sussex,

Why do you think you were chosen as the operators of the coworking space at the Town Hall?

There are not many people out there with the experience we have at starting, growing and supporting business communities in this way. Sure, there are a lot of business coaches but having a proven track record of taking a physical space and turning it into an environment that helps to promote enterprise - and provide the business and community support that goes into it - is rare. We also have tried-and-tested programmes, such as our Startup Club and Accelerator, which are proven to help people take an idea right through into founding and growing their own business. I think it was these things, as well as our wider vision for Tunbridge Wells, that helped us be selected.

What do you believe the new TownSq concept will offer local people?

For us it’s all about creating an environment that ignites collaboration - and thankfully, that’s something that comes naturally with coworking. Some amazing things can happen when people

Photography

aiming to enhance this amazing period space, and how they plan to boost business in Tunbridge Wells…

Hereford - and of course, here in lovely Tunbridge Wells.

“ ”

What does the new Town Hall coworking project have to offer at the moment?

For us it’s all about creating an environment that ignites collaboration - and thankfully, that’s something that comes naturally with co-working

The renovation work is being done in various phases over twelve months. We recently launched Phase One, which means we now have a beautiful coworking space for freelancers or hot deskers. We now also have a number of small and medium-sized offices and larger spaces. We can cater from one or two desks all the way to eighteen!

Do you have meeting space available to rent in addition to your offices?

Yes, we have two meeting rooms available to hire and soon we will also have the newly renovated Council Chamber to rent for conferences, workshops or corporate events. That’s a

share space and work together. As someone starting a business, perhaps for the first time, there is a lot to learn. Our TownSq programmes teach people and give them the information they need to start and grow, but there is just no substitute for being able to turn to your left – or right – and ask someone experienced for some advice. That might be how to format a first invoice, or what accounting software they should use. You just don’t get that working from your kitchen table or in a coffee shop. It’s also the natural networking element as people work with or recommend their co-workers to clients and suppliers.

How would you describe the overall ambience in a TownSq coworking space?

A huge part is what goes on outside it. When you create a place where lots of people from different jobs, businesses and organisations, can come and work together, the local economy around that space also grows. When people work locally, they shop local - they grab that drink after work or do a bit of shopping at lunchtime. In our experience our coworkers, however big or small, help to breathe new life into the high street.

day job yet. They take place outside of work hours and help people slowly build their business, experience and network. We also have an Accelerator programme for businesses that have the potential to grow quickly, where we connect them with expert coaches and potential investors. We also offer total admin support for businesses, helping people focus on their actual work, rather than the frustrating administrative tasks that eat up their time and focus.

What about the future, what are your plans for the rest of 2024 and beyond? The next steps for Town Hall in Tunbridge Wells are very much about getting more people to come and try coworking out. We find there’s a ‘click point’, where once a certain percentage of the space is full, more and more people want to come and be a part of it. The new coffee shop will hopefully be launching soon so that will be another draw, and then it’s about opening up more space as the renovations continue. So anyone interested in starting a business, looking for a place to work - or who just wants to come and look around - should get in touch…

For more information, prices and offers visit www.twtownhall.co.uk or email:hello@twtownhall.co.uk

really special space so we’re excited to see it open. The building very much sells itself, and for us, and our wonderful Hub Manager Lucie (pictured left), it’s just a case of getting folks to come in and have a look…

Can you tell us anything else about TownSq’s offering in Tunbridge Wells? Aside from the workspaces we are also running our StartUp Club, where we help people take an idea or concept right the way through to launch. This is really popular with people who want to start a business, but who simply cannot quit their

There

are not many people out there with the experience we have at starting, growing and supporting business communities in this way

HERO Local

Tunbridge Wells employers now have the opportunity to support both their staff and the local economy courtesy of the TN card loyalty scheme, which is offering special corporate packages to companies. Its founder Jess Gibson tells Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine more about this beneficial employee incentive…

The TN card is the Tunbridge Wells loyalty scheme that rewards shoppers for supporting local. Founded in February 2020 by local entrepreneur and mother of four, Jess Gibson, its key aim has always been to encourage more residents to shop and support local.

And despite a Covid-shaped curve ball being thrown her way shortly after Jess launched The TN card four years ago, she has managed to weather that storm and steadily grow her business.

The TN card scheme now has over 900 businesses in its ever-expanding directory. Hundreds of these are in Tunbridge Wells but it also operates in Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and other TN postcodes.

The benefits of joining as a member of the award-winning TN card are multilayered. For the individual subscription price of just £25 a year – or £3 a month – members enjoy discounts, treats and extras at businesses from shops and restaurants to theatres, salons, gyms and days out, as well as regular members’ events. Ten per cent of all sales go to the West Kent Mind charity.

Membership cards are now digital

thanks to the iOS and Android TN card app that launched in 2022 and Jess is currently rolling out new functionality such as dog-friendly and family friendly filters, a new days out category and also feedback ratings.

“TN card membership for employees means staff can enjoy rewards in local retail and leisure, but also dental and medical discounts and other well-being benefits! ”

Another area where Jess has grown her loyalty shopping initiative is in the corporate arena.

Now local businesses, both large and small, are encouraged to purchase TN card membership for their employees as a staff benefit. Through their memberships, staff enjoy enticing rewards in retail and leisure, but also dental and medical discounts and other well-being benefits.

“I am thrilled that so many of our Tunbridge Wells employers are now supporting the TN card and its mission to champion local,” she tells Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine.

“The TN card is being recognised as not only a valuable and practical benefit for staff, but as a way of giving back to the community, of donating to West Kent Mind and an easy way to demonstrate commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance responsibilities,” adds Jess.

Employee annual membership of The TN card costs just £15 (+VAT) a year when a minimum purchase of six cards is made.

“For the TN card, having a corporate scheme in place like this means more members, which sustains the business as a whole and allows it to grow further, both in the breadth of rewards offered but the many ways in which the TN card supports local,” explains Jess.

“The simple fact is the more members with a card, the more we can then support our independents. The TN card was established to facilitate positive change in our community – and now with employers coming on board, its potential to do this is made even greater.”

Jess says that corporate TN card membership makes an affordable and

KEY BENEFITS OF THE TN CARD FOR BUSINESSES:

• Free for High St businesses to join

• Businesses choose how to reward members for supporting local,

• Businesses receive marketing through a customised listing on the TN card’s iOS and Android app and website

• Businesses are part of a vibrant business community with quarterly workshops providing networking and business insights

• Free marketing through the use of social media, newsletters, podcasts, press, photography and a printed Christmas gift guide.

impactful staff benefit to any company.

“It’s a win-win. Staff can take advantage of the myriad benefits by being a TN card member and then in turn our independents benefit from increased footfall. Not only is supporting local good for our local economy, but it’s good for the environment, reducing our carbon footprint as shoppers.”

In June last year, The TN card was accredited as a Social Enterprise, putting social purpose before profit which in turn gives employers complete transparency on the business’s commitment to social purpose.

and use the majority of any profit to further their mission.

“But we still need more members, more card holders, so the TN card can be sustained, stay impactful and grow alongside its partner database,” states Jess.

In Tunbridge Wells Jess works alongside the BID (Business

BSR Bespoke Accountants, Chilliapple, Sharp Minds Communications, Thomson Snell & Passmore and TN Recruits.

“There is a common perception that the TN card is a big success story because it is always so busy, yet it promotes our High Street businesses without charge and relies on membership sales. I am very grateful to local employers who have chosen to support the TN card by boosting its membership numbers.

“There are 100,000 social enterprises in the UK, which are businesses that prioritise benefit to people and the planet

Improvement District) to support all manner of local businesses which include restaurants, bars, theatres, hairdressers and hotels but she is always looking for more corporates to get involved and support it by introducing it as a staff perk.

Tunbridge Wells employers who have joined as corporate members, purchasing the TN card for staff, include Berry & Lamberts Solicitors, Big Orange Media,

“With exciting updates to our online platform underway and our new corporate supporter badge, there’s never been a more rewarding time for employers to come on board and I hope many more follow suit. More corporate memberships mean greater membership numbers, more the TN card can do for its 900 business owners and more people out in towns supporting local. It’s a win-win for us all.”

THE TN CARD AS A STAFF BENEFIT:

A growing number of local employers have purchased the TN card as a staff benefit, supporting our local business community whilst rewarding staff:

• Staff receive significant benefits such as dental and private medical discounts alongside shopping and leisure offers

• Support of West Kent Mind charity courtesy of 10% donation from membership fee

• A newly launched corporate support badge for employers to share and display, demonstrating commitment to local community

• Instant access to The TN card’s growing professional services directory (benefits include discounted photography, accountancy and insurance)

• Special price of just £15 (+VAT) per staff member

• Launching in July: Courtesy of funding from Rural Grant Scheme which was awarded to The TN Card in March there will be a dedicated website portal for employers to manage memberships centrally. Memberships will switch to just £1.50 (+VAT) a month with employer able to add (or remove) staff as and when needed

AWARD WINNING: Jess Gibson's TN card scheme has won many plaudits since launching in 2020 SUPPORTING

“I live and breathe business”

Every month we'll be chatting to a local entrepreneur about their business and where they like to dine, drink, shop and socialise in Tunbridge Wells. This month it’s the turn of Oliver Corkery from landscaping supplies specialists Corker who have just added a property development division, Corker Brothers, to their business

Let’s start with you giving us a brief overview of Corker...

We are a family-operated business known for supplying exceptional quality landscape materials to both the trade and retail sectors. At the heart of our operation is a unique show garden concept that features 15 distinct gardens by the finest local talents. This setup not only showcases our products in their intended environment but also provides a source of inspiration for our customers to reimagine their own spaces. Recently, we expanded into property development under the new venture, Corker Brothers, which I manage alongside my brother, Harry. We are currently building five homes in Matfield which you can see at bassorchards.com.

When did you get involved in the family business and why?

I was immersed in the business when I was roughly around 14-15 years old. It was always my plan to work with my dad, who founded Corker, as I didn’t enjoy school and didn’t want to go to university.

What are the key ways you have developed the business over the past few years?

The key transformation of the business was giving the company a new identity and positioning the brand to a new demographic. Then it was executing on the delivery of that rebrand, and further enhancing our infrastructure to support the growth. That meant investing in new technology, machines, and innovating across all touch points

of the business. We also worked hard on creating an amazing team. Back then we never really had a business plan, it was just ideas we took action on and they worked out. Now we are more organised and have all the financial controls, forecasts and plans needed to continue to grow and manage risk.

““Since

our re-brand of Corker in 2018, we have grown over 300% and

continue to grow year on year. “

”What have you enjoyed most about this process?

I live and breathe it! Business is my hobby and sport. I love what I do - it is in the core of me to grow and evolve. I enjoy working with great people, learning new things, seeking new opportunities and constantly evaluating the direction we are heading in. It’s an ever-evolving process and so you cannot get complacent.

What aspect of being part of Corker do you enjoy most?

Building a community of like-minded individuals and working with people that share the same values.

Are the majority of your clients local or do you supply further afield?

Most of our amazing customers are all within our local 15-mile radius, where we operate with our own lorries so we can control the experience and service. However we do sell our products further afield and when we do we send them out on third party haulage companies.

Can you tell us about any exciting new plans you have for Corker?

Since our rebrand in 2018, we have grown over 300% and continue to grow year on year. Along that journey we have also matured and grown and our plan is to evolve once again to a new and enhanced version of Corker. We are looking to expand into new areas including hospitality too. We’d like to build on our show gardens concept so that people can spend the entire day there working or hanging

out if they wish. We were negotiating on a site to do just this at the end of last year but it fell through right at the last hurdle. We are currently looking for alternative sites but are not in a huge rush as we are enjoying learning and taking our time to find the right one. What we are learning at Corker Brothers, in terms of commercial uplift, contracts and creative ways to enhance assets, will all aid in our overall Corker growth plan.

great to know so many are invested in our brand and mission as much as we are and that is how it should be; building a company not just for what we want but what others want and believe in. It’s all about change and innovation!

When you get some time off where do you like to go out in Tunbridge Wells with your family?

Do you find the local business community to be a supportive and collaborative one?

Yes it is hugely supportive of what we do. Without the amazing people in our area, we would not have a business. It’s

When I have a day off, I love taking my little boys to play on the rocks at Tunbridge Wells Common, playing hide and seek there and going for a stroll to get a coffee. I also enjoy taking them to the library to get a book at the amazing Amelia centre. These are simple things but seeing them happy makes me happy. If I am going out to eat, my favourite spots include The Beacon, which is run by Pete Cornwell who is a very supportive friend of mine. The food there is amazing. I also love Kai’s Kitchen, located just opposite Tunbridge Wells train station and I like meeting family at The Junction

in at Groombridge. I also enjoy dining

The Ivy on Tunbridge Wells High Street and visiting my great friend Will Devlin’s restaurants at the Small Holding and Birchwood.

And where do you like going with your friends if you’re on a night out?

I would probably head to Sopranos for some nice tapas and its lively atmosphere. It is a great spot and they always provide amazing service there! Also the new restaurant Essence by Atul Kochhar is great, I went there with friends a few nights ago and really enjoyed it...

Do you have any favourite shops in Tunbridge Wells and if so, which ones?

My favourite shop in Tunbridge Wells is without a doubt Botanica Health in Rusthall. Naomi, Alan, Jess and the entire team are brilliant and I am always in and out of there. I think looking after your health has got to be a top priority and Botanica are the best.

What do you enjoy most about being based in the local area?

I never get bored of Tunbridge Wells. Where I live is such a nice place; the people are great, the restaurants are fantastic and there are so many nice walks and things to do. So yes, I do love where I live!

www.corker.co.uk

Great Heritage, Hospitality, Shopping & Entertainment

Support your local businesses and commit to ‘Love Local’ in Royal Tunbridge Wells, ensuring our vibrant town set within an area of outstanding natural beauty continues to be a great place to live, work and play. Support local traders, their suppliers and the people they depend on to run their business, and for every £1 you spend with a local business, between 50-70p circulates back into our local economy*.

*source: www.indieretail.net

Visit QR CODE to find your What’s On Guide for May –August and a directory of Tunbridge Wells retail, hospitality and businesses.

With a wealth of entertainment, hospitality, heritage and shopping, this summer we have a lot to enjoy:

A packed events calendar including Unfest, The Fringe and lots of live music, theatre, events and exhibitions

Open air events in Calverley Grounds, The Pantiles, Spa Valley Railway and Dunorlan Park

New businesses to try including Piglet, The Diamond Setter, Clarendon Fine Arts and Poundstretcher

Hospitality offerings from Atul Kochhar’s Essence Restaurant, Black Sheep Coffee and Harbourfield Fish & Chips

The Amelia Scott Centre The Pantiles

The Fringe Unfest

The Spa Valley Railway The Calverley Quarter

Calverley Adventure

Royal Victoria Place

Dining out

Dunorlan Park Sponsored by

Current Vacancies

Residential Property Lawyer (Solicitor, CILEX, CLC)

Tunbridge Wells

£50-60,000

Full mixed caseload of excellent quality work - 2 days working from home Applications: emma@tnrecruits.com

Audit Senior

Tunbridge Wells

Up to £40,000

A varied role offering a mix of audit and accounts work for a great firm of Chartered Accountants based in central Tunbridge Wells with parking Applications: rachel@tnrecruits.com

Vehicle Technician

Tonbridge

£45-55,000

Working with premium brands, great benefits, NO WEEKENDS! Applications: nick@tnrecruits.com

Client Manager

Tunbridge Wells

£40,000 basic plus commission

Managing a portfolio of existing clients, company supports qualifications and career progression Applications: jo@tnrecruits.com

Temporary Customer Service

Administrator

Tonbridge

£11.50 per hour

Happy team environment, administering customer records, customer liaison. Full training and great opportunities to progress Applications: melissa@tnrecruits.com

Phone: 01892 571105

Website: www.tnrecruits.com

Address: Suite F3, Prospect House, 11-13 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1NU

Are you an extraordinary lawyer looking for a fantastic firm to progress your career?

If this grabs your attention, why not get in touch with us at CooperBurnett LLP and find out about becoming part of our team. At TeamCB, we provide a supportive and progressive environment where you are enabled to grow your career. We are proud to have many specialists within our team who provide excellent legal advice to all types of clients. We are dedicated to our people and invest in their ambitions.

Please do get in touch with Joseph Oates jmo@cooperburnett.com or Victoria Sampson vls@cooperburnett.com if you would like to find out more about TeamCB

Role: Sales Support Executive

Location: Tonbridge (Office Based)

Hours: 8:30am - 5pm Monday to Friday

Salary: £26,000-£28,000 pa

Benefits:

20 days annual leave plus bank holidays, group life assurance, healthcare scheme, free parking and workplace pension.

Do you have strong administration experience? Have you worked within a Sales Support/ Office Coordination/ Account Management based role previously? Are you looking for a fastpaced, varied and interesting position locally? If so, please apply today for this fantastic opportunity!

A well-established, forward thinking, progressive creative company are looking to recruit a new addition to their current team. Within this role you will be responsible for assisting a Business Development Manager with UK and International clients.

Responsibilities:

• Managing regular customer contact via email/ phone and zoom

• Plan and attend customer meetings

• Manage customer sales analysis reports via Sales Vision and Excel

• Manage all new product information and pricing for European customers

• Action customer queries relating to products

• Complete Tender submissions

• Plan, prepare and attend both UK and International Trade Fairs, booking accommodation, travel and restaurants, organise shipment of goods and all associated administration.

Role: Finance Administrator

Location: Tunbridge Wells, (office based)

Hours: 8:30am - 5pm Monday to Friday

Salary: £26,000-27,000pa

Benefits:

22 days holiday + bank holidays, Pension scheme, Annual Bonus & lots of team socials.

Are you experienced handling financial transactions? Have you got great attention to detail and organisation skills?

A well-established business within Financial Services are looking for an Operations Administrator to join their Payments team. You would be responsible for ensuring all cash payment requests are actioned promptly, applied correctly to Client accounts and all bank accounts are fully funded.

Responsibilities:

• Making UK and International Payments via CHAPS and BACS

• Ensuring Client accounts have sufficient funds to make payments and cover costs

• Reconciling bank statements daily

• Ensuring regulatory controls and procedures are adhered to

• Responding to client queries via phone and email.

Role: Admin Assistant

Location: Tunbridge Wells, you must have a full driving licence and be a car owner

Hours: Monday - Friday 8.50am5.30pm, Saturdays 9am-4pm (with a weekday in lieu)

Salary: £23,000 per annum + profit share bonus (OTE £25,000)

Holidays: 21 days holiday rising to 23 days after 5 years

This is an interesting and varied position working within a well established, friendly and progressive office.

Responsibilities:

• Answering incoming calls

• Organising general property repairs and maintenance

• Coordinating works with trades, tenants and landlords

• Planning, scheduling and attending periodic inspection visits

• Invoicing

• General administrative support

Market Value

Fancy being a landlord? Then read on to discover how you can, courtesy of Becky Moran, our expert guide to the property rental market. Here the TN Lettings owner shares details of how she became one…

I’ve worked in property all my career - apart from an initial start doing production on a local radio station which is a whole different chapter of my yet-to-be-written biography!

My career had always been on the financial side of house buying, having worked through various roles in property finance for major financial institutions.

During a career break so I could focus on my two young boys, the world pretty much came to a halt due to the Covid pandemic. It was during that first lockdown, and while dealing with letting agents in London for our own rental properties, I decided there must be a better way than paying rip-off fees and dealing with faceless employees on the end of a phone line.

Hence why I started TN Lettings in the summer of 2020. The company’s USP is that it’s based on ethical grounds to give the best possible service for landlords and tenants alike.

“How is that possible?” I hear many tenants and landlords say. Or: “There must be a conflict of interest?” say others…

But it’s simply about the right fit for tenants and landlords alike - whether that be a fair price, the right number of bedrooms/bathrooms, right location, or right circumstances. It’s not always about first come first serve.

Some landlords want tenants for a year or two, some tenants want a place to call home long-term, or just a 6-month rental whilst they develop their own home.

We therefore prioritise the right fit for

“

We

deal with all levels of landlords but becoming one is not always an easy decision and often many landlords become them by accident

”

all our properties. We deal with all levels of landlords but becoming one is not always an easy decision and often many landlords become them by accident. For example, they might inherit a property or a couple may move in together and therefore rent out their second home. It’s

such a familiar scenario there is even a book about the subject called Accidental Landlord.

Other landlords see the role as a safe investment for their old age and run a portfolio, whilst others do it as a career. But the biggest issue for landlords is the financial and legal changes.

In the last 20 years the government has changed policy so often - usually chasing votes - that it can become confusing.

When Gordon Brown was Chancellor, in 2005 he announced a policy to be able to put rental property into a self-invested pension, (Sipp) – but then backtracked six months later.

Since 2015 the tax relief on the interest payments has been decreased and now doesn’t exist for private landlords, meaning some have sold properties while others have converted their portfolio into limited companies - therefore maintaining the tax relief.

Since then, we have seen no end of legislation; the latest being the proposed end to ‘no fault evictions’. This has been delayed, and is probably unlikely to come in this side of a General Election, mainly because the court system would collapse under the pressure.

Add in raising interest rates, it’s easy to see why some landlords have sold up and left the market. And although no one can see into the future, the one thing we do know is there will always be a demand for rental properties and history has shown that bricks and mortar is a safe long-term investment.

www.tnlettings.co.uk

Picture courtesy of TN lettings

Picture: Mollie Manning

Spring into action

Deborah Richards of Maddisons Residential reveals one of the most asked questions she receives from people at this time of year: should I buy in spring? Here the successful property entrepreneur whose business is located on The Pantiles, reveals her very interesting answer…

There was a time when the spring months were the perfect time to put one’s property on the market. This was a result of some charmingly simple reasons. The trees are newly in leaf, and everything seems fresh and exciting. The days are warmer and longer, and buyers often like to move in the summer holidays, before the start of a new school year. Life is full of hope and new beginnings…

Of course, on a more practical level, houses were also advertised predominately in estate agent’s windows, so a stroll down the high street on a warm spring day, browsing at property details was the norm. However, whilst some of these traditional reasons for selling in spring still hold true, we live in a world where 98% of property searches are now completed online - where instant information is just a click away. So, does an owner still benefit by selling in spring rather than waiting until later in the year?

You might think not. We live in an uncertain world and the property market,

like any other, hates uncertainty. There is the Middle East crisis, a war in Ukraine, global warming, not to mention that 49% of the world’s population will vote this year in 64 national elections, possibly changing things globally for many years to come. Nowadays, waiting for normalisation seems a bit like chasing shadows.

However, one thing I have learnt from many years in my exciting industry, is that people always need to move home. Life’s rich circle sees us marry, divorce, start families, find new jobs, and so on. And the spring months in 2024 are an excellent time to buy and sell.

First, there are all the traditional reasons listed above. But now we also have a falling cost of living and an anticipated fall in mortgage rates, which will not only attract more people to the market but also make house ownership more affordable. This affordability aspect should instill a sense of optimism in potential buyers and sellers.

The market certainly remains uncertain

though, and one comment I frequently hear from my sellers is that they might just delay selling completely this year and instead look to next year, when the market will be ‘better’.

However, in our ever-changing economic and political climate, who can guarantee that this will happen? In the last eight years I have weathered a Brexit vote, a pandemic, a war and a cost-of-living crisis. Who knows what awaits round the corner?

Ultimately, property is both the gift that keeps on giving for its rising returns, but also a place where we rest, relax, raise our families and shelter from the storms outside. What price can one place on being in the ‘right’ home?

So in my opinion, when it comes to property, it is usually best to work with current conditions rather than kick the can down the road hoping for something better – or chasing shadows.

www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

Building on success

Have you spotted the new Black Sheep cafe in town or clocked Wagamama’s fantastic new extension? Commercial property specialists Durlings have been behind both as well as many more developments. Here they tell Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine more about their specialist work…

Local property business Durlings has recently been involved in some of Tunbridge Wells’ most notable retail openings and developments.

The firm, which is based on Mount Ephraim in Tunbridge Wells, specialises in carrying out commercial valuations, offering both landlords and tenants representation in rent review or lease renewal negotiations.

“We have both the expertise and local knowledge to carry out a variety of valuations,” Durlings partner Rupert Farrant tells Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine.

“Durlings specialises in carrying out commercial valuations, offering both landlords and tenants representation in rent review or lease renewal negotiations

“If you are considering selling or leasing your property, we can provide a detailed appraisal, combined with a comprehensive marketing report. The report will outline strategy recommendations for maximising the results of your asset, together with other professional recommendations and our fee proposals, all without obligation,” continues Rupert.

“We understand that each property is unique and so you can rest assured that we will specify and target your individual advertising requirements to match the type of property.”

Durlings utilises modern communication media along with traditional advertising to keep its our ever-growing interactive database of potential purchasers and tenants informed and up-to-date with the latest opportunities and market news.

Here Rupert and his team tell us

about some of the new openings and developments the company has been involved with recently…

Black Sheep Coffee

We were delighted to see Black Sheep Coffee (BSC) open one of their latest Coffee Shops in the former RBS bank premises on Mount Pleasant Road. BSC now have over 80 coffee shops in England and more internationally. Durlings acted for the landlord, introducing BSC and agreeing lease terms.

Wagamama expansion

Durlings acted as letting agent for Aberdeen Standard, which saw the popular Wagamama expand into a third unit whilst releasing the unused upper parts of the building for residential development.

Lemons Cocktail Bar

Durlings handled the sale of the business and leasehold interest of the former Wine Rooms, which has since been renamed Lemons by its new custodians.

Mount Pleasant House

After subdivision of the larger office floors, Durlings have continued to attract new companies to this Grade A office space located in Lonsdale Gardens. New occupiers include Howdens Insurance, BLP, and Adaptive Business Group.

Pizza Italo Labs

The final industrial unit of 9335 sq on Longfield Road ft has now been leased to Italo Pizza Lab. Over 34,000 sq ft of industrial space had been subject to a comprehensive refurbishment, including a new roof.

Tavis House

Durlings are delighted to be acting as joint letting agents with CBRE on this new high quality industrial development totalling over 90,000 sq ft in up to five individual units in Chapman Way. Completion is anticipated in November this year.

Contact us:

22 Mount Ephraim Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN1 1ED

Living the HIGH LIFE

Jason Stubbs is a talented local drone operator whose stunning aerial photography and videography has resulted in commissions from TV production companies as well as estate agents and property developers. Here he tells Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine what sparked his passion for this type of work and shares his tips on how to capture the perfect shot…

So Jason, how did you get into drone photography?

During the COVID lockdown I was looking to make use of the enforced downtime to learn some new skills. I’m a freelance creative and have always been inspired by visuals. One day I happened to see a YouTube video featuring some stunning aerial footage and as I’d always been keen on photography and video production, I thought: ‘Why don't I look into that?’

How did you know what type of drone to buy?

As I was new to it all I started off by purchasing a small drone after doing extensive research online. I immediately loved it, and then began training to acquire a Permisson for Commercial Operations (PfCO) qualification. At the time this was required to undertake any professional work using a drone so it seemed like the correct route to go down.  I soon bought a bigger drone with a much better camera, then eventually upgraded that one for something even better. The result is I've been having lots of fun with it ever since…

Before we move on, can you give us a brief explanation of what a camera drone is?

A modern camera drone (Or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV, as they are officially called) is a small vehicle that's able to carry an extremely high-quality camera into the sky.  The professional models feature technology that enables them to keep the camera perfectly stable, even when the UAV is moving quickly.  This allows me to capture smooth video clips

and high-quality photography whilst flying around a subject.  It’s essentially like having a camera on a tripod I can place almost anywhere to get the shot I want.

What do you enjoy most about this form of capturing images?

I think my favourite thing is the freedom it gives me to shoot a subject from an interesting angle that’s often not a place you could go with a conventional camera.  I can hover the drone right over the sea or close to the edge of a cliff to get a shot from a position where it wouldn't usually be possible or safe to stand.  For video purposes it also allows smooth movement to capture cinematic shots of your subject.

When did you officially establish your Swoop Media business?

I started doing commercial drone work during the summer of 2020, and since then I have been lucky enough to work

in many beautiful locations and had the pleasure of seeing my shots on a Channel 5 crime documentary and in the first season of the TV Drama ‘Whitstable Pearl’. On my first day of shooting in Whitstable I was flying the drone off the back of a small fishing boat about a mile out to sea!

Can you tell us about the work you’ve done for some of your clients?

I’ve worked with estate agents and construction companies on many occasions as the panoramic views aerial footage offers are perfect for large, rural plots or to capture the progression of a large building project.  I’ve worked on a couple of TV productions, which can be quite a high-pressure working environment as you have to get the shot correct quickly while actors and vehicles are in position. I upload a fair bit of my work online and this has led to production companies contacting me to license the footage for use in their films.

Is there any particular job you enjoy doing most?

I would say the work I get the most enjoyment out of would be creating promotional content to showcase a business with a stunning location.  Whether it's a golf course a stately home or a tourist attraction, I really love spending time somewhere special and finding ways to capture it in its best light.

Is the production process a complicated one?

“I would say the work I get the most enjoyment out is creating promotional content to showcase a business with a stunning location”

Flying the drone and taking the shots is only half of the job.  The other half starts when I begin editing the video or enhancing the images once I’m back at my desk. Taking the raw footage and turning it into something that will catch the eye on social media or on a client's website is a very rewarding creative process.

Is there a lot of competition out there?

Yes! UAV technology improves every year and it’s now possible to get great

results with small, cheap drones – which means lots of people are out there giving it a shot. If anyone reading this is considering hiring a drone pilot I’d suggest that as well as looking at the quality of the work the person produces, also make sure they are licensed and insured.

What would you say are the main challenges with drone work?

Probably the single biggest problem is the weather.  The drone isn’t fully waterproof, so it’s not safe to fly in the rain.  High winds can also be a problem. My equipment can cope with blustery conditions but it does affect how close you can safely get to your subject. If I wanted a shot close into something like a chimney for a roof inspection, I’d need the wind to be fairly calm to ensure the job was completed safely.  Another issue is birds, usually seagulls, but I have seen the drone harassed by pigeons too. Over time you learn to keep an eye out for where they

A breath of fresh air

How Employee Wellbeing Transforms Mental Health

In the hustle and bustle of the modern workplace, the toll on mental health can often be overlooked. Yet, beneath the surface of productivity metrics and project deadlines lies a crucial truth prioritising employee wellbeing is the foundation of developing a positive workplace culture in the pursuit of mental wellbeing.

Imagine a workplace where employees feel not just tolerated, but truly supported and valued. In such an environment, the air is lighter, stress levels are lower, and the spectres of anxiety and depression find it harder to take root.

Research consistently highlights the link between employee wellbeing and mental health. When businesses prioritise the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of their employees, the benefits reverberate far beyond the confines of the office walls. Reduced stress, anxiety, and depression become not just aspirational goals but tangible realities. The key lies in cultivating a culture

are and learn how to avoid them to keep the birds and the drone safe.

Where are your favourite places to shoot and why?

I’d say anywhere away from crowds of people with beautiful scenery.  This could be a deserted beach or mountain or it could be a country estate or vineyard.  Anywhere that there’s lots of space to fly safely with something stunning to point my camera at.  I generally much prefer to shoot sunrises rather than sunsets because you usually find very few people are up to see the sunrise so you get the feeling that the show is being put on just for you.

If you could shoot anywhere in the world where would that be?

That’s an excellent question and like all great questions, not an easy one to answer! There are so many stunning places around the world, I’d love to shoot the architecture in Barcelona or the temples rising out of the jungle in South East Asia, but I think I’d have to pick Patagonia to capture some epic, mountainous landscapes.

CONTACT SWOOP MEDIA: WEB: www.swoopmedia.co.uk

INSTA: @swoopmediauk

EMAIL: Jason@swoopmedia.co.uk

of support and understanding, where employees feel empowered to prioritise their mental health without fear of stigma or reprisal. When individuals feel seen, heard, and valued, they are more likely to proactively manage their mental health and seek the support they need. As leaders and colleagues, it falls upon us to create environments where mental health isn’t just an afterthought but a central belief of our organisational ethos. By championing employee wellbeing, we not only promote healthier, happier individuals but also unlock the full potential of our teams. So, let us take a deep breath, and together, embark on a journey towards a workplace where mental health thrives and flourishes. Join our FREE monthly walks from Ashdown Park Hotel in aid of West Kent Mind. Simply scan QR Code to reserve your space.

Revive Health Fitness – specialised employee wellbeing courses. www.revivehealthfitness.co.uk

Article by Henry Adekoya

My Tunbridge Wells, Your Tunbridge Wells

We’re delighted to welcome Clare Lush-Mansell from My Tunbridge Wells as our expert guide to all the fantastic events happening in and around the town every month. Read on to discover her top picks for the next few weeks…

1. Sankey's Feast and Fizz 18th to 19th May

Enjoy a globe-trotting adventure at Sankey’s Feast & Fizz Festival on The Pantiles, hosted by Kenny Tutt, MasterChef champion, on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May. From Caribbean to Colombian cuisine and Italian sparkle to tropical tipples, the event is set to be a culinary carnival for the senses. Expect chef demos, free tasters, live entertainment for all the family and more…

2. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat  29th May to 1st June

Experience the magic of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat during May Half Term when TWODS Musicals bring this smash hit musical to The Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells. This  family-friendly show, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, features unforgettable songs like ‘Any Dream Will Do,’ ‘Close Every Door’ and ‘Go, Go, Go Joseph.’

3. Tiny Treasure Hunters at Riverhill  5th to 30th June

Aimed at younger visitors to the fabulous Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Tiny Treasures is a lovely way to spark imaginations and keep little legs moving as you explore the gardens together. Collect an egg box on arrival, then find something for each compartment. Make sure you visit the adventure playground and maze while there too.

4. Wealden Times Fair  6th June

Treat yourself to a day out with friends at the Wealden Times Midsummer Fair. Take your time browsing over 250

hand-picked exhibitors with gifts galore, summer fashion, handmade products and so much more. Sample a glass of some bubbly in one of the outdoor bars or enjoy something yummy from the many street food vendors. Always a lovely event…

5. Ibiza Orchestra

14th June

The Ibiza Orchestra Experience arrives in Dunorlan Park for the very first time, with a brand new Ibiza Sunset Tour. On Friday 14th June, the orchestra will be performing live alongside a DJ celebrating some of the greatest music from the white isle in the past 30 years. Along with some super support acts! Over 18s only.

6. Sausage and Cider Festival  15th June

The fun continues, but this time for all the family, at Dunorlan Park on Saturday 15th June, with an outdoor Sausage & Cider Festival. Look out for Scouting for Girls and Toploader as well as incredible tribute acts. Plus special guest…Barry from Eastenders with Barrieoke! Expect over 30 types of cider, 20 types of sausage, a festival market, glitter artists, children’s stage, silent disco and more…

7. Summer Sundays - Ocean Colour Scene, Embrace and Ash 16th June

It’s all going on at Dunorlan Park with Summer Sundays Music Festival coming to Tunbridge Wells for the first time. Guests will get to see Ocean Colour Scene, Embrace, Ash and The View. There’ll be a silent disco, street food, craft beer, fresh cocktails and a festival market to enjoy.

8. Medway Gaming Festival  15 and 16 June 2024

A bit further afield this time, get ready for an epic weekend of gaming madness at the Medway Gaming Festival across Father’s Day weekend. Immerse yourself in the ultimate gaming experience in a unique historic setting. The Medway Gaming Festival will take over the iconic Historic Dockyard Chatham for an unforgettable weekend of gaming, technology, and entertainment. The festival promises an array of adventurous

activities that cater to every gamer's interests including a gaming extravaganza, tech zone, military simulations, Esports tournaments, film and TV guests, Retroland exhibition and so much more!

9. Tunbridge Wells SoapBox Race 22nd June

The Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Race is returns for its fifth year, boasting over 30 karts racing at Dunorlan. With over £120,000 raised for charities, this annual event draws 6-10,000 attendees. Celebrity Chef Rosemary Shrager will kick off the festivities in her pie kart, joined by Panto legend Tom Swift. This year, SLM Suzuki Tunbridge Wells headlines, racing for The Sara Lee Trust, aiming to raise funds and awareness for Hospice in the Weald. This is always such a fun family day out!

10. Cirque - The Greatest Show

23rd June

Step into the light at The Assembly Hall Theatre with Cirque. Escape into a show like no other, where you are taken into a world where the very best of musical theatre showstoppers meets jaw-dropping circus spectacular. A world that explodes into colour as everyone's favourite West End and Broadway hits combine with breath-taking, amazing performances, incredible contortionists, and thrilling feats of agility and flair. We cannot wait for this!

For more information on what’s happening where over the next few weeks and beyond make sure you visit www.mytunbridgewells.com or follow at @mytunbridgewells

CLARE LUSH-MANSELL

Photograph: Mollie Manning

Dates for your diary

It’s shaping up to be a fantastic summer in Tunbridge Wells. Here the team at RTW Together highlight just some of the incredible events coming up…

Live at the Pantiles

The ever-popular outdoor event, Live at The Pantiles (formerly Jazz on the Pantiles), will take place every Thursday evening until September 12. The event will bring a diverse programme of musicians, singers and bands and runs from 7pm –10pm. To see the performer line up for this season, visit www.thepantiles.com/ live-at-the-pantiles/

Spa Valley Railway Summer Programme

There truly is something for everyone at the Spa Valley – from Faulty Towers to Thomas the Tank Engine, Murder Mystery to superheroes, fish and chip suppers to afternoon teas, cheese trains, gin trains, whisky trains and even James Bond trains! Visit www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk to book. Unfest

Returning for the May Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 25 - Monday 27 May), this much-loved annual festival brings free

music to venues in and around Tunbridge Wells including The Forum, The George, The Sussex Arms & The Royal Oak. For more info visit www.unfest.co.uk .

TW Fringe

The fantastic Fringe Festival is back from Saturday 29 June - Sunday 14 July. There will be over 100 events featuring local artists, performers and groups across a diverse range of art forms. Now in its fourth year, the Fringe gives both established and up-and-coming performers the opportunity to get in front of a live audience. Check out acts in traditional theatres, pubs, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, outdoor locations and unusual settings. To find out more visit www.twfringe.com

Local & Live

Paul Dunton's Local and Live returns to Calverley Grounds and The Forum Friday 23 – Monday 26 August 2024. Expect some fantastic local acts playing their

own music and a great atmosphere. For the full line up visit the website www. localandlive.org .

Spoken Word

Thursday 23 May sees John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten from The Sex Pistols, explain how he changed the face of music and sparked a cultural revolution. And on Saturday 29 June Henry ‘The Fonz’ Winkler tells the story of his success. Both at www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk .

Family and Kids

On Sunday 09 June, join all your favourites including Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol, DORA, Pip and Posy and Blue from Blue's Clues at Milkshake! Live on Holidaywww.assemblyhalltheatre. co.uk .On Saturday June 15, join James Campbell in Don't Panic! We CAN Save The Planet at www.trinitytheatre.net – a new live comedy show for children aged 6-11 inviting them to swap being an Eco Worrier for being an Eco Warrior!

ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY

This year’s line up for the Black Deer Festival includes Sheryl Crow, Rufus Wainwright, Joe Bonamassa and so much more. Read on to discover more about the music line up, fantastic food and exceptional experiences that are on offer next month – right on our doorstep

Black Deer is back and for 2024 this Americana-inspired festival, held in the glorious grounds of Eridge Park over the weekend of June 14 to 16, promises to be a really vintage year.

Headliners are Sheryl Crow, Rufus Wainwright and Joe Bonamassa, while additional acts taking to the stage over the weekend include Seastick Steve, The Staves, Ward Thomas, Villagers – and so much more…

First launched in 2018 by festival veterans Gill Tee and Deb Shilling, Black Deer has since gone on to become one of the area’s – if not the UK’s - most popular small festivals. The Guardian voted it the Best Festival in its first year and since its inaugural event, some six years ago, it has welcomed a slew of legendary artists including Bonnie Rait, The Pretenders, Van Morrison, The Waterboys, Steve Earle and Richard Hawley.

But as well as all the big names, there’s always plenty of new music to discover as well as lots of local ones on the bill such

as Isabella Coulstock who’ll be appearing on the Caffe Nero ‘grass roots’ stage –which having proved to be so popular at last year’s event is returning once again.

At Black Deer, attendees are dropped into a musical melting pot “ ”

The festival also welcomes the return of the Supajam Stage, in association with Folklore Sessions and our very own Local&Live, which is headed up by Paul Dunton and his team. This special partnership brings to light the amazing work of Supajam, who provide awardwinning education for vulnerable and disadvantaged students, giving them the skills and qualifications to get into further education or the music business.

In addition to all the live music, there will of course be the interactive Live Fire stage. Featuring world-famous chili eating competitions, a Gospel Sunday brunch, and live cooking demonstrations from renowned chefs including Melissa Thompson, Matt Burgess and Genevieve Taylor. The Live Fire stage really is the perfect partner to your sonic soundscape over the Black Deer weekend...

Headlining on Friday night, June 15, is the international country superstar Sheryl

Crow. And according to Black Deer’s organisers: “Fans can expect to enjoy a career-spanning set from the nine-time Grammy Award winner, who was recently inducted into the globally esteemed Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”

On the Saturday evening it’s the turn of American blues rock icon Joe Bonamassa to perform. And what’s even better is that he’s appearing as a UK festival exclusive. The legendary guitarist, singer and

Now

in its sixth year, the festival also welcomes the return of the Supajam Stage, and our very own Local&Live, which is headed up by Paul Dunton and his team

“ ”

songwriter has topped the Billboard Blues Albums Chart an unprecedented 26 times, whilst garnering three Grammy Award nominations.

“Bringing his guitar-wielding expertise to this year’s Black Deer Festival, the

crowd are in for a real treat as they have the chance to witness one of the world’s finest musicians today,” adds a Black Deer spokesperson.

Also appearing as a UK festival exclusive act is the multi-talented Rufus Wainwright who will take to the stage on the Sunday night. The multi-talented and awardwinning artist who’s penned ten albums, two operas and performed with the likes of Elton John will officially close the festival.

Add into the musical mix the likes of BC Camplight, The Shires, Courtney Barnett, Michele Stodart and Prima Queen, you really do have an amazing lineup of talented and diverse stars who can’t wait to entertain you in Eridge Park next month.

As the organisers tell us Black Deer is created by music lovers, for music lovers…

“Black Deer is at the heart and forefront of the rapid and influential rise of Americana in the UK and beyondwhether that be the biggest and best across Americana, Country, Folk, Bluegrass, Roots or the Blues, or the exciting emerging artists of the genre’s renaissance. At Black Deer, attendees are dropped into a musical melting pot.”

We can’t wait to see you there!

Black Deer Festival runs from 14th-16th June 2024 at Eridge Park, Tunbridge Wells.

For ticket info visit www.blackdeerfestival.com

SHERYL CROW

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

JOE BONAMASA

Taste the difference

The George and Dragon in Speldhurst has got a new chef at the helm and his delicious food is certainly proving to be popular with the historic pub’s customers.

But given Rod Grossman has worked in the kitchens of prestigious restaurants such as Moro in London, The George in Rye and most latterly at The Griffin in Fletching, it’s no surprise. We discover the recipe for his ongoing success and what he loves about being part of the G&D team…

So Rod, let's start by you telling us why you wanted to work at the George and Dragon?

The George and Dragon (G&D) has a special place in my heart as I worked here about 15 years ago and really enjoyed my time at the pub. The food is seasonal and always made using local produce with great quality ingredients. That facilitates chefs like myself to create some really exciting dishes.

What kind of changes did you make to the existing menu and why?

I kept some old favourites on there but also introduced some delicious modern dishes that I love to cook.

What do you enjoy most about working at this beautiful and historic pub?

The G&D is a pub with so much character and such a beautiful

The George and Dragon is a pub with so much character. The food is fresh and bold and we have great access to local suppliers with quality produce delivered daily

building. The food is fresh and bold. Unlike many of the chain pubs, we have great access to local suppliers with quality produce delivered daily. Most importantly I have the freedom to create fantastic dishes for our customers who come from near and far to enjoy.

Can you tell us what you want to reflect as your culinary inspiration there?

I like to create exciting dishes using very local independent suppliers that reflect the season and will be appreciated by our customers. Ideally I want to make the G&D the place to go for the best pub food around.

Photography by Saltwick

Since you started, have any of your dishes proved to be more popular?

A few of them have actually! The gambas crostini, Devonshire crab linguine, which are two of my personal favourites, are going down well as is the chargrilled lamb kofta and locally foraged wild garlic soup.

What would your signature dishes be?

That’s a tricky question as I have so many! I personally love cooking a traditional paella but when dining at the G&D it just has to be the gambas to start followed by a great Sunday roast with all the trimmings – all served with a gravy that you just want to drink!

How often do you update the menu?

The menu is super seasonal so I change as soon great ingredients come available. I do however still keep classic pub dishes, such as a great pie and local fish dishes, on the menu so we have something for everyone.

Can you tell us about some of the local suppliers you use and why?

I would dare to say that 85% is local. Our free-range eggs come from Fairview farm. Our dairy products and ice cream are from Downview dairy farm. Our bread is sourced from a great artisan bakery in Sussex - but we do make our own focaccia in-house. Our fish comes from PH fish

in Hastings and our meat is all British and supplied by a family-run Butcher in Sussex. Our veg arrives daily from TH Brown and our game products are all sourced from Eridge.

Feel free to tell us a little bit about your culinary CV...

I cut my teeth in London in a restaurant called Moro on Exmouth Market, where I learned a great deal and cooked from scratch. I also worked at The George in Rye which gave me the experience of the hotel industry including catering for large weddings. Then I had a little adventure on my own with a restaurant in Tunbridge Wells which was a Spanish tapas bar serving authentic tapas and a great Spanish atmosphere. Latterly I was head chef at The Griffin in Fletching near Uckfield for over six years.

And now can you reveal which chefs inspire you and why?

I’ve got to mention Sam & Sam Clark from Moro as they were the ones who gave me the opportunity to discover my love for cooking. They’ve been going in Exmouth Market for over 25 years with a Mediterranean-influenced menu that is truly amazing. I have also been inspired by the many chefs I’ve been lucky enough to work with over the years taking certain ideas and techniques from all of them.

If you had to sum up the food you are currently creating for the G&D in three words what would they be?

Ooh, can I say in six? If so they would be: “Field to fork” and “Bold delicious culinary” www.ganddspeldhurst.com

Celebrate in style

This month The Beacon celebrates its 10th anniversary of being owned and run by the I’ll Be Mother group.

The uber-chic restaurant-with-rooms and popular wedding venue is thanking its loyal clientele by including a special signature spring dish on its menu for just £10. This will be available on both the lunch and dinner menus in the Hearth and Garden Bar dining areas.

Guests can access the special deal via the I’ll Be Mother app from Monday to Thursday until May 30. The special spring dish was created by The Beacon’s Head Chef Scott Goss who has overseen the culinary offering at The Beacon for the past few years.

Located on Tea Garden Lane and boasting stunning views - and an even more amazing interior courtesy of local interiors company SGS Design - The Beacon has been run by Pete and Viv Cornwell of I’ll Be Mother group since 2014. The group also owns and runs Kingdom in Penshurst and The Swan at Chapel Down.

Over the past decade The Beacon has gained a reputation for its exceptional dining and now it also offers the opportunity for clients to stay overnight thanks to the venue’s six new beautiful bedrooms, all of which boast individual décor and charm.

Pete Cornwell, founder of the I’ll be Mother group says: “We have had an

exceptional 10 years here at The Beacon, firstly as our family home and now as a venue which we have now opened up for our clientele to enjoy so it’s time to celebrate!  We are delighted to be able to share our anniversary with our extended family.”

Commenting on the big anniversary The Beacon’s Head Chef Scott Goss adds: “I have worked with Pete for many years and we love to come up with innovative ways to celebrate food and our beautiful venue. This is a great way to mark an amazing 10 years! Here is to the next 10!”

Photography: Lottie Topping

All in the MIX

Since it opened just over a year ago, In The Pantiles has enjoyed unprecedented success and is now one of the hallmarks of our local hospitality scene writes

Wweekend brunching or enjoying a couple of expertly mixed cocktails on a Saturday night, Charlotte’s In The Pantiles certainly offers all things for everyone. And it does so in an incredibly stylish manner, but always with exceptional customer experience at its heart.

It opened at the end of April 2023 and since then Charlotte’s has outperformed on every level, making it one of Tunbridge Wells’ hallmark hospitality venues in a very short space of time.

Its talented team is headed up by Operations Director Adam Peters-Ennis whose career CV is hugely impressive having worked in some of the capital’s best bars. He trained under the pioneering Dick Bradsell, who created some of the most famous modern-day cocktail classics including the Espresso Martini and the Bramble. During his early career Adam also helped launch some of the capital’s best-known bars including Hakkasan, Isola, Nobu Berkeley St and The Connaught before working for many world famous drinks brands.

about,” adds Vanessa, who is Adam’s wife and also Front and Back of House

“We have so many really incredible regular guests who have been with us from the start and love what we do here. But interestingly enough, people are still

Charlotte’s founder and Creative Director is Emma Wright, who was able to turn the vision she had four years ago of creating an upmarket cocktail bar here in

“Creating has always been something I’ve been passionate about,” reveals Emma. “It gives an incredible sense of achievement to create a destination where people go to have fun, socialise and experience first-class service in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.”

“What we wanted to create with Charlotte’s was a place you’d usually find in London – but on your doorstep,” he smiles. “And I think we have definitely created that.”

Well yes, it would appear so given how

Charlotte’s certainly excels in offering quality and inventive cocktails, fabulous food and an incredible ambience but can we have a moment for the amazing interiors which were designed by local interiors firm SGS Design? Just in case you haven’t had the pleasure, when you do eventually visit you’ll be impressed by the totally Instagrammable décor which includes blush pink bistro-style banquettes, brushed brass accents, glossy marbling and plenty of statement lighting. All of which has made Charlotte’s In The Pantiles such a success story and long may that continue for all the team – as well as all the venue’s discerning drinkers and diners.

@charlottesinthepantiles

a toast to our vibrant local vineyards…

It’s not just Kent’s plethora of vineyards – the county’s a hotspot for wine production with 1,033ha under vine, around 26% of the country’s total plantings, according to WineGB’s 2023 industry report – making the headlines today, says Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine’s Drinks Editor James Viner. There are also outstanding beer, cider and spirits producers to discover. Here’s his roundup of the best local drinks to try this spring. Cheers!

1) CHAPEL DOWN BACCHUS 2022, TENTERDEN

£16 The Wine Society | 12%  Aromatic, zingy, grassy, early-ripening, German-bred crossing Bacchus from Chapel Down, the market leader in English wines located near Tenterden, with aromas of grapefruit, elderflower, gooseberry, melon and hedgerow. Bring it out for fish, seafood (hello oysters and trout), green/fennel salads and seasonal chlorophyll-rich green asparagus – when in Tunbridge Wells, I buy mine from ‘Locality’ on Camden Road. Delicious and as ready now as it will ever be! chapeldown.com

2) BALFOUR HUSH HEATH ESTATE, IRRESISTIBLE EIGHT ACRES SPARKLING ROSÉ, STAPLEHURST

£18 Co-op | 11.5%

This is my kind of superb sparkling pink bubbly, produced by the meticulous

traditional method and bursting with mouth-watering red berry fruit, crunchy green apple, creamy and citrusy pizzazz. A refreshing bargain high-street sparkling pink wine, with a hint of rosewater, from a local winery set on a 400-acre estate recognized for its hospitality, producing over 400,000 bottles of wine annually. Fun drinking. balfourwinery.com

3) SIMPSONS’ WINE ESTATE, RAILWAY HILL ROSÉ 2022, BARHAM

£20 | 12.5%

Looking for a stylish, local, pastel still rosé with flavour, texture and an X-factor?  Look no further. Established in picturesque Barham in east Kent in 2012, wine industry grandees Charles and Ruth Simpson head up this dynamic wine estate situated in the sheltered, sunny Elham Valley, an immaculate seam of the North Downs near Canterbury (the Simpsons also own Domaine

Sainte Rose in France’s Languedoc).

The weekday afternoon wine-tasting experiences here are very memorable indeed (£25 per person). This is one of the Simpsons’ best: think red cherries, strawberries and grapefruit, with a soupçon of salty freshness. Perfectly tangy, finely tuned, refreshingly pure and superbly persistent. Kent’s greatest pink hit! One for a vegetable risotto. 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir and suitable for vegans. simpsonswine.com

4) KENTISH PIP, HIGH DIVER MEDIUM DRY SPARKLING CIDER, BEKESBOURNE

£24 for 12 330ml cans | 4.8%

A blend of Bramley and Cox dessert apples has been used to create this thirst-quenching cider, which is produced at Woolton Farm in Bekesbourne, near Canterbury. It’s medium dry and crisp – just the ticket for seafood, kormas

and Thai green curries. A great place to visit for accommodation, hospitality, food (the Mount family offers a fab BBQ grill!) and tours. Gluten-free and suitable for vegans. kentishpip. co.uk and wooltonfarm.co.uk

5) DAVENPORT VINEYARDS, LIMNEY ESTATE 2018 ORGANIC SPARKLING WINE, ROTHERFIELD

£29.50 | 12%

Will Davenport is a busy winemaker making first-class, estate-bottled organic wines made from 95% Kent-grown fruit. He’s building a new winery at Hazel Street Farm in Horsmonden, Kent – where he first planted five acres of vines in 1991 – which he aims to complete in time for the 2024 harvest. Produced using the traditional method and aged five years on lees, this is a canapé-loving, Chardonnayforward (with 18% Pinot Meunier and 19% Pinot Noir), vegan-friendly festival of finesse — a classy bottle brimming with enticing red fruit, citrus and light biscuity notes. The acidity is the highlight, saline and sinuous. Lovely drinking. The 2019 vintage will follow in a couple of months. Certified by The Soil Association, the UK’s largest organic certification body. davenportvineyards.co.uk

6) ANNO DISTILLERS KENT DRY GIN, MARDEN

£38.50 | 43%

Artisan spirits are a growing business in Kent, where Mother’s Ruin’s ‘ginaissance’ is still going strong. In 2011,

Dr Andy Reason and Dr Norman Lewis launched the first gin distillery in Kent in 200 years (they also produce decent rum and vodka). Their signature gin is infused with six Kentish botanicals, including hops, lavender, elderflower, rose hips, chamomile and samphire, giving it an incredibly smooth flavour that makes it an excellent base for a classic G&T. Pure alchemy. Enjoy a tour and tasting at Anno Distillers for £30. Vegetarian and veganfriendly. annodistillers.co.uk

7) GUSBOURNE GUINEVERE CHARDONNAY 2021, BOOT HILL VINEYARD, APPLEDORE

£40 | 12.5 %

I was bowled over by the quality and balance of this exquisitely detailed, veganapproved, award-winning Chardonnay from Appledore. It boasts a delicious combination of orange blossom, baked orchard fruits, pineapple, toasted nuts, spice and lemon zest with a creamy richness achieved through ageing for ten months in a mix of old (80%) and new (20%) French barrels. It has both immense drinking pleasure and compelling interest covered. One to relish this International Chardonnay Day (23 May). Expect a warm welcome at Gusbourne with amazing dining, tasting and tour experiences. gusbourne.com

Follow James on Instagram @ QuixoticWines

• 29 days until English Wine Week 2024

• Celebrate English Wine Week (15 June – 23 June) by raising a toast with still and sparkling wines from Kent vineyards. They can also be enjoyed all year round. Follow English Wine Week on Social! #EnglishWineWeek

• 22 days until the fantastic third annual Wine Garden of England Summer Celebration 2024 at beautiful Chilham Castle. Meet the nine Kentish producers and taste the wines from Balfour, Biddenden, Chapel Down, Gusbourne, Simpsons, Squerryes, Westwell and newcomer Yotes Court. Plus meet the team at Domaine Evremond, who will soon launch their first Kentish sparkler in partnership with Taittinger. www. winegardenofengland.co.uk/events

• 45 Simpsons Wine estate exports around 45% of its wine and has a massive following in Scandinavia. Their Chalklands Classic Cuvée will be poured on board Club World on British Airways Flights between October and December later this year

• 16 the number of scrumptious botanicals in Anno’s award-winning signature gin

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“We want 2024 to be our biggest fundraising year yet”

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine is delighted to announce that it will be supporting local charity Taylor Made Dreams. Founded in 2014 by Suzi Mitchell, after the death of her son Taylor, it helps children with lifelimiting illnesses to access therapeutic care and achieve their ‘bucket list’ dreams. Here we find out what the charity, whose chief patron is John Bishop has planned in terms of fundraisers for the summer and beyond…

2024 marks Taylor-Made Dreams’ 10th anniversary and we are proud that, with the help of our local community, we have been able to support so many families, providing over 2,000 bucket list wishes and support services since 2014. There are still many families in Sussex, Kent, Surrey and Essex who would like our help,

so in recognition of our tenth year, we have developed a calendar of events to help make this our biggest fundraising year yet.

Alongside a Fire & Lego Walk (May), Sky dives (June), Charity Golf Day (June) and places on the Royal Parks Half Marathon (October), we also wanted to create a campaign that would encompass the whole year and allow people to fundraise the way they want to, when they want to.

Our new ‘10 for TMD’ gives you the guide

CHARITY: L-R: Suzi's son

Taylor Mitchell swimming with dolphins, TMD CEO Suzi Mitchell, and Joshua achieving a TMD Bucket List by meeting Jeremy Clarkson at Didley Squat Farm

“There are still many families who would like our help, so in recognition of our tenth year, we have developed a calendar of events to help make this our biggest fundraising year yet

”of fundraising using ten but then lets you run free with that idea. Your fundraiser could be 10 runs throughout the year, donating £10 a month, 10 days without social media, 10 weeks without caffeine, a challenge over 10 months like learning an instrument or bowling in a group of 10. No matter how big or small your fundraiser is, as long as 10s involved we’d love to hear about it! Your campaign also doesn’t have to be a fundraiser, it can just be an awareness-raising campaign: ‘10 for TMD’ is really up to you.

Once you’ve decided what your chosen campaign will be, we’d love to have videos of you committing to your challenge so that we can promote your wonderful fundraising and make a 10th anniversary video of everyone that takes part. Simply start your video with the words “I am

SWEET

doing 10 for TMD by…” and tell us your plans, you can send to us via direct message on socials or via email.

Local businesses can help the charity by opting to join Taylor Made Dream’s Titanium Circle explains Suzi Mitchell who founded the charity in 2014 following the passing of her son Taylor and is now its CEO.

“This is an elite group of dreammakers who can sign up to an annual commitment through one of four levels with a range of benefits the charity offers in return for businesses’ ongoing support.

You can also donate via your employee payroll, Match Giving, Volunteering & Pro Bono work.”

Commenting on being chosen as this publication’s charity she told us: “We are delighted to be the charity partner with Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine.

“Being a small local charity supporting children with life-limiting illness and

their families, we warmly welcome the opportunity to share our story and engage with the local business community about the services we provide.”

If you think you’d be up for one of our challenges or want to do your own ‘10 for TMD’ this year, please email us at: hello@taylormadedreams.org.uk

How to donate to Taylor-Made Dreams:

To send a one-off donation text TMDWISH to 70085 to donate £5

To send a monthly donation text DRAGONFLY to 70085 to donate £5 a month (texts cost £5 plus two standard rate messages)

Titanium Circle: is an elite group of dream-makers. You can sign up to an annual commitment through one of four levels with a range of benefits the charity offers in return for businesses’ ongoing support. You can also donate via: your employee payroll, Match Giving, Volunteering & Pro Bono work · The charity is always in need of prizes, skills and training opportunities so feel free to get in touch if you can help via: hello@taylormadedreams.org.uk

JOHN BISHOP

History A true sense of

by David

Variety truly is the spice of life. In late 2022, I was delighted to be asked by my Antiques Roadshow friend Eric Knowles to join the roster of dealers at The Pantiles Arcade housed in the Corn Exchange in the heart of the historic Pantiles.

I’m no stranger to having a shop, but my roots are in the auction world, where I started in the mid-nineties working for Bonhams and then Sotheby’s. Following that, I co-founded and managed an exclusive deal with eBay Live Auctions and their live-bidding technology. I then worked with Judith Miller on the worldfamous Miller’s price guides, whilst also founding my own publishing company. As a long-time hat wearer, I like to have many hats! “Wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home” as Paul Young once sang. And my home is now in The Pantiles Arcade… Variety is also the spice of life at home too. Many people think of antiques as dry, dusty, staid – and not for them. However this is not true! Even younger generations are seeing the inherent quality in buying something with age, quality, a story – and

“There is an inherent quality in buying something with age, quality, a story – and meaning - behind it. Individuality is taking over from the homogeneity of high street

meaning - behind it.

Individuality is taking over from the homogeneity of high street and retail park mass-production - it’s hard to feel nostalgic about - or love - a flatpack bookcase. Tell the story of your life, loves and interests by mixing and matching your possesions. Maximalism and the freedom of expressing yourself and your journey through life with how you decorate your ‘nest’ is the new way forward.

There’s also a financial aspect – your high street or retail park homewares are unlikely to be worth a great deal if you tire of them and fancy a change, or want to sell when you upsize or downsize. But that’s not the case with antiques or vintage pieces, which typically hold a considerably higher residual value. Without wanting to be holier than thou, environmental aspects are important too – antiques are green.

In addition to me, the roster of dealers at The Pantiles Arcade includes a number of respected experts. At Scottish Antiques, they offer the finest and widest

Famous auctioneer and antiques authority Mark Hill reveals how excited he is to be opening a new boutique auction house at The Pantiles Arcade – and joining Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine as one of its new expert columnists…

MARK HILL

Photography

Bartholomew

selection of Georgian and Victorian drinking glasses and Tunbridgeware in the country, together with colourful 20th century art glass including Lalique, and a smorgasbord of fine 18th and 19th century porcelain and superb silver. Stylish Art Deco furniture and works of art are offered by Jacob Luc, and you can keep track of time with fine clocks and watches, including repairs and restoration, from my Antiques Roadshow colleague Richard Price. Joseph buys and sells stunning jewellery, while toys and nostalgia can be found with Peter Redman at Hope & Glory. Royal Warrant holder Wilkinson crowns the roof with stunning chandeliers. Quite literally it’s four centuries of art, design, culture and history all under one roof.

This already makes The Pantiles Arcade a major hub for fine antiques and interiors in the South East. However, in May this year, it will be bolstered with the launch of a boutique auction house called Mark Hill Auctions – and I’m delighted

to be going back to the auction world where I started.

We believe in serving you, the seller, the best way possible. To do this, we’ll have some of the lowest commission rates in the industry, and can also offer a retail sales channel if we feel that that’s best suited to realising the best price for your item. All lots will have a full condition report, and a trouble-free shipping service will be available.

I’m delighted to be writing a monthly column for this magazine and will look forward to sharing some of the tips, knowledge and expertise that I’ve learned over nearly three decades in this wonderful, varied business. See you soon!

Visit:

The Pantiles Arcade at 49 Lower Walk, The Pantiles is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am –5pm. More details can be found at thepantilesarcade.com, or by calling 01892 322 777. To buy online, visit scottishantiques.com.

Valuations:

For valuations or to consign items for auction, email mark@ markhillauctions.com or call 01892 574 310 to set up a free appointment. by using Carbon Balanced Paper for TW Business Magazine JJL Media & Marketing has balanced through World Land Trust the equivalent of 1,199kg of carbon dioxide

This support will enable World Land Trust to protect 229m2 of critically threatened tropical forest Issued on 25/04/2024 - Certificate number CBP024607

Presented by Elliot Baxter

“Essence takes inspiration from my extensive travels”

Celebrity chef, author and TV presenter Atul Kochhar recently opened his new Essence restaurant on The Pantiles. Eileen Leahy caught up with the successful restaurateur to discover its culinary ethos and how it’s settling into the vibrant Tunbridge Wells hospitality scene…

Congratulations on the opening of Essence here in Tunbridge Wells. Are you pleased with how well the restaurant has been received?

Thank you and yes, absolutely. It takes time to become a bit more established and to generate a lot of buzz around the restaurant within the local community and further afield, but it’s definitely getting there. Crucially, we’ve received so much praise from customers who’ve returned and now become regulars. It’s hugely motivating for our team.

For those not familiar with it how would you describe its culinary ethos?

The menu at Essence has a strong PanIndian focus. Taking inspiration from my extensive travels throughout the subcontinent, the menu showcases dishes and techniques from all of India’s unique states, executed with some modern European cooking techniques and using only the finest produce that’s British and locally-grown produce whenever possible.

What made you decide to open a restaurant in Tunbridge Wells?

For me, the location just made sense. Essence is my second restaurant in Kent, and I feel the county has a really exciting range of local Indian restaurants that

excite the local communities around them. I also fell in love with the Grade II listed Georgian building - that was another real deal clincher.

What do you enjoy most about having an establishment here?

The sense of local community. During the weekend, dinner at Essence always feels like such a special occasion, with many familiar faces joining us, whether they’re on dates, nights out with friends, or with family. It seems as though people have great passion for eating out and also a respect for the time it takes to sit and enjoy a first-class meal without rushing the process.

Do you find the local hospitality scene is a collaborative and supportive one?

So far the local hospitality scene has been very supportive. We’re still very early in the process of having opened, but the support we’ve received has been very rewarding.

What do you believe the powers that be in government could do better for the food and drink industry in general?

The hospitality industry has suffered greatly over the past four years, and I feel there are many issues that need to be addressed. Most importantly, I feel that if there were more incentives for people to work in kitchens, whether that’s the right to work in the UK, or an ability for wages to be higher, staff shortages wouldn’t be such an issue. From a customer perspective, the cost of living crisis and constantly rising costs has also made price rises necessary in restaurants, purely to cover the costs of raw ingredients and operations. If this were amended we’d be able to charge less for dishes in line with inflation and I feel it would make a huge difference to the amount of business.

With a number of restaurants, supper clubs, a busy presenting career and cookbooks to write how do you manage to juggle it all?

It’s certainly a lot to juggle! Sometimes it’s quite overwhelming, but I’m very fortunate to have a great team of people surrounding me who make life a little bit easier when it comes to organisation.

Is there one particular area of your career you prefer over the others - or are you happiest in the kitchen?

I’m very proud of all my achievements, but there’s nothing quite like the rush of being in the kitchen and cooking great food for people.

What would you say are the key lessons you have learned from running your own business?

Key lessons I’ve learned are that if you work hard towards your goals, anything can be possible, but also the importance of balance between different tasks, time management and making sure I save enough time for myself and to spend with my family, which can be very difficult when life is so hectic.

And finally, if you could cook for anybody – living or dead – who would that be and why?

I would choose my father. Growing up my family ran a catering company and my dad definitely shaped my career and gave so much valuable advice. If it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t have ended up taking this illustrious career path.

www.essencerestaurants.co.uk

Photography: Key & Quill

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Have a real conversation about your insurance

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