News
January 2012
We would like to wish all our members a very happy, healthly and prosperous New Year.
Burrswood, a Christian hospital, set in delightful grounds in the village of Groombridge just outside Tunbridge Wells has been chosen as our charity this year. We hope that our members will support Burrswood at the various events that we hold throughout the year. For further information on Burrswood please visit their website www.burrswood.org.uk
December 2011
As we get closer and closer to the Olympics next year our members maybe interested to know that Kent Sport have some interesting information for Kent businesses. For more information please click or alternatively view their website www.kentsport.org/london2012/business-continuity
Our member Ditto Office Services Ltd are running an all day workshop on the 18th January 2012 at St Julian's in Sevenoaks to talk about the importance of branding and how to effectively use social media sites to promote your business. Prices are £169.00 + VAT per person (if you book before the 30th December). For futher information on this workshop please click here or call Hannah Griffin at Ditto directly on telephone number 01732 456944
November 2011
Our member Burrswood in Groombridge are hosting a Carol Concert on Saturday 3rd December featuring Mascalls School Choir. There will be a Christmas Tea Party before the Carol Concert and tickets can be purchased from Helen Winning at Burrswood on Telephone number 01892 865982 or e-mail helen.winning@burrswood.org.uk For further contact details please click here.
Our Summer Garden Party raising money for The Hospice in the Weald was a fantastic event and The Chamber was delighted to support this wonderful local charity. The winner of the 'best hat competition' was Dolina Hendry of Lioness Consultants and her prize was a voucher to spend in the company of Hooper's personal shopper Lindsey Johnstone. Dolina thoroughly enjoyed her visit and under Lindsey's guidance chose some stunning items. So if you want to update your wardrobe and gain some fashionable tips then perhaps a visit to Hoopers might be well worth the trip.
October 2011
We receive on a regular basis communications from South East 2012 Business Communications regarding opportunities for businesses to tender for various contracts from London 2012. Often these bulletins have an incredibly short response deadline and we would, therefore, like to draw your attention to London 2012's website www.competefor.com
We receive on a regular basis communications from South East 2012 Business Communications regarding opportunities for businesses to tender for various contracts from London 2012. Often these bulletins have an incredibly short response deadline and we would, therefore, like to draw your attention to London 2012's website www.competefor.com
We advised our members in April that Kent Fire & Rescue were changing their procedures in responding to automatic fire alarms. These changes will be phased in over the next year to allow businesses more time to change their fire procedures and make the appropriate necessary amendments. For further information on this subject please click here.
As the nights are drawing in why not make a note in your diary for Thursday 10th November and come along to a fabulous 'Ladies Night' and raise money for a local charity. The Horder Centre in Crowborough is hosting a 'Ladies Night' where you can indulge in a glass of bubbly whilst enjoying a delightful fashion show. Tickets are £10 each. For further information about this event please click here.
Calling all exporters! The Africa Business Centre will lead a trade mission to East Africa in November 2011. The mission will focus on opportunties in the Oil & Gas industry and associated sectors such as ITC, Education & Training and Finance. For further information visit www.africabusinesscentre.co.uk or call Julien Masse on telephone number 01224 343928.
August 2011
We have been advised that the final phase of the road works between junction 29 and 30 of the M25 has started. Extra care is urged to ensure that the appropriate lane is used as drivers using the contraflow lane will NOT be able to exit at junction 30. For further information please click here.
June 2011
Our member Brolley.co.uk is holding their annual Charity Polo tournament The Brolley Charity Cup to raise much needed funds for their chosen charities of the year. This year, Brolley.co.uk are extremely proud to be supporting Help for Heroes and the Hospice in the Weald. To book tickets please call Charlotte on 07730 409125, email charlotte.barrett-mcgowan@vous2.com or visit www.vous2.com/polo.html for further information please click here.
May 2011
Kent College a thriving independent girls school, based in Pembury, is delighted to receive planning permission for a new 4 million pound Library & Art Centre. This centre is due for completion in 2012 in time to celebrate the School's 125th Anniversary. For further information please click here and for an artist's impression of the new building please click here.
April 2011
Chartered Accountants, Bespokes Ltd of Hildenborough have issued a press release advising that they have merged with Buckland Steadman & Roberts of Tunbridge Wells. The newly formed company will trade under the name of BSR Bespoke Ltd and retain both offices. For full details of their press release please click here.
I know that lots of our members are frequent attendees to the famous 'Pudding Club' held at The Beacon in Tea Garden Lane, Tunbridge Wells, however, if you have not heard about this unique club why not try it out. The next lunchtime meeting of the 'Pudding Club' is on the 18th May, for further information please click here.
We have been advised by the Kent Fire & Rescue Service that local businesses are being urged to check their fire alarms. KFRS has been called out to 30,000 automatic alarms in the last five years, of which 99.07% were false alarms. KFRS intends to stop attending calls to automatic alarms, unless they get a 999 call in the normal way to say there is actually a fire. For futher information on this subject please click her or visit website www.kent.fire-uk.org
February 2011
TUNBRIDGE WELLS ENTREPRENEURS COULD WIN £1,000 TO PUT TOWARDS BUSINESS
Would-be entrepreneurs or home workers could win themselves £1,000 worth of Staples vouchers at a Tunbridge Wells business event next week. The unique free event on February 15 at Staples on Dowding Way will deliver tips and advice from and for people who are running their own businesses in the town after getting home from their day job. Claire Melvin, who runs cupcake business, Claire’s Handmade Cakes, while holding down a day job with a local charity, and publisher Steve Emecz, who runs MX Publishing, while working for a software firm, will join business expert and best selling author Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, the UK’s biggest website for home workers to share their tips and experiences about starting up.
The first 50 people to sign up to the link get a free copy of Emma’s book Working 5 to 9 – which talks about the growing trend of people working in this way. And one of Claire’s cupcakes! http://working5to9tunbridge.eventbrite.com For further information please click here
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We would like to advise our members that WKCCI are now offering free Business Advice Clinics. This is a new benefit which will enable you free access to a team of practicing professionals on a wide range of business issues. These clinics will be held on a monthly basis and our first clinic will be held at the offices of CooperBurnett in Tunbridge Wells on the 16th February from 6pm until 8.30pm. Should you wish to book an appointment to see a Banker, Solicitor, Accountant or Independent Financial Advisor for a 30 minute consultation then please contact The Chamber.
In addition to the above WKCCI are also offering an enhanced Legal Advice Line for all our members. In addition to a free Legal Advice Line which is available 365 days a year our member are also covered for up to £50,000 for Legal Expenses for items such as Employment, Jury Service & Attendance Expenses, VAT, PAYE & NIC Investigations, to name but a few. This scheme is being run by Composite Legal Expenses Ltd and for full details of this benefit please contact The Chamber.
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Some of our members advertise in our annual diary and you can now view this online, the link is on our home page. Should you wish to advertise in our annual diary which is produced by Crosby Associates Ltd please contact them directly on telephone number 0151 476 6767.
January 2011
We are delighted to advise our members that WKCCI raised a fantastic £1650 for Pepenbury last year and the staff at The Chamber would like to thank you all for your generosity. It has been decided that Demelza House, the childrens hospice in Kent, will be our chosen charity for this coming year. It would be great if WKCCI could match the amount raised for Pepenbury or perhaps even better it! If you would like to find out more about Demelza House please visit their website at www.demelza.org.uk
We are delighted to advise our members that WKCCI raised a fantastic £1650 for Pepenbury last year and the staff at The Chamber would like to thank you all for your generosity. It has been decided that Demelza House, the childrens hospice in Kent, will be our chosen charity for this coming year. It would be great if WKCCI could match the amount raised for Pepenbury or perhaps even better it! If you would like to find out more about Demelza House please visit their website at www.demelza.org.uk------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT NEWS: RE THAMES GATEWAY CHAMBER
WKCCI are sorry to hear that Thames Gateway Chamber ceased trading on Friday 14th January 2011. We would like to advise that WKCCI are happy to assist all existing members of Thames Gateway in whatever way we can. With regard to export documentation, regretfully, the communication sent from the Board of Directors to Thames Gateway members omitted to include West Kent Chamber as a Chamber authorised to certify export documentation. WKCCI is a local Chamber based in Tonbridge who has been dealing with export documentation in excess of 20 years. Finally, WKCCI has been trading since 1858 and although a smaller local Chamber is very well supported by an active and thriving business community. Should you have any queries regarding the above mentioned please call Jackie Matthias or for export documentation Lorraine Webb or Jo Bailey on 01732 366653.
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Hospice in the Weald are holding a spectacular black-tie dinner at The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells on Friday 18th February 2011. This promises to be a fabulous night where you will be entertained by a host of celebrites including former cricket commentator, Henry 'Blowers' Blofeld . Should you wish to book a table for 10 or 12 people tickets are priced at £60 per person. For further information please click here.
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Just to let all our members know that M&N Communications, the company appointed by Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company on behalf of the Borough Council, have organised a presentation exclusively for our members to discuss the future of the Civic Complex in Tunbridge Wells. This event will take place on Monday 17th January 2011 from 5.30pm until 7pm at Calverley House, 55 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2TU. Should you wish to attend this event please e-mail M.Harper@mncommunications.co.uk by Thursday 13th January 2011. For full details of their communication please click here.
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