News
MAY 2013
Our member The Marketing Eye has recently opened a new office in Cheltenham. Headed up by Samantha Smith the new regional base will serve the South West and the Midlands region. For further details please click here
West Kent Chamber of Commerce has several charities as our members and details of their main events will be available on our website each month.
The Horder Centre in Crowborough is holding a free 'look after your joints' event on the 11th June. For more information please click here.
ChYps is holding an 80's night at The Spa Hotel on the 28th June. For more information please click here or visit their website http://www.chyps.org/howYouCanHelp/events/eventDetails.asp?iuid=16463184
Hospice in the Weald has many events organised throughout the year. To view their diary please click here or visit their website http://www.hospiceintheweald.org.uk/Fundraising/Events-Diary
APRIL 2013PRESS RELEASE: We are delighted to inform our members that Jonathan Smithers of CooperBurnett has been elected the Deputy Vice President of the national Law Society.I am sure that our members will want to wish him well in his new post and for his future appointment as President of the Law Society from July 2015.
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West Kent Chamber of Commerce has several charities as our members and details of their main events will be available on our website each month.
The Horder Centre in Crowborough is holding a free 'looking after your joints' event on the 30th April. For more information please click here.
The Tree of Hope is holding an event at the Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells on the 16th May where harpist, singer and jazz musician Magdalena Reising (www.magdalenareising.com) will give a 1-1.5 hour recital. Tickets are priced at £10 per person, £5 for concessions. For more information please click here. To obtain tickets please contact Tree of Hope www.treeofhope.org.uk or call 01892 535525.
MARCH 2013
A faster broadband service is on its way to Kent and Medway!
Kent County Council has announced that they have recently signed a contract with BT to build this network. This will mean that at least 95% of all properties in Kent will have access to higher-speed fibre broadband by the end of 2015. With every property in the project area having access to a broadband service of at least 2mbps and a minimum of 91% of premises will get superfast broadband of at least 24mbps. For more information please click here
FEBRUARY 2013
The 30th Lifestyle Renault Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon is on Sunday 24th February this year and The Mayoress, Mrs Rebecca Smith, has kindly agreed to taking part. You will be able to spot her donning a green tutu and waving pom poms! The Mayoress will be raising money for her chosen charity, Hospice in the Weald, www.hospiceintheweald.org.uk
The Tunbridge Wells Marathon is one of the most popular in the South of England attracting 2,800 entrants and sells out well before the event (by January 5th this year). Famed for the scenic and challenging route (the 300 foot ascent of Spring Hill at Fordcombe is to be mentioned), meticulous organisation, value for money and friendly marshals, it was voted the 'Most Improved Race in the UK' in 2009 and was voted the No.2 Half Marathon in the UK in 2011 by “Runner's World” readers. It is one of the biggest events in the UK organised by a running club and Tunbridge Wells Harriers are very proud to have hosted the event for 30 years. Over the last 4 years the race has also donated over £65,000 to charity and some worthy local causes directly from race profits.
Supporting the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, Race Ambassador Richard Whitehead will be there to start the 2013 race.
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Skinners' Kent Academy does Dragon's Den! On the 7th March SKA's year 7 students will be given a taste of the business world in order to stretch their abilities as much as possible. Should any of our members wish to volunteer at this event then please contact Richard Powell, Vice Principal Business & Projects, The Skiners' Kent Academy on telephone no. 01892 556821/01892 534377. For further information please click here
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Some of our long standing members will remember Alison Morton who moved to France a couple of years ago. Well Alison has been busy whilst in France and we are delighted to announce that she has written her first novel. INCEPTIO is being launched on the 12th March at Waterstones in Tunbridge Wells. Should any of our members which to attend this event please click here for further details.
JANUARY 2013
A very happy and prosperous New Year to all our members! It has been decided that Hospice in the Weald will be our chosen charity of the year for 2013 and we look forward to working with them throughout the year. For further information on The Hospice in the Weald please visit their website www.hospiceintheweald.org.uk
NOVEMBER 2012
PRESS RELEASE: Warners' young talent scoop double awards at a prestigious black-tie event held on 16th November at The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells. To read the full press release please click here
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Active Digital Communications is hosting a Winter Technology event on Thursday 13th December at The London Golf Club at Brands Hatch. This promises to be a fun event and all our members and their guests are welcome to attend. Special guests include Steve Backley along with several England rugby players. There will be a longest drive competition against the longest drive champion, Joe Miller. For further information please view http://www.activedigital.co.uk/event/winter-technology-event/
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Our member o2 is holding a 'Priority Moments' event on Wednesday 21st November at their shop situated at 46 High Street, Tonbridge from 5pm until 7pm. For further information please click here or contact Rob Groocock on 07803 861019 or e-mail him at rob.groocock@retail.o2.com
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We have received the following communication on behalf of the Highways Agency advising of the progress of the current/recent roadworks on the A21 in our area.
We have successfully completed the A21 Medway Viaduct Refurbishment works on time. Work continues on the A26 Quarry Hill Viaduct Refurbishment work, and on the A21 Pembury Drainage works. Drainage work on the phase 1 dual carriageway section of the Pembury bypass is due to be completed by Sunday 11 November. Work on phase 2, the single carriageway section between Castle Hill and Longfield roundabout, is due to start from Monday 12 November. Work will be carried out overnight between 8pm and 6am subject to appropriate volumes of traffic flows. On five nights from Monday 12 November, it will be necessary to close both carriageways between the Vauxhall Lane interchange and the A228 junction. Road users will follow a fully signed diversions route via Five Oak Green Road and the A228 at these times. For approximately 20 nights there will be lane closures in place with temporary traffic lights and a 40mph speed limit in place, weather permitting. If you require copies of the diversion route maps please contact the customer care team via email area4@bbmmjv.com or telephone 0845 6000 414.
OCTOBER 2012
Some of our members may already be aware that Loch Associates have recently opened a new office in Brighton. In order to celebrate Loch Associates is hosting a party on the 8th November at the Havana Restaurant & Bar from 6pm until 9pm. If any members wish to attend please RSVP to rsvp@lochassociates.co.uk or for further information please call 01273 311855.
AUGUST 2012
With more and more people returning to the workplace after a diagnosis of cancer, Macmillan Cancer Support have created in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development an Employers toolkit so that companies can be better educated and prepared to adapt to this reality.
Macmillian are now looking for a few high profile Kent Companies to integrate the toolkit into their HR processes. Please click here for more information.
MAY 2012
Can you spare 5 minutes and vote for The Horder Centre in Crowborough in order for them to secure a top 20 place in Laing's Healthcare awards this year? The Horder Centre has already been been listed in Laing's Healthcare top 45 organisations who are the most powerful organisations operating within the independent health and social care sector today.
Vote by the 31st May 2012 at http://www.hordercentre.co.uk/questionnaire/vote.html
Spokesperson for The Horder Centre said 'We feel truly proud of the contribution The Horder Centre makes to advancing health and making a difference and feel it is an honour to have our endeavours recognised'.
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As most of our members are aware, or certaintly the ones who attend our Business Exchange Evenings and lunches regularly do, that long standing member Peter Reeves of Arena Pursuits supplies our events with his Award Winning Arena Gold & Arena Black fruit juices free of charge. Should you wish to purchase any of these fruit juices Peter has kindly offered Chamber members a discount which includes free delivery to Tunbridge Wells. For more information on this offer please click here.
APRIL 2012
On the 8th & 9th May why not pop along to Arlington Bluebell Walk and Farm Trail to enjoy this delightful setting and to see an abundance of bluebells in full bloom. There is a choice of eight walks and all proceeds over both days are going to Demelza House Childrens Hospice. Tickets are priced at £4 adults, £3.50 seniors, £1.50 children and £10 families. For more information please visit www.bluebellwalk.co.uk or to find out more about Demelza House please visit www.demelza.org.uk
If you are a cricket fan then pop the 23rd August in your diary as the the famous Lashings World X1 are taking on a team from ChYps in order to raise money for this wonderful charity. This event is being held at The Mote Cricket Club in Maidstone and regular tickets and Corporate Hospitality tickets are available from Isobel Kerry on Tel. No. 01322 221315 or via e-mail isobel.kerry@chyps.org For more information please click here.
London Olympics 2012
We are delighted to announce that, in conjunction with Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and with the support of the following sponsors Arena Pursuits Ltd, Brolley ,Cooper BMW - Tunbridge Wells, Genesa Limited, Hilden Park Accountants Ltd McDonalds, Warners and Waitrose, we are hosting a drinks reception at Tonbridge School on the 24th July from 6.30pm until 8.30pm for the Australian, Belarus & Ukraine Olympic athletes who will training in Tonbridge. Full details of this event will be available after Easter so please save this date in your diaries. Due to security tickets will be strictly limited to West Kent Chamber members and their guests. Please contact The Chamber on 01732 366653 or e-mail info@wkcci.com if you wish to provisionally book as spaces will be limited.
March 2012
Kent County Council's Sustainability Team are co-ordinating an online business network, the South East Business Carbon Hub. The network brings togerther like-minded businesses and provides FREE services to improve the environmental performance of each business.
Services include:
- Industry specific advice/environmental review.
- Workshops
- Environmental certification (STEM)
- Sustainable travel advice
- Environmental awards
- And much more
Membership is FREE and open to all small and medium businesses (less than 250 employess). To join please e-mail carbon.hub@kent.gov.uk
EVENTS
• Economic driver training - 26-30 March 2012 - Across South East
• STEM Workshop - 17 April 2012 - Brighton
• STEM Workshop - 8 May 2012 - Lewes
• STEM Workshop - 22 May 2012 - Lewes
• STEM Workshop - 23 May 2012 - Brighton
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Are you fed up with the speed of your broadband connection? Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is committed to securing better broadband for the parts of the Borough where provision is poor. Kent County Council has prepared a Local Broadband Plan to secure government funding to improve broadband speeds across the County. The target contained in the plan is that 90% of homes and businesses will have superfast broadband acess (25Mbps) by 2015 and the remaining 10% have access to a service of at least 2Mbps.
In order to achieve this ambition investment by broadband providers is needed. The greater the demand the more willing broadband providers will be to invest in high speed infrastructure. Please register at www.makekentquicker.com
Should you wish to discuss this matter further feel free to contact Hilary Smith, Economic Development Manager at TWBC on 01892 554433 or via e-mail hilary.smith@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
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ChYps Children's Hospice is holding an evening of 'Fashion and Style' at Salomans in Southborough on Wednesday 21st March. This promises to be a fun event whilst supporting a fantastic charity which does some wonderful work in Kent. Tickets are priced at £15 which includes a glass of wine and nibbles. For more information please click here.
After running a extremely successful all day workshop in January our member Ditto Office Services Ltd is running another workshop on the 20th April 2012. This is being held 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 £179.00 + VAT per person (if you book before the 1st April). For futher information on this workshop please click here or call Hannah Griffin at Ditto directly on telephone number 01732 456944
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K College's students are show casing their designs at a Fashion Show being held at Hyundai in Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 15th March. All proceeds are going to Demelza Hospice for Children. Tickets are priced at £8 (in advance) and £10 (on the door) and are available from fashionshow@twmotors.co.uk or by calling 01892 520026. For further information on this event then please click here.
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We have the perfect opportunity for you to dress up for the night and enjoy champagne cocktails, canapes and perhaps a lucky throw of the dice. Halliwell Care Home is hosting a Casino Night on Saturday 24th March which promises to be a fun filled event. Tickets are available at £25.00 per guest. Please click here to download the booking form and for more information
February 2012
Calling all fitness fans K College are hosting a networking breakfast with a difference 'sweatworking'. On the 6th March you can enjoy an energising spin class followed a healthy breakfast and the chance to meet some like-minded business individuals. To book your free place contact Antony Goodger at K College on telephone number 08000 858 554 or e-mail him at antonygoodger@kcollege.ac.uk as soon as possible as places are limited. For further information on this event then please click here
Long standing member AXA PPP Healthcare based in Tunbridge Wells have chosen chYps Children's Hospice as its charity of the year for 2012. Many of our members will have met the fundraising team from chYps as they have recently joined our Chamber and we are delighted that they have secured the support of AXA PPP Healthcare for this year. Please click here to view AXA PPP Healthcare's press release or for further information on chYps please vist their website www.chyps.org
January 2011
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.