July Business Newsletter

The inaugural TW.FutureBiz Conference is to be held in Royal Tunbridge Wells, delivered by RTW Together Business Improvement District. The event is intended to provide businesses with insight into emerging trends and developments expected to affect operations, workforce and growth over the coming years. 

A programme of 14 speaker sessions across two stages has been scheduled, covering a diverse range of topics including retail trends, employment law, artificial intelligence, and much more. 

The event is taking place at Tunbridge Wells Town Hall on Thursday 17 September from 9:30am. 

Tickets are £37.50 (excl. VAT) for non-BID members; £15 (excl. VAT) for BID members.

Further details are available at the link below.

Amplifi is hosting a fully funded, in-person Carbon Literacy Training session for Tunbridge Wells businesses to help reduce emissions and utility costs. 

Delivered by B Corp-certified experts at Grain Sustainability, this interactive training bypasses vague theory to provide practical operational frameworks. Participants will learn how to:

• Cut emissions by 5–15% through immediate, low-cost operational changes. 
• Formulate 2 concrete carbon-reduction action pledges. 

Through completion of the course, participants will secure a high-value, UN recognised, professional accreditation for their team. The training is taking place from 9:15am to 5pm on Wednesday 8 July, at Tunbridge Wells Town Hall, TN1 1RS. There are only a few slots remaining for this training (maximum of 2 per business). 

To secure your place, send the names and email addresses of your attendees to jenny@yoyodesign.com.

This training is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Kent and Medway Growth Hub is hosting a free online course to develop early-stage businesses. The two-day course will provide the tools, knowledge and confidence to transform ideas into successful businesses. 

The course will cover: 

• Developing business ideas 
• Understanding customers and markets 
• Building a practical business plan 
• Exploring finance and funding options 
• Laying foundations for long-term success 

This course, designed for those starting out or who have recently launched businesses, is taking place online from 10am to 3pm on 8 and 9 July.

Invest West Kent is a partnership between Sevenoaks District Council, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, working together to strengthen the local economy by supporting businesses, attracting investment, and promoting West Kent.

Over the past three years, the West Kent Business Support Programme has supported more than 900 businesses. The West Kent Expo has also become the programme's flagship event, bringing businesses together from across the region.

The three partner councils remain committed to supporting businesses and driving sustainable economic growth across West Kent. Following a competitive procurement process, Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) has been appointed to deliver the West Kent Business Support Programme for 2026-2027. 

The new programme launched on 1 July 2026, offering free business support to SMEs across Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells through mentoring, workshops, networking and expert advice. For further information, please contact enquiries@investwestkent.com.

West Kent Expo 2027 will take place on Wednesday 10 March 2027 at the River Centre, Tonbridge. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!

Are you a local employer looking to upskill your team? Then look no further than the Kent Adult Education Skills Bootcamps. 

These Skills Bootcamps are 90% funded by the Department for Education if you are a small or medium-sized employer (fewer than 250 employees), and 70% for larger employers. 

There are courses for a range of sectors including: 

• Creative 
• Health and Social Care
• Construction
• Early Years/School
• Agri-Food

The Love Where We Live Awards are the Council's annual community awards, offering an opportunity to celebrate what makes Tunbridge Wells great. You can nominate in 10 different categories covering a range of community initiatives, charities, and people.

Businesses can be nominated for the 'Green Business' category, which is for organisations that are committed to having a positive impact on the local community and environment.

The awards are open for nominations until Sunday 2 August.

If you know someone aged 18-24 who is considering their future career, this event is one to recommend!

The Invest West Kent authorities (TWBC, Tonbridge & Malling BC, and Sevenoaks DC) are hosting a Youth Employment support event in partnership with JobCentre Plus. The event is taking place from 10am-2pm on Wednesday 15 July 2026 at The Angel Centre, Tonbridge. 

The event is open to drop in for FREE and is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Visit Tunbridge Wells has launched a campaign to attract local and county-wide visitors to the area this summer. The ‘Summer of Fun’ campaign highlights all of the upcoming events in Tunbridge Wells including outdoor theatre, live music, and exhibitions, plus much more.

Find a copy of the guide at Tourist Information in The Amelia Scott, in the customer service at Royal Victoria Place or online at visittunbridgewells.com

To promote your events and be involved in the campaign please contact visit@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

Visit Kent recently shared the opportunity to join 300+ attractions, restaurants and bars across the country on the National Rail’s Days Out Guide, the home of rail rewards. By offering a 2FOR1 discount to customers travelling by train, your business will receive a free dedicated listing on daysoutguide.co.uk, all participating train company websites and feature in their campaign e-newsletters, social media and more. 

Southeastern’s 2FOR1 Summer campaign will inspire thousands of potential visitors to choose Kent for their next visit and will benefit from promotion across both Visit Kent and Southeastern channels. The campaign highlights the great offers you can get, simply by travelling by train. 2FOR1 offers are facilitated by National Rail’s Days Out Guide and you have the opportunity for your business to be part of this, a fantastic way to reach new audiences.

Any questions? 

Contact the Economic Development team at TWBC.

Email: business@tunbridgewells.gov.uk