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November Business Newsletter |
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Here is your monthly business update from the Economic Development Team at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
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In this edition: - West Kent Business Support Programme and Expo 2027
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Climate Action Survey
- Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Budget Survey
- Grants for Boiler Upgrades Available to Businesses
- UK Government Grants Support Workplace EV Charging
- Digital Marketing That Works - FREE Workshop with Kent and Medway Growth Hub
- Recover Pivot and Scale - FREE Business Support Programme from Kent and Medway Growth Hub
- Small Business Saturday and Webinar Series from Small Business Britain
Visit Tunbridge Wells - Join our Water Refill Scheme
- Don't forget to get involved with our Christmas Content!
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Invest West Kent offers free Business Support Programme and 2027 Expo |
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Invest West Kent is a partnership between Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, and Sevenoaks District Council focussed on enhancing the economic development of the region through localised business support and event coordination.
Working with Greenwich Leisure Limited, Invest West Kent offers the West Kent Business Support Programme. This provides free one-to-one mentoring to eligible small businesses and sole traders across Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells. |
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The flagship West Kent Expo returns on Wednesday 10 March 2027 at The River Centre, Tonbridge, bringing together businesses, support organisations and the wider West Kent business community.
Over recent years the West Kent Expo has been well received by returning businesses:
“It’s brilliant to reconnect with people we’ve met in previous years, connect with new people and have some fascinating conversations.”
To find out more about mentoring, exhibiting at the Expo or other programme opportunities, contact westkentbusiness@gll.org. |
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Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Climate Action Survey |
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Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is currently collecting responses to the annual Climate Action Survey. Local residents, business owners and operators are invited to complete the survey and share their thoughts on Climate Action.
Responses will help TWBC understand residents' awareness, attitudes and behaviours relating to climate change, sustainability, energy efficiency, nature and transport. They will help shape future council services, communications and support programmes.
The survey is open to entries until 30 November 2026. You can complete the survey by clicking the link below. |
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Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - 2026 Budget Survey |
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Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is inviting residents, businesses and local interest groups to share their views on its proposed budget for 2026/27.
The Council is seeking feedback on spending priorities and how it can increase income or reduce costs while maintaining essential services. Businesses are encouraged to take part and help shape future decisions affecting the borough. The consultation runs between 5 December 2026 and 5 January 2027.
Further information about last year's survey is available at the link below. |
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Grants For Boiler Upgrades Available to Businesses |
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The UK Government is supporting businesses with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. This scheme enables businesses to apply for a grant of up to £9000 to financially support the upgrade of fossil fuel boilers to Biomass Boilers or Heat Pumps in owned properites.
To access the funding, you need to receive a quote from a Microgeneration Certification Scheme installer. To proceed, inform the installer, and they can apply for the grant which will contribute to the cost of the upgraded system. |
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Workplace EV Charging Grants |
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Businesses can benefit from the Workplace Charging Scheme offered by the UK Government. Grant funding of £500 per chargepoint socket is available to support the installation of EV infrastructure and adoption of electric vehicles. Applications to the scheme close on 31 March 2027.
If your business is considering trialling an EV or transitioning towards an EV Fleet, this is the perfect opportunity to secure grant funding to support your rollout and reduce upfront costs before the scheme closes permanently. |
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Digital Marketing That Works - FREE Workshop with Kent and Medway Growth Hub |
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Kent and Medway Growth Hub is offering a FREE Digital Marketing workshop to businesses looking to improve their online presence and attract more of the right customers.
This is a practical workshop session with Paul Temple from Maidstone Digital, designed to help small and medium-sized businesses understand where to focus their time and effort online.
The workshop is taking place from 10am-12pm on Tuesday 24 November. Businesses can attend ONLINE. The session is also available to attend in person at The Business Terrace, King Street, Maidstone, ME15 6JQ |
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Recover, Pivot & Scale - Enhanced Business Support Programme from Kent and Medway Growth Hub |
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The Recover, Pivot & Scale Programme offers free expert support to established Kent businesses ready to grow, improve productivity, increase sales or explore new opportunities.
The programme provides access to experienced advisers who will help you identify priorities, overcome challenges and develop a clear, practical road-map for sustainable growth. The support offers guidance and external perspectives, and is catered to businesses planning their next phase of expansion or looking to strengthen their resilience.
Eligible businesses must: - Be based in Kent
- Have been trading for at least 3 years
- Employ a minimum of 7 staff
- Have an annual turnover of at least £250,000
Interested businesses can find out more and apply at the link below. Be sure to review the full eligibility criteria before submitting your application. |
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Small Business Saturday and Webinar Series from Small Business Britain |
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Small Business Saturday is taking place on 5 December and is a celebration of small businesses all across the UK. Businesses can find out more here.
Small Business Saturday is hosting a FREE Webinar series over the coming weeks. Running from 2nd November to 2nd December, Monday to Friday at 11am, this year's webinars are hosted on Zoom and are designed to help your business.
The sessions will cover essential topics including marketing on a budget, time management, finance and AI. These will be full of information from experts. |
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Join our Water Refill Scheme |
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Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is partnering with Refill Return to help position the borough as a sustainable, welcoming destination for residents and visitors alike. We're inviting businesses across the borough to join the free water refill scheme, offering customers and passers-by the opportunity to refill their water bottles at no cost.
By taking part, your business can help reduce single-use plastic waste, support environmentally friendly habits, and contribute to a greener community. Participating venues often benefit from increased footfall too, with many refill users choosing to browse, shop, eat or make additional purchases while visiting.
As a Refill station, you'll receive a window sticker to display and your business will be featured on the Refill app, helping people easily find and visit your venue.
To sign up or get more information contact visit@tunbridgewells.gov.uk |
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Don't forget to get involved with our Christmas Content! |
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With Christmas around the corner, remember to send your Christmas events to Visit Tunbridge Wells.
Our website pages are already receiving thousands of visitors looking for things to do over the festive period, so don’t miss out on the promotional opportunity.
To feature, send your events or activities to visit@tunbridgewells.gov.uk |
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Follow us on Social Media! Instagram: visit_tunbridgewells Facebook: Visit Tunbridge Wells |
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Tunbridge Wells Business Show - Brilliant Business Thursday 5 November 10am - 3pm Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2LU Network and connect with influencers and industry leaders from across Kent. See the event page for further information. Guests can attend for FREE. All stands are sold out. Find out more and reserve your place.
West Kent Business Connections - FREE Networking Tuesday 10 November 10am - 12pm Stag Theatre, London Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 1ZZ Network and make connections with organisations including the Kent & Medway Growth Hub, Invest West Kent, Produced in Kent, Social Enterprise Kent and the West Kent Chamber of Commerce. Find out more and reserve your place.
BNI Royal Spa - Business Networking Thursdays 5, 12, 18, 26 November 6:30am - 8:30am The Old Auction House, Linden Park Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5QL Guest tickets £25, with breakfast included. One person from each professional specialty is allowed in each BNI chapter. Find out more about BNI Royal Spa and reserve your place. |
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