

BUSINESS RESPONDS TO THE CHANCELLORS LACK LUSTRE BUDGET
Nick Paterno, Managing Partner at McBrides Chartered Accountants in Sidcup, said: “The Chancellor’s Budget speech was heavy on jokes but light on measures to support the business community. The OBR’s forecasts for growth were revised down significantly from the March…

UNIQUE POSITION DRIVES GROWN IN KENT AND MEDWAY
Affordability and accessibility to London and Europe are driving strong growth in key commercial sectors in Kent and Medway, according to the Kent Property Market Report 2017. Produced by Caxtons Chartered Surveyors, Kent County Council and Locate in Kent, the…

INTEREST RATES RISE FOR FIRST TIME IN A DECADE
The Bank of England raised the Bank Rate to 0.5pc today; this watershed moment heralds the first rate rise in more than a decade. Commenting on today’s interest rate rise, Nick Paterno, managing partner of McBrides Chartered Accountants, said: “Whilst widely promoted…

MAIDSTONES SEAN TASKED WITH TURNING UNDERPERFORMING SME’S AROUND
Business Doctors, the national support service for small and medium-sized businesses, has opened a brand new operation for Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. Describing its offer as ‘somewhere in between consultancy and coaching’, the company provide hands on support to owners of…

CT TRAVEL GROUP ACQUIRES PATHFINDER TRADE AND INVEST
The successful working partnership between CT Trade Missions and Pathfinder Trade and Invest has been further strengthened following Pathfinder’s acquisition by well-established Tunbridge Wells travel company, and parent company of CT Trade Missions, CT Travel Group Ltd. Pathfinder Trade and…

BUILDING SUCCESS IN UNPREDICTABLE TIMES
As the UK comes to terms with the uncertainties arising from Brexit and a hung parliament, businesses in Kent are being urged to attend this year’s Agile Business Conference, which will be focusing on building success during unpredictable times. Hosted…

GETTING THE BEST FROM BREXIT
Kent companies must make their views known if the county and country are to make the best of Brexit. That was the conclusion of a seminar jointly hosted by Kent’s leading law firm, Cripps, and Canterbury Christ Church University. The…

FRENCH FIRM CONTINUES INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION WITH SUPPORT FROM CRIPPS
Law firm Cripps has helped French accountants H3P continue its expansion into the UK with the purchase of London-based Barber & Co LLP. This is the second UK acquisition Cripps has advised the international accountancy practice on in three years.…

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO HELP HOUSING CRISIS
The government should strongly consider reducing Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), allow development on suitable areas of Green Belt land and reduce red tape if it is to increase the pace of housebuilding. That was the widely held view of…

Small Business Confidence Rebounds In The South East
Small business confidence has recovered in the South East despite increasing operating costs, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB’s) latest quarterly Small Business Index (SBI). The SBI, which reflects how firms expect to perform over the coming…

COUNTY WELL PLACED TO SURVIVE BREXIT UNCERTAINTY
Kent’s commercial property market has evolved significantly over recent years reaching a critical mass that leaves it well placed to weather the uncertainty over the UK’s future relationship with Europe, according to the Kent Property Market Report 2016. Produced…

CRIPPS GAINS BREXIT BUSINESS INSIGHT
A new survey of more than 200 senior decision makers in South East businesses has given insight into their priorities in the aftermath of the EU Referendum on 23 June. A clear majority (62 per cent, rising to 72 per…