Shining a spotlight on local business success
Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine hosts its first awards on December 17 which will celebrate our thriving local business community. Here we profile just a few of the businesses who have entered so far. The deadline to enter is November 1 so make sure you head to our website to be in with a chance of winning one of these coveted awards…
It’s no secret that Tunbridge Wells is a hub of business brilliance but now is the time for us all to celebrate the unique and diverse companies who have chosen this town in which to operate.
From leading law firms and expert finance companies, to independent retailers, property entrepreneurs and a prolific hospitality scene, there are so many dynamic businesses to salute and celebrate.
The awards are open to all and entries are open till November 1 so be quick if you want to be in with a chance of winning. All you have to do is head to our website www.twbusinessmagazine.com and fill in the form. For every entry received £10 will be donated to our chosen charity Taylor Made Dreams.
Dee Airey is our headline sponsor and she told us why she is so excited to be a part of this inaugural event celebrating business brilliance: “I’m so thrilled to be headline sponsor and involved in this incredible event, along with fellow business owners across town who are sponsoring and on the judging panel. For a magazine so young, the involvement of so many business owners shows just how invested we are in support of each other. With 11 categories to enter, now is a great time to rubber stamp your business and be in with the chance of winning one of these well-earned awards.”
Dee is also on the judging panel alongside Pam Loch, founder of Loch Associates, Rob Brophy, Angel Investor, Andy Evans, investor, mentor and co-owner global content agency Eleven, and Siobhan Stirling, MD of Sharp Minds Communications.
With categories designed to highlight everything from innovation and growth to customer service and sustainability, the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards promise to be a showcase of talent, determination and local enterprise at its finest. Here are the testimonials from just some of the many businesses, both large and small, fledgling and well-established, who have entered so far…
Zorba Meze Grill
Tell us a little bit about your business:
Zorba Meze Grill is a family-run restaurant in Tunbridge Wells, offering authentic Mediterranean and Turkish-inspired cuisine in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. We take pride in combining fresh, high-quality ingredients with traditional recipes, creating a dining experience that celebrates both flavour and community.
What do you believe makes it stand out in your sector and area of expertise?
We focus on more than just food – it’s about the full experience. Our mezze-style dining encourages sharing and connection, while our open grill and fresh cooking set us apart from typical high-street offerings. We’ve built a loyal local customer base by delivering both authenticity and hospitality.
How did you find out about the
TWBM awards and what made you want to enter?
We learned about the awards through local business networks and social media. As an independent business deeply rooted in Tunbridge Wells, we wanted to celebrate our journey and highlight the role that small businesses like ours play in shaping the town’s identity.
What are the benefits of entering an awards event such as this?
It’s a fantastic way to showcase our hard work, gain recognition within the community, and connect with other local businesses. It also motivates our team to keep striving for excellence.
“We want to highlight that small businesses like ours play in shaping the town’s identity”
What does being part of the local business landscape mean to you?
It means everything. We are proud to contribute to the cultural and social fabric of Tunbridge Wells, not just as a restaurant, but as a gathering place where people come together to enjoy food, celebrate, and create memories.
If you win, how will you celebrate and thank your team?
We would celebrate the achievement together as a family, treating our team to a special night of food, drinks, and laughter – the very things that represent what we do best.
The Divorce Survival Coach
Tell us a little bit about your business…
I’m Arabella Paul, founder of The Divorce Survival Coach which is based in Tunbridge Wells. I work with individuals navigating separation and divorce, helping them manage the emotional, practical and often overwhelming aspects of this life transition. With a background in the City, I combine lived experience with professional training to provide empathetic, structured support that helps clients rebuild confidence, stability and a positive vision for the future. Alongside one-to-one coaching, I also collaborate with law firms, financial advisers and mediators, and run community and workplace wellbeing initiatives.
What do you believe makes it stand out in your particular sector and area of expertise?
Divorce coaching is still a relatively new field in the UK, and I’m one of the few coaches bringing it into both community and corporate wellbeing spaces. My edge is credibility – I spent almost a decade in investment banking and three years in executive search, so I understand high-pressure industries and the cost to businesses when staff are struggling with personal crises. Combined with my own lived experience of divorce, I bridge the gap between legal, financial and emotional support, offering a safe, non-judgemental space where clients feel understood and empowered.
“I felt these awards were the perfect platform to showcase the impact of divorce coaching”
How did you find out about the TWBM awards and what made you want to enter?
I heard about the awards through local networking circles and the magazine itself. I wanted to enter because these awards shine a spotlight on the diverse and vibrant businesses in Tunbridge Wells. As someone who has built a practice rooted in both professional expertise and community support, I felt it was the perfect platform to showcase the impact of divorce coaching and how it benefits individuals, families and employers.
What category have you entered and please tell us the reasons why?
I entered the Start-Up of the Year category because I launched my business in 2024 and have already built strong foundations, from trusted referral networks with lawyers and financial advisers to speaking opportunities, community events and corporate collaborations. I wanted to show how a new business can establish itself quickly, make a positive impact and carve out a distinct place in the local landscape.
What are the benefits of entering an awards event such as this?
Entering is a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness of what divorce coaching is and how it can help. Awards like this bring visibility, credibility and connections, not just to potential clients, but also to local businesses who may want to support their employees. It’s also a chance to celebrate growth, innovation and resilience in the Tunbridge Wells business community.
What does being part of the local business landscape mean to you?
It means everything. After building a career in London, I’m proud to have rooted my business in Tunbridge Wells and to be part of such a dynamic and supportive network. I love collaborating with other local businesses, from family lawyers to stylists to wellbeing practitioners, and contributing to the community spirit that makes this town thrive.
www.thedivorcesurvivalcoach.com
The Spa Hotel
What do you believe makes The Spa Hotel stand out in your particular sector?
The Spa Hotel has a long-established history in Tunbridge Wells and has built a reputation for consistently high standards across accommodation, dining, events and leisure. Our mix of traditional elegance and modern comfort, combined with a strong focus on customer service, allows us to deliver a reliable and memorable experience for all our guests. We believe our new Wellness Suite sets us apart by offering something completely new to the area.
“Our successes are down to every single member of staff”
What category have you entered and please tell us the reasons why?
We have entered the Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Business of the Year category. Over the past year we have invested significantly in a new Wellness Suite, which has quickly become a popular addition for guests, members and local residents. We have also continued to grow our events business, from intimate weddings to larger celebrations, as well as events for the community such as SummerFest 25 – a family-friendly festival that brought people together on a large scale. We remain committed to providing a trusted place to stay, dine and celebrate.
What are the benefits of entering an awards event such as this?
It’s a chance to highlight the work we do and the effort of our team. Recognition through awards can also help raise our profile locally and support future growth. But also, buying back and engaging locally within the community is always a good thing.
What does being part of the local business landscape mean to you?
We value being part of the Tunbridge Wells community. Building connections with other local businesses and supporting the local economy is really important to us. We also aim to collaborate with other businesses and charities wherever possible, hosting events and donating regularly to local causes.
If you win, how will you celebrate as a team?
We celebrate our team regularly at The Spa Hotel, as our successes are down to every single member of staff. Winning this award would be a wonderful recognition of their hard work, and we would certainly do something special to mark it together.
DGC Security
What do you believe makes your business stand out in your particular sector and area of expertise?
I’m David Coleman, founder and Managing Director at DGC Security. We stand out by combining innovation with integrity. We’re now an ELCAS-approved training provider, supporting the armed forces community, and we’ve built an online learning platform that makes high-quality training more accessible. Our partnerships with respected brands, from local businesses to Ferrari and Rolls Royce, also highlight the trust in our service.
How did you find out about the
TWBM awards and what made you want to enter?
I discovered the awards through the local business network, and I wanted to enter to showcase how far we’ve come as a business, particularly in supporting both the local community with employment opportunities and training courses, and others in the armed forces.
“We stand out by combining innovation with integrity”
What category have you entered and please tell us the reasons why?
I have entered Entrepreneur of the Year. Building DGC Security from the ground up has allowed me to utilise my skills from teaching and my time as an elite athlete (competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics). Setting up training centres and expanding into online learning, as well as forming strong partnerships, represents the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our success.
What are the benefits of entering an awards event such as this?
It’s a fantastic way to gain recognition, raise awareness of what we’re doing, and celebrate the achievements of local businesses who are all contributing to growth in Tunbridge Wells.
What does being part of the local business landscape mean to you?
It means everything. We’re proud to work with and support local companies, helping each other grow while contributing to the strength of the Tunbridge Wells business community.
If you win, how will you celebrate and thank your team?
I’ll be celebrating with my team, as none of this is possible without them. We’ll mark the achievement together and use it as motivation to keep pushing forward.
Penhurst Properties
Thank you for entering our inaugural awards. Let’s start with you telling us a little bit about your business…
At Lonsdale Gate we offer flexible office solutions to suit a range of businesses, from independent start-ups to international B-Corps. This includes fully serviced offices, communal areas, gym facilities, specialist networking events, professional meeting spaces and virtual office packages.
What do you believe makes it stand out in your particular sector and area of expertise?
As an independent, family-run business, our commitment is to provide a truly flexible and personalised service. We understand that no two businesses are the same and take the time to understand the individual needs of each client, whether they are a start-up, an established company, or a virtual office user.
“To be considered alongside such an amazing array of local talent is a win in itself”
How did you find out about the
TWBM awards and what made you want to enter?
As a regular contributor to the magazine, we’re frequently blown away by the quality of local businesses featured each month. The publication’s ethos for supporting local business and entrepreneurs is to be celebrated – and what better way than an awards ceremony! We couldn’t wait to enter our business and be considered alongside our peers.
What category have you entered and please tell us the reasons why?
We’ve entered the Best Team category. We’re delighted to be staffed with a fantastic blend of backgrounds (teaching assistants, displaced Ukrainians, TV producers, former horse groomers). The centre is grounded with a solid foundation in customer service and real-life problem-solving.
What are the benefits of entering an awards event such as this?
To be considered alongside such an amazing array of local talent is a win in itself. Entering the awards helps keep the centre current and in the mind’s eye of the public. We’ve got lots to offer the local community.
If you win, how will you celebrate
as a team?
One of the team runs a local Irish music night, so we’d likely celebrate with a few pints of the black stuff!
Step3 Digital
Please can you tell us a little bit about your business…
Step3 Digital was founded in 2016 but really got going in 2020 when I was able to focus on it full-time. We design, build and support WordPress websites. The real difference with Step3 though, isn’t what we produce, it’s that our team of developers are all products of the apprenticeship scheme. We work with an apprenticeship partner in Leeds to provide a highly focused Level 4 Software Development qualification. This happens from day one of employment and the opportunities don’t end there – we also have an apprentice who has gone on to study Level 6 Software Engineering with our new partner, Teesside University. We currently have a 100% record of Distinction passes and aim to continue that, helping to define Step3 as a centre of excellence and offering opportunities that are extremely rare outside London.
What do you believe makes it stand out in your particular sector and area of expertise?
We work exclusively with WordPress – this means the work we do and the support we offer is fast and high quality. The quality in the end product is so important to me, particularly in ensuring the website meets the brief and does its job, and we regularly hear from new clients that our process is nothing like what they’ve experienced in the past. Our process allows for flexibility and collaboration but is well defined to keep everyone on track through to the end without any surprises.
What category have you entered and please tell us the reasons why?
Employer of the Year. The people in Step3 are far more than great resources – they are Step3. Giving every person the opportunity to grow and develop is as important as the products we design and build.
If you win, how will you celebrate and thank your team?
My team knows the mission I’m on very well and they’re used to me telling them how important they are, but winning this award would be another special milestone and we’ll celebrate with a lunch, a few drinks or maybe another team Padel afternoon!
HOW TO ENTER THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS BUSINESS AWARDS:
For more information on how to enter the Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine Business Awards head to our Awards Page or email hello@twbusinessmagazine.com
TW Business Magazine Awards 2025 categories include:
Best Employer sponsored by TN Recruits
Outstanding business sponsored by Thomson Snell & Passmore
Startup of the year sponsored by
Berry & Lamberts
Team of the year sponsored by
GFHR Consulting
Entrepreneur of the year sponsored by Synergee
Best large business sponsored by
Cooper Burnett
Best SME sponsored by Thackray WIlliams
Lifetime award sponsored by
Thomas Mansfield
Sustainable business sponsored by Cripps
