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KENT ENTREPRENEUR WINS AWARD FOR UK ’ S ‘ SMALLEST AND GREATEST ’ FIRMS
Club Hub UK , a business from Swanley has been crowned Britain ’ s Best Digital Small Business at The Small Awards . Club Hub is the UK ’ s largest kid ’ s activities directory for antenatal to 18 years , with a free website used by millions of parents and carers that supports thousands of children ’ s activity providers across the UK . Launched in 2017 and run by Small Business Britain , The Small Awards is the UK ’ s leading champion of small businesses , supporting all 5.5 million small businesses in the UK no matter their location , their sector or their ambition level .
Club Hub UK won the award , which recognises small businesses that operate only through digital channels , celebrating their uses of customer engagement , innovation in web design and functionality , and growth in audience over time . Owner Tessa Day , who founded Club Hub UK in 2016 , was awarded at a sparkling celebration event in central London , hosted by presenter , writer , actor and comedian , Sue Perkins .
“ Congratulations to Club Hub UK , who impressed our team and judges with their story of drive and innovation , and dedication to their community ,” said Michelle Ovens CBE , founder of Small Business Britain and The Small Awards .
£ 100,000 BOOST TO INTRODUCE ‘ ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS ’ TO KENT WOODLAND
Thanks to the generous support of the Veolia Environmental Trust , Kent Wildlife Trust has received funding to help them connect rural areas , allowing ‘ ecosystem engineers ’ to change the landscape .
West Blean and Thornden Woods in Canterbury are home to the award-winning Wilder Blean project , initiated by the charities Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust . This project aims to introduce ecosystem engineers - animals who shape the habitat around them , boosting biodiversity and making the landscape more climate-resilient . They are a nature-based solution to woodland management and through their unique behaviours of debarking , dust-bathing and browsing , they bring light to the forest floor and help wildlife to thrive .
DEMELZA ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF A NEW CELEBRITY AMBASSADOR
Anna-Jane Casey ( AJ ), actor and musical theatre star , has been announced as a celebrity ambassador for children ’ s hospice charity , Demelza .
Hayley Richardson , Demelza ’ s deputy chief executive , said : “ We are absolutely delighted to welcome AJ on board as a celebrity ambassador . She has been a huge support to us over the last four years , raising awareness of what we do as well as funds and we cannot wait to work with her in the future .”
AJ was approached by Robin Cousins , Olympic figure skating gold medallist and good friend , to run the London Marathon back in 2021 in aid of the charity . Calling in favours from their talented friends , AJ and Robin planned to produce Love is in the Air , a musical extravaganza in Ramsgate where Demelza officially welcomed AJ as an ambassador . The event featured show-stopping performances from Olivier-award winner and former Eastender , Jenna Russell , West End stars Amy Lennox ( Cabaret , Opening Night ), Shannon Taiwo ( The Lion King ), Christina Bianco and Kim Ismay .
The Love is in the Air event raised over £ 5,000 , which is only the beginning of the incredible support AJ promises for Demelza in the coming years .
The Veolia Environmental Trust has been supporting community and environmental projects through the Landfill Communities Fund for over 25 years . In that time , the trust has invested in local projects from nature reserves to skateparks , working alongside partners such regional Wildlife Trusts and community groups .
Caroline Schwaller MBE , chair of the Veolia Environmental Trust , said : “ Our grant will help reduce the need for human intervention and management of this woodland . It will utilise renewable energy through solar panels and improve public walking routes , allowing both nature and people to flourish in unison .” www . insidekent . co . uk • 183