Your Hair Hub
A Ramsgate-based hair salon has completed specialist mental health training with local charity East Kent Mind, becoming the first salon in Ramsgate to take part in the charity’s Salon Ambassador training.
Your Hair Hub, based at the Marlowe Innovation Centre, joined East Kent Mind’s Ambassador Project after owner Jo Holden completed both the Community Ambassador training and the salon-specific programme.
The training enables salon professionals to recognise signs of anxiety and depression, listen empathetically, and confidently signpost clients to appropriate mental health support. By completing the programme, Your Hair Hub is now part of East Kent Mind’s growing network of trained local businesses supporting community wellbeing.
The Ambassador Project is supported by Ramsgate Town Council, which is encouraging more barbers, salons, tattoo studios and beauty businesses across the area to access the free training and ongoing support.
Your Hair Hub has previously supported East Kent Mind by taking part in campaigns including Mental Elf and Wear It Blue during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Speaking about the training, Jo Holden said: “As a salon, we talk to our clients every day, and sometimes those conversations go deeper than hair. This training has given us the confidence to listen properly and know where to direct people if they need further support. We’re proud to be supporting East Kent Mind.”
East Kent Mind works across the district to promote positive mental wellbeing and reduce stigma by working in partnership with local organisations.
For more information about the Ambassador Project, email [email protected].
Kent Women in Business Awards
Thanet can boast 13 finalists in this year’s Kent Women in Business Awards.
Finalists
Karen Brinkman – Thanet Femnale Founders
Molly Stephens – Weddings at Quex
Miranda Vernon – Pretty Petal Cake Co.
Sally Jane Martin – Bun in the Oven Cakery
Manda Nicholls – HR Solve It
Judith Andrews – Business Tamer Ltd
Emma Kluibenschadl – STAK.life CIC
Michelle Smith – Liberty College
Charlotte Silver – Silvers Showbar
Suzanne Johnson – EJ’s Pursuits Ltd
Shannen Lythgoe – Shannen Lythgoe – Photographer
Karen Dawkins – WraithMaille
Emilee Dexter – Elsie’s Tiny Tot Adventures
The awards ceremony takes place on 6th March at The Ashford International Hotel.
Broadstairs Business Club
Broadstairs Business Club is marking its 10-year anniversary by opening its doors to the wider business community with a special Open House Breakfast on Thursday 26 March at The Pavilion, Broadstairs.
The one-off morning event is designed to give local businesses an insight into how the club operates, what it stands for, and why it has remained active and relevant for a decade. Unlike traditional networking events, the Open House is intentionally relaxed, with no pitching, no pressure to join, and no hard selling.
The morning will include breakfast, open networking and a series of short presentations highlighting the club’s work in the local community, charity involvement and links with education. Speakers will include representatives from STAK.life, the Mayor of Broadstairs and the Principal of Broadstairs College alongside others.
Broadstairs Business Club is a not-for-profit organisation that operates a one-business-per-sector model, helping maintain a balanced and supportive network. While some sectors are already represented, interest from new businesses is very much welcomed and noted.
The Open House Breakfast will run from 7:30am to 12:00pm, with tickets available via Eventbrite.
Ticket sales close on 19 March to allow organisers to finalise catering and numbers.
Event details: Wednesday 26 March, 7:30am – noon, The Pavilion, Broadstairs
Tickets and further information can be found at:
http://bbc-openhouse.eventbrite.co.uk/
Frankies on the Beach Ramsgate
Frankies on the Beach will be giving one lucky customer per month a short stay treat to London between April with a whopping Med mini-cruise to the final winner in September.
The attraction plans to reopen between this month and next – weather dependent- and will be giving out tickets to all its customers. The winner will be announced at the end of each month.
Frankies at the Beach, which already has venues in Camber and Rye, is known for gourmet burgers, German and English hotdogs, bacon rolls and more.
It has scooped local business and Tripadvisor awards, including being named as the UK’s number one ‘quick bite’ outlet, and racked up hundreds of five star reviews.
The venture is owned by Frankie Fernando, who also has the Gourmet Sausage and Burger tram in Canterbury and a venue in Folkestone as well as a fleet of Frankies Ices ice cream vans.
The dad-of-seven, originally from South London, took on the site and the children’s funfair and deckchair hire last year.
Some 12 years ago his business gave away a Caribbean cruise and now he wants to repeat the holiday gifts.
He said: “I thought it would be a nice thing to do for the locals.”
Stagecoach South East
An outstanding 210 Drivers from Thanet bus operator, Stagecoach South East, have been recognised for their exceptional driving standards and dedication to road safety, throughout 2025.
Driver safety specialists GreenRoad monitor the performance of drivers across Stagecoach South and award a ‘Fleet Elite’ status to drivers who demonstrate sustained driving excellence, as evidenced by outstanding safety scores and displaying true mastery of the driving profession.
The aim is to inspire a continued focus on road safety and offer a source of pride for drivers who help improve passenger and driver safety, reduce risk, and save lives.
In total, 92 local drivers have reached ‘Grand Master’ or ‘Master’ Fleet Elite status for having maintained the highest standards of safe and fuel-efficient driving for 10 and four years. In fact, 5 of Stagecoach South East drivers achieved a perfect GreenRoad rating of zero for the entire year!
Joel Mitchell, Managing Director of Stagecoach South East, said: “These are really impressive result that show how much effort our teams have put in to ensure we run a safe and smooth bus service each and every day. Huge congratulations to everyone who has achieved Fleet Elite status!
“As a bus operator, the safety of our staff and passengers is our number one priority, so I am extremely proud that such a huge number of our drivers have been recognised for their driving excellence.
“We know that our customers rely on us, so we cannot get things wrong when we are out on the road. Our drivers continue to demonstrate their commitment to achieving the highest standards, day in day out.”
KCC Suppliers Day
Kent County Council (KCC) held a sell-out conference to support local businesses to work to supply services which benefit residents.
The Supplier Day was held on Tuesday 27th January at Detling Showground, near Maidstone, and it was the first opportunity experts had to present the KCC’s new Commercial Strategy 2026-2028 to leaders of businesses operating in the county.
The plan maps out how the council plans to use the £1.47bn of third-party contracts. Covering everything from social care services for vulnerable people to managing potholes on Kent’s roads, the strategy aims to get the best value for Kent council taxpayers from every pound spent.
Opened by KCC’s Leader, Linden Kemkaran, the main stage sessions included the importance of having Kent suppliers, a look behind the curtain at how doing business with KCC works and an introduction to the Procurement Act.
There were also focused breakout sessions so sectors could meet the buyers, understand how to build efficiency and resilience into contracts and understanding the benefit of having social value and supporting new talent in the business world.
KCC’s Leader, Linden Kemkaran, said: “With more than 700 tickets booked and more than 300 businesses represented, our Supplier Day brought together a wide range of organisations to hear how they can help get the best value out of every pound we spend delivering for the people of Kent.
“From caring for our most vulnerable residents to making sure we have the materials we need to keep Kent’s roads moving, our Commercial Strategy has it all covered with an approach will mean communities see real results.
“Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the day such a positive and impactful event.”
