Successful fi rst half of 2020

›Blenheim SUCCESSFUL FIRST HALF

It goes without saying that the fi rst six months of 2020 was unlike any other. However, despite the challenges thrown up by the Covid-19 pandemic, Surrey based Land & Water has had an exceedingly strong fi rst half of the year.

From landmark projects to increased demand for habitat creation services and on-going investment in industry leading plant, Land & Water is on track for a successful year.

On the Isle of Man an exciting project to remove 32,000m 3 of silt from Peel Marina was launched in January 2020, with Land & Water at the helm of this important venture.

At Blenheim, Land & Water is currently undertaking essential works to the Grand Cascade Apron which feeds the lakes from the River Glyme, creating a new resin injection curtain wall.

Perhaps one of the most signifi cant projects has been Southmere Lake. It has seen the wider Group work collaboratively to provide cutting-edge

Chalk, a new digital community for Eastbourne, has just launched online. This new initiative has been brought to life by custom software agency Switchplane and aims to change perceptions of the Sussex town.

Open to anyone who’s into anything “digital” in the local area, the network’s goals are to increase the number of digital businesses in the area, provide a supportive network to help grow local talent, and therefore make it easier for digital companies in the town to recruit.

Originally intended to be launched as an in-person conference this spring, Chalk has moved online and will initially take the form of an email newsletter and a podcast series focusing on › Peel Marina

plant and specialist operatives, an experienced project delivery team and the ecological expertise of Terraqua Environmental Solutions. This large urban lake is part of an ambitious £45m project to regenerate Thamesmead, creating new homes, offi ces, shops and restaurants in an area which will

The new Silicon Valley?

be named ‘Southmere Village’. Sussex business owners, their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and its eff ects on their companies, including the shift to digital.

The fi rst series of the podcast Chalk Talks will be rolled out across all usual podcast streaming channels from the beginning of July, with new episodes on a weekly basis. The series includes conversations between Garry James, Head of Marketing at Switchplane, and representatives from Towner Eastbourne, The English Soap Company, Rathfi nny Wine Estate, Pure Arts Group, and Exclusively Eastbourne holiday cottages.

Plans for Chalk started last summer and were borne out of discussions between the local MP, council, and other digital businesses in Eastbourne.

In brief

Running for heroes Three friends have raised almost £4,000 for a charity for NHS workers, by running 115km from Dover to Otford.

Joel Sanders, from Reigate, accompanied by friends James Ellenger and Luke Woodards, of Gomshall and Dorking respectively, took more than 20 hours over a weekend in June to complete the equivalent of almost three marathons.

They decided to take on the challenge to show their support to HEROES, which since being set up by NHS staff at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak has raised more than £1 million for projects to safeguard the welfare and wellbeing of NHS workers.

The trio are continuing to raise funds on the back of their run: www.gofundme.com/ f/201km-northdowns-help-them-help-us

Record turnover A logistics company with headquarters in Kent has reported a record turnover, achieving a target set last year to break through the £200 million mark.

Europa Worldwide Group, based at Dartford, was delighted to report a 16.5% growth of £205 million for the year ending 31 December, 2019, a year of huge investment, including the acquisition of part of the assets of Menzies. Other investment during the period included £250,000 in refi tting its Birmingham site as part of a company-wide estate improvement and a large investment in Brexit preparations, including more than £2 million in its Dartford transit warehouse to increase racking capacity by 75%.

450 years in business A law fi rm’s celebrations for a major anniversary have had to be put on hold during the pandemic, but work has gone on under diff erent conditions.

Thomson Snell and Passmore, which passed its 450th anniversary in July, has been offi cially recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest law fi rm in operation.

It was originally founded in 1570, by Nicholas Hooper, a curate of the Tonbridge Parish Church in Kent, who undertook a range of work including will writing and conveyancing. Today, the fi rm’s lawyers are still supporting individuals and businesses from across the South East with similar services.