At a glance

Get Ahead Kent & Sussex has been shortlisted for the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2026 in the Micro Business Category. Founded by Hazel Hall in 2024, the company provides flexible, specialist support to SMEs and charities in Kent and Sussex, helping them access expertise without the cost of permanent staff. This recognition highlights the company's impact on local businesses and its role in fostering collaboration through initiatives like the Get Connected networking events.

Get Ahead Kent & Sussex is delighted to have been shortlisted for the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2026 in the Micro Business Category. Organised by the TN Awards Company, the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding businesses and businesspeople helping Tunbridge Wells to thrive. Get Ahead Kent & Sussex helps SMEs and charities across Kent and Sussex access flexible, specialist expertise in HR, marketing, business support and administration, without the cost and commitment of employing permanent staff.

Hazel Hall founded Get Ahead Kent & Sussex in 2024 to help SMEs and charities access the expertise they need to grow, without the cost and overheads of employing permanent staff.

“The inspiration came from my own career,” said Hazel. “For 18 years I worked for a manufacturing and engineering company, holding leadership roles across customer service, marketing and HR. During that time, the business grew from 30 to 90 employees and turnover rose from £3 million to £13.5 million. As part of the leadership team, I saw firsthand how transformative the right expertise at the right time can be. Later, working in the charity sector, I saw the opposite challenge. Organisations desperately needed specialist skills but lacked the budget to recruit permanent staff, but they still needed support to grow, improve efficiency and achieve their goals. That experience convinced me that outsourcing could bridge the gap. It lets organisations bring in experienced professionals only when they need them, making expertise affordable, flexible and accessible. I built my business around that idea: giving SMEs and charities the skills they need to move forward with confidence.”

Since founding the business, Hazel has built awareness, earned trust and shown local businesses the value that flexible, outsourced support can bring. This year, she launched Get Connected, a free networking initiative bringing local businesses together, encouraging collaboration and sharing knowledge. Following its success in Tunbridge Wells, Get Connected has also launched in Maidstone and Orpington and welcomed over 500 attendees across 24 events.

“I am so pleased to have been shortlisted for the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards,” commented Hazel. “Thank you to The TN Awards Company, the Judges and sponsors, and well done to all the other finalists. I am looking forward to the awards night and celebrating the best of Tunbridge Wells businesses.”

The winners will be announced at a black-tie awards evening at the Assembly Hall Theatre on 10 November, the highlight of the Tunbridge Wells business calendar.

Rebecca Newenham, Founder of Get Ahead, added, “I am so proud of Hazel. She is doing an incredible job for her local business community, growing her Get Ahead business and Get Connected networking events with Metro Bank. She thoroughly deserves this recognition. I will be keeping everything crossed for the awards night.”

Get Ahead offers nationwide business support services, enabling companies of all sizes and sectors to get ahead. From bookkeeping to blogging, database management to design, social media to sales strategy and telephone answering to translation, their team of over 80 highly skilled virtual business experts delivers support on an hourly, project or ongoing basis.

Editorial insight

Recognition in local business awards can offer smaller firms valuable visibility and credibility within their communities, particularly for those operating in competitive service sectors. For micro businesses, shortlisting in a regional awards programme often highlights not only commercial progress but also engagement with the local business ecosystem.

While the practical business impact of such recognition may be modest, it can support networking, client acquisition and brand trust, especially among SMEs and charities looking for cost-effective support solutions. The inclusion of a free networking initiative also suggests a focus on community-building, which can be a differentiator in markets where access to affordable expertise remains a challenge for smaller organisations.

Story ideas and journalist angles

Local/community

Networking Initiatives Boost Local Business Collaboration

A look at the impact of Get Connected, a free networking initiative by Get Ahead Kent & Sussex, on local business collaboration in Tunbridge Wells and beyond.

Target audience local-news Story potential 6/10 Industry trend

The Rise of Flexible Work Models in SME Support

Exploring how the increasing reliance on flexible and outsourced business models is transforming support for SMEs and charities, particularly in regions like Kent and Sussex.

Target audience business-finance Story potential 7/10