Business figures in Tunbridge Wells have united in a bid too boost the town's fortunes.

The Tunbridge Wells Works campaign aims to help drive office investment and tenancies and save the high street.

It comes amid much grumbling from the town after it was put into Tier 3 - along with the rest of the county - despite the borough having lower than average Covid infection rates.

Those behind the campaign want to establish the spa town as the "best home office from home" business hub for global corporates opening satellite offices and for the surge in new new businesses expected after the pandemic subsides.

The group is led by Royal Tunbridge Wells Together - the organisation delivering the town's Business Improvement District (BID) , with support from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Markerstudy, Locate in Kent, Thomson Snell & Passmore, Cripps PG, Logistics UK and creatives Calvermont, Studio 44, GingerMay and Southpaw.

A key issue they are promoting is an appeal for developers to focus on flexible office space provision for the growing number of start-ups and businesses in the town.

Ross Feeney, CEO of Tunbridge Wells Together says: “Our TW Works campaign has three main strands and an extra objective: Firstly, to appeal to big corporates who have workers in the area that are no longer travelling to London five days a week, to support their wellbeing and life balance, helping them to work efficiently, to be successful and closer to home.

“Secondly, to attract and support local businesses, entrepreneurs and sole traders who want to work closer to home but cannot be at home while doing business. A home office from home, if you like.”

“Thirdly, we are convinced that the current system of exploiting permitted development rights to convert commercial premises to small residential flats is not fit for purpose for TW, so we would like to explore the option of favouring flexible office space instead.

“Last but not least, we want to reinvigorate our high street. Since Tunbridge Wells was caught in Kent’s Tier 3 status, it is now more important than ever to ensure that we are curating places that encourage a mix of work, live and play. Nowhere represents this better than Tunbridge Wells. In addition, we are campaigning for business rates exemption on behalf of our retail and leisure businesses, joining forces with other BIDs to ask for more central financial support to businesses in Tier 3 areas, and supporting our local MP in his crusade to downgrade the tier of Tunbridge Wells.”

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