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. To learn more about franchising opportunities with Get Ahead, contact Rebecca at rebecca@getaheadva.com or 01483 332220 for a copy of their free franchise prospectus.