Josh Wilson interview:
For George Wilson Holdings, East Kent is not a new opportunity. It is where the business was built, and where it continues to invest with confidence. That connection goes back to the 1970s, when Josh Wilson’s grandfather moved down from London with a washing machine parts business and set up in Sittingbourne. A move to Whitstable followed, and with it, an unexpected turning point.
“The building we bought was too big, so it got split into units,” Josh explains. “When he started selling those units, he realised how well it worked, and that’s really where development began.”
What started as a practical solution quickly became the foundation of a new direction. More than 40 years on, the company now owns and manages 12 business parks across East Kent, with a growing pipeline of sites, including within the Canterbury district.
A defining feature of the business is its decision to stay local. While others have expanded across regions, George Wilson Holdings has kept its focus tightly within East Kent. That is not by accident. The company manages all of its estates in-house, and proximity is a key part of making that work.
“If there’s an issue on an estate, we’re only ever 20 or 30 minutes away,” says Josh. “That means we can deal with things quickly. People know who to call.”
It is a simple approach, but one that tenants value. It also reflects a longer-standing philosophy.
As founder George Wilson puts it, “We’ve always stayed close to what we’re doing. That’s how you keep control of it.”
That thinking continues to shape the business today, and explains why it has never felt the need to look much further afield. The decision to keep investing in East Kent is not just about familiarity – it is grounded in the fundamentals of the area as a place to do business.
Costs are a big part of that. Compared with London, land and construction are more affordable, and business rates are generally more manageable. At the same time, connectivity is strong, with excellent road links across the area, High Speed 1 providing quick access to the capital and Dover offering a gateway to Europe.
But for Josh, the appeal goes beyond the numbers.
“It’s a good place to live,” he says. “We see a lot of people moving down here and bringing their business with them, or starting something new.”
“We see a lot of people moving down here and bringing their business with them, or starting something new.”
That lifestyle offer is becoming increasingly important, particularly for smaller businesses and owner-operators.
“You can be in the woods in the morning, on the beach in the afternoon, and in London in the evening. That’s quite hard to beat.”
It is a combination that continues to draw people and businesses into the area, and one that underpins the company’s confidence in future demand.
George Wilson Holdings has built its portfolio around smaller, flexible units, typically around 1,000 sq ft, often with mezzanine space. It is a format that reflects how many businesses in Kent operate.
“We sell a lot of these units to small businesses,” says Josh. “They might start with one, then take the one next door as they grow. It happens all the time.”
That incremental growth is a key part of the model. Rather than committing to large space upfront, businesses can expand as they need to, staying within the same location. For George, it has always been about supporting that journey.
“You’ve got to supply everybody, from a small business right through to the bigger operators,” he says. “That small firm can turn into something much bigger over time.”
There is also a practical advantage. By spreading space across multiple occupiers, each site is less exposed to the risk of a single large tenant leaving.
“If one company goes, you’ve still got others there,” George adds. “It’s much more stable that way.”
That thinking is now being applied to the company’s latest schemes, including Hawthorn Corner near Herne Bay. The site sits directly off the A299, with access in both directions, something Josh sees as a major strength.
“With sites like that, you’re straight onto the dual carriageway,” he says. “You’re not pushing traffic through residential areas, and that’s a big advantage for businesses.”
The development will include a mix of small industrial units, starter units, leisure space in the form of Padel courts, EV charging infrastructure and food and drink. Much of the first phase is already committed.
“Phase one is effectively spoken for, which shows the level of demand we’re seeing,” Josh says.
Once complete, the scheme is expected to support around 250 to 300 jobs and generate significant business rates for the local area.
For George, it is a familiar pattern.
“You take a site that’s not doing anything and turn it into something that supports businesses and jobs. That’s always been the aim.”
While demand remains strong, the process of getting schemes built is becoming more complex.
“I’ve never known it as hard as it is now to get something from concept through to delivery,” says Josh. “There are hurdles at every stage.”
Planning, particularly around highways and ecology, can slow progress, and requirements can shift as schemes move forward. That said, the company has built strong and constructive relationships with local authorities across East Kent, including Canterbury City Council, which helps keep projects moving and provides a level of certainty in an otherwise challenging process.
At the same time, what occupiers are looking for is evolving.
“We’re seeing more demand for height, more flexibility, more parking,” he says. “And sustainability is now expected, not optional.”
In response, the business has started to go beyond minimum requirements in some areas, for example installing EV charging points across all units, rather than just a proportion.
Even so, both George and Josh are clear that the underlying demand for space has not gone away.
“People still need to make a living,” says Josh. “That doesn’t change.”
George, drawing on decades of experience, takes a similar view.
“We’ve been through difficult periods before. Things slow down, but they don’t stop.”
There is also a personal element to the story. Like many who grow up in the area, Josh once expected he might end up in London.
“I thought I’d go there and build a career, but after spending time there, it just wasn’t the same,” he says.
Instead, he returned. “You’ve got the benefits of London if you want them, but day to day, it’s a much better place to be.”
It is a pattern he sees repeated often, and one that continues to feed into the local economy.
For George Wilson Holdings, the case for continuing to invest in East Kent is not complicated. It is built on experience, not speculation.
“It’s good value, it’s well located, and there’s demand for the kind of space we’re delivering,” says Josh.
George’s view is even simpler.
“Stay local, build for people, and think long term. That’s what’s worked for us.”
After more than 50 years in the area, that approach continues to shape the company’s investment in Canterbury district and beyond.