Kentec Draughting Services · Established 1972
About Kentec
Drawing on more than 50 years of construction experience
Kentec has been part of the construction industry in Kent since 1972.
From our beginnings with draughtsmen working at drawing boards in pen and ink to today's AutoCAD drawing office, the tools have changed considerably. What hasn't changed is the principle on which the business was built: understand what the client needs, produce good work and provide a service that makes them want to come back.
More than five decades later, Kentec remains an independent, specialist business based in Snodland, Kent, providing Planning and Building Regulations, technical drawing and printing services to homeowners, builders, developers, contractors, consultants and organisations throughout Kent, London, the South East and beyond.
From Drawing Boards to AutoCAD
Kentec was founded in Snodland in 1972 by John Booker.
This was long before CAD transformed the drawing industry. Technical drawings were produced by skilled draughtsmen working manually at drawing boards, using pen and ink to create the accurate construction information their clients required.
As technology changed, Kentec changed with it.
Drawing boards gave way to computers and AutoCAD, but the construction knowledge behind the drawings remained just as important.
That combination of traditional draughting experience and modern technology has shaped the business Kentec is today.
The Next Generation of Kentec
Managing Director John Tomlin joined Kentec as a junior more than 20 years ago.
Starting out working on M&E drawings, John progressed through the company, gaining experience across the different areas of Kentec's work and developing the broad construction knowledge that now underpins the business.
When founder John Booker decided to retire in 2014, he wanted the company he had built to continue.
Having developed through the business from junior draughtsman onwards, John Tomlin was well placed to take Kentec into its next chapter and acquired the company from its founder.
Since then, Kentec has retained the experience, relationships and personal service on which its reputation was established while progressively modernising the business.
The offices, equipment, systems and services have all developed significantly under John's ownership, ensuring Kentec continues to meet the needs of today's homeowners and construction industry.
A Small Team With a Lot of Experience
Kentec is deliberately a small business.
Today, we're a close-knit team of four. John has been with Kentec for more than 20 years, while the other members of the team each bring close to a decade of experience with the company.
Being a small team means we don't divide every project between layers of departments, account managers and administrators.
John handles the majority of client correspondence personally, supported by a team accustomed to working across different aspects of the business.
For our clients, that means accessible people, straightforward communication and continuity throughout a project.
Construction Knowledge That Goes Beyond the Drawing
Software can produce a drawing. It can't replace experience.
Kentec's background spans Planning and Building Regulations, architectural and construction drawings, M&E services, structural steelwork and fabrication.
That breadth of experience gives us a practical understanding of how buildings are put together and how drawings will ultimately be used by the people carrying out the work.
For professional clients, that means you can talk to us in construction terms. We understand what builders, contractors, consultants and fabricators need from technical information.
For homeowners, we take the opposite approach where appropriate.
We don't expect you to understand planning terminology, Building Regulations or construction drawings before you contact us. We'll explain the process in straightforward language, help you understand what's required and guide you through each stage.
Built on Recommendation
The strongest measure of our reputation isn't what we say about ourselves. It's where our next project comes from.
Today, we estimate that around 90% of Kentec's work comes through recommendations, word of mouth and existing customers.
Many builders, developers and M&E contractors have worked with us for more than 10 years, with some client relationships stretching back considerably further and continuing from before the current ownership of the company.
Those relationships have been built through a combination of quality, reliability, practical knowledge, fair pricing and personal service.
Put simply, we aim to do good work, deal with people properly and give clients a reason to use Kentec again.
Planning & Building Regulations Specialists
Although our experience extends across several areas of technical drawing, Planning and Building Regulations are at the heart of Kentec today.
We work with homeowners, builders and developers on projects ranging from individual extensions and conversions through to residential and commercial developments.
Our involvement can begin with the initial site survey and an idea of what the client wants to achieve.
From there, we can develop the drawings, prepare and submit the Planning application, liaise with the local authority, produce the detailed Building Regulations package and manage the Building Control application.
Kentec has also worked in partnership with Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council through the LABC Partner Authority Scheme for more than 10 years, supporting our Building Control work across different local authority areas.
The objective is to give our clients one experienced point of contact who can help move their project from an initial idea towards construction.
Proud to Be a Kent Business
Kentec was established in Snodland in 1972 and Snodland remains our home today.
Our local roots are important to us.
We work extensively throughout Kent, London and the South East, while services such as M&E and steelwork drawings can also be provided to clients elsewhere in the UK.
More than 50 years after the company was established, we're proud that a business which began with drawing boards and pen and ink on paper is still here in Snodland — still producing drawings, still working with the construction industry and still serving some client relationships that span generations of the business.
The technology may have changed. Our commitment to doing the job properly hasn't.
Talk to Kentec
Whether you're a homeowner considering your first building project, a developer looking for Planning and Building Regulations support, a contractor requiring technical drawings or simply need something professionally printed, you'll deal with a small, experienced team that understands what it does.
Tell us what you need and we'll let you know how Kentec can help.
Contact KentecEstablished in Snodland, Kent in 1972.
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