Font® Scientific Ltd. is a global leader in breath analysis, with over 49 years of experience in the design and manufacture of medical devices. The innovative medical technology company, based in Harrietsham, was proud to receive Compassionate Workplace accreditation from Heart of Kent Hospice, in partnership with Compassionate Communities UK, in December 2025.
Compassionate Communities UK is a UK charity dedicated to embedding compassion in everyday life, including the workplace. The charity works with a range of organisations, helping employers to ensure they operate in a compassionate way for staff dealing with bereavement, death and loss or those who may be dealing with a terminal illness themselves.
Heart of Kent Hospice, a hospice charity providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care for adults and their families, carers and loved ones, supports employers in the region with the tools and confidence to have compassionate conversations about end-of-life, loss and bereavement in the workplace. They were delighted to award Bedfont® with Compassionate Workplace accreditation in December 2025.
Bedfont’s commitment to becoming the first accredited Compassionate Workplace is a powerful statement. Recognizing the reality of grief, caring and serious illness, they set a new standard for what a truly supportive employer looks like. Prioritizing compassion at work will make a significant difference to staff and their families across our community.”
David Dadswell, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Heart of Kent Hospice
Having supported the hospice since 2023, sponsoring the Bluebell Walk flagships and the Shaun the Sheep trail, Bedfont® joined Heart of Kent Hospice for a roundtable discussion to identify areas where the hospice could provide support, such as signage and providing education. During the accreditation process, it was highlighted that certain areas of the business required improvement and the lodge then delivered a group training focused on these areas.
After completing the assessment, Bedfont® became the first business in Kent to achieve Compassionate Workplace status, underlining the company’s commitment to providing an environment where every member of staff feels valued, supported and heard.
“Receiving Compassionate Workplace accreditation is a very important milestone for us.” Said Jason Smith, CEO of Bedfont Scientific. “As the first organization in Kent to achieve this recognition, we feel proud and responsible for leading by example. At the heart of our organization are people and we believe that work should be a place of understanding, dignity and care, particularly in life’s most difficult moments. This accreditation reinforces our commitment to creating a culture where compassion is embedded in our leadership, our everyday policies.”
Already committed to employee welfare, Bedfont® has strengthened its offerings for staff, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to approach difficult conversations and support those dealing with bereavement or terminal illness.
