About Us
Meet the Team
Staff Team
Joe is our West Kent Coordinator. He also runs his own digital marketing business and is a past beneficiary of The Kent Foundation and is looking forward to helping more businesses succeed in Kent. Email joe@kentfoundation.org Tel 07944447832
Miranda joined The Kent Foundation in 2020. She also runs her own business that she started in 2018. She has lived in Kent her whole life and now currently lives in Faversham. Email miranda@kentfoundation.org Tel 07944447831
Daryl brings a passion for developing people and was inspired to start and grow his own business growth consultancy as a 20-something entrepreneur. Today he brings 20+ years experience helping organisations, entrepreneurs, and their teams to grow and scale their impact. Today he helps our charity fulfil a vision of growth and deepened impact on local entrepreneurs and the wider Kent economy.
Board of Trustees
Would you be interested in joining our Board of Trustees? We are currently looking for new board members. If this interests you and you would like to know more about the role please contact stuart@kentfoundation.org
Our History
The Kent Foundation was launched in 1985. The Rt Hon Lord Aldington who was the appointed board chairman invited Kent’s young entrepreneurs and the press to a reception in the grounds of Leeds Castle.
A need had been identified for business support for aspiring young entrepreneurs across Kent. The Kent Foundation was (and still is) a place for ambitious young business owners of Kent to express their business ideas and get the support to turn them into a reality and boost the economy of Kent through business creation, business startup and business growth.
Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure young people of Kent get the support they need to be successful in starting and growing a business, so contributing to the overall success of Kent.
The Kent Foundation is an essential part of the business community, supporting innovative young people to grow new enterprises, create employment opportunities, and contribute to the economic well-being of the County. Start-ups are essential to growing a successful economy and 2020 marks our 35th anniversary-everything we have achieved over the last 35 years has inspired, created, and successfully grown hundreds of new enterprises in Kent.
Monthly Newsletters
2019 March April May June July August September October November 2020 January February March April May June November December 2021 February 2023 January
Why we do it
“My mentor is one of the most inspiring, knowledgeable and compassionate people I’ve ever had the fortune of working with, and I am incredibly privileged to have her as a mentor. She lifts me up when I’m doubting myself – building my resilience and courage to keep on growing. We work not just on my business but we debate, we collaborate, we play with concepts and we work on my thought processes states and wellbeing. We connect on all manner of life issues, which has enabled me to have such a brilliant and successful first year of business. I leave my sessions with her bursting with energy, and ready to take action.”
Additional Services
KentBizFest
KentBizFest! is a business networking event that brings together the Kent business community to make a difference for the next generation of Kent’s business leaders! Come and meet some of Kent’s incredible young entrepreneurs, hear the stories behind their business successes and listen to how they see business in the future. Find out more about the support they receive from The Kent Foundation, and what it means to them. Plus so much more with space and time to catch up with friends and make new contacts. Next event 13th September 2023 Find out more HERE
Business Start-up Workshops
These workshops are designed to enable and equip business start-ups to achieve success. The content is packed with practical tips and tools to help get their businesses up and running. What makes a successful business? How do you get it off the ground? and do the sums add up? We will unpack the skills, knowledge and attitudes it takes to run a business, and how to get organised. We will explore are they heading in the right direction, and where do they want to be in 5 years? what needs to be prioritised? Marketing, do they know who their customers are? How to create sales opportunities, value added, and maximising business opportunities that come your way. and more! If you would like to know where we are currently delivering these workshops, or you would like us to deliver them for your organisation, please contact us for more information.
Engaging with Enterprise Workshops
Do you work in education, and would like your students to learn more about business? We have developed a wide range of interactive, explorative and confidence building workshops designed for school, college and university students. These workshops will develop entrepreneurial and enterprise skills which includes business planning, management and leadership, creative thinking and communication skills to name a few. As well as the opportunity to develop new skills it is also a great way to promote and encourage students to consider business as a career option. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information, all our workshops can be tailored to suit your needs.
Looking for business advice and mentoring?
Check out our handy guide to see if you are eligible for support from The Kent Foundation, and what we can do to help startup or grow your business.