In Person Networking is Back and Greener than ever!
People. Planet. Profit. The three pillars of sustainability, all of which were celebrated at the recent Kent Foundations showcase event KentBizFest! Over one hundred established business owners and young entrepreneurs descended on the Coachworks in Ashford on the 12th October for a night of inspiration, opportunity, and good old-fashioned face to face networking!
“…an insightful event offering inspiring advice and business opportunities for young entrepreneurs…”
The evening was compared by young entrepreneurs Carleigh-Ann Portelli and Claire Louise Portelli founders of Naked Frank Theatre and the main stage welcomed some of Kent Foundation’s inspirational young business owners and their mentors, as they shared how they got through the challenges of the last 18 months. Frazer Thompson from Chapel Down closed the event by sharing his very own career journey and words of wisdom for business owners new and old, but not before teaching us all in the art of sabrage – look it up!
“…thanks for putting on a super cool event and allowing young entrepreneurs to access a wide range of opportunities…”
Working with Reward Events, every action was taken to make the event as sustainable as possible – the branding was made from recycled ocean plastic, the name badges were printed on seeded paper and hung on lanyards made from recycled plastic bottles and together with Coachworks, a zero single use and zero waste to landfill policy was implemented.
Not only that, but in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals the event also showcased the true diversity at the heart of the Kent Foundation with Tawanda Chikurunhe of Nice and Easy Cleaning Ltd, Sophie Shepherd of Devoted Homecare Ltd and their Kent Foundation mentor Annabelle Webster joining the entrepreneurs discussion panel as well as Yofi Yvorra of Yo! Street Zone sharing his personal business journey. Gender equality was also honoured with an even male to female speaker ratio – something which is also further endorsed with 51% of the businesses supported by the Kent Foundation being female owned.
For many it was their first face to face live event since the pandemic and people were excited to meet new people and reconnect with old friends and colleagues in the marketplace, by the firepit – or at the bar where the KentBizFizz mocktails were flowing!
“Congratulations to the team who hosted a fantastic evening – my first in-person large scale event post-pandemic”
A fantastic evening celebrating young people in business in Kent – and all done sustainably!
“…it was great to see lots of new businesses and meet up with some familiar faces too…”
Want to know more about making your next event sustainable, or driving sustainability into your business? Speak to Danielle at Reward Events – danielle@rewardevents.co.uk
Finally, Thank you to The Frank Brake Charitable Trust for your support in putting this event on, it simply wouldn’t of happened without you.
Please watch the full presentations below