Accounting Workshop Trekking 50km to support Kent’s young people

Accounting Workshop based in Ashford to complete 50km trek across the Peak District to raise money for The Kent Foundation, a charity providing free business support for young people in Kent.

The accounting firm have chosen The Kent Foundation as their charity of the year after hearing charity Director, Paul Barron speak at a seminar. He described the importance of investing in future business leaders and the direct impact this has upon the growth of Kent’s economy.

Lisa Brown, Senior Partner of Accounting Workshop said:

“At Accounting Workshop we like to support a specific charity each year. This year we had decided on the event to challenge us but not the charity we would like to support. When my colleague Georgie and I attended a networking event at which Paul from The Kent Foundation was speaking, we immediately looked at each other and realised we had found the perfect charity for us. We like to support new businesses as much as we can and this charity helps young entrepreneurs to achieve their ambitions with mentoring and practical advice.”

Accounting Workshop Ashford
The Accounting Angels Left to Right: Lisa Brown – Senior Partner, Louwrens Vorster – Accounting Assistant and Georgina King – Accounting Assistant

Intrigued by the charity’s free business support on offer to Kent’s young people and being in business themselves meant that they could really relate and see the benefits the charity provides to a young person.

Paul Barron, Director of The Kent Foundation said:

“We are extremely fortunate to be supported by Accounting Workshop who provide accounting solutions for entrepreneurs. I met their Senior Partner, Lisa, at a business event in the spring and there was immediate recognition of the synergy between our two organisations. I’ve been to their offices in Ashford and there is a fabulous buzz. They are a vibrant and determined group of people to work with. I’d like to thank them for their support”

Accounting Workshop aim to raise £1,500 in support of The Kent Foundation. If you would like to donate please use the link below: www.charitychoice.co.uk/fundraiser/accountingangels/my-events

Woodfall Wealth Consultancy donates to support Kent’s young startups

Woodfall Wealth ConsultancyJames Woodfall, the owner of Woodfall Wealth Consultancy which is a Partner Practice of St James’s Place, has donated £1000 through the St James’s Place Foundation to Kent based charity The Kent Foundation.

St James's Place Wealth ManagementOn the 16th July James presented the cheque to Paul Barron and Liam Behn from The Kent Foundation, which provides free business support to Kent’s young people looking to start or grow their business.

James first found out about the charitable work of The Kent Foundation at an Institute of Directors event back in September 2014. Since then he has been a proactive supporter of the Foundation, including sponsoring a Golf Day in June 2015. He is also a sponsor for the upcoming Kent Foundation 30th Celebration in October and shares his business contacts to improve the charity’s profile.

Kent Foundation with Woodfall Wealth ConsultancyIn response to his donation, James owner of Woodfall Wealth Consultancy states:

‘Being a business owner myself, I recognise the importance of advice and mentoring in situations of troubles and isolation.  The Kent Foundation provides an invaluable support network to young people who are starting their own business.’

Paul Barron, Director of Kent Foundation shared his gratitude for the donation:Woodfall Wealth Consultancy with Kent Foundation

‘With such a generous donation from James we can continue to provide innovative Mentoring to the young entrepreneurs of Kent. The money will be used to train Volunteer Business Mentors who will offer 1-2-1 advice and guidance. Thanks to James our next induction training is scheduled for Autumn 2015.’

A Blast! creates a real buzz about business start-up in Kent

On Tuesday 10th June Kent Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs in partnership with The Enterprise Foundation hosted a whole day of business support activities in Maidstone under the working title ‘A Blast!’.

Wilkins Kennedy

The sequence of events kicked off with the Maidstone Business Breakfast, followed by two business start-up workshops all topped off with a large business networking evening to celebrate business in Kent.

The Breakfast was kicked off by guest speaker Paul Nixon, Wilkins Kennedy who told the audience:

“The most enjoyable clients I work with have to be business start-ups. I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing a seemingly small idea transformed in to something much bigger. Being a part of that process on the way is highly rewarding.”

More than 30 people who were looking at creating their own employment through starting a business attended workshops. A range of people attended from the unemployed right through to students from Mid Kent College who were considering their career options after their studies.

Amy McManus AM Marketing

To conclude the day young entrepreneurs, business start ups, established businesses and professionals from all across Kent joined a celebration of business at A Blast! The room was a real hive of activity with 10 young entrepreneurs exhibiting and three of them being interviewed on stage. Gemma Blacker – This Art of Mine kindly took charge of the stage to interview Amy McManus (below) and Lucy Hall of Kent Social Media.

Young entrepreneur, Amy McManus of AM Marketing expressed her gratitude on Facebook saying:

“What a great evening with some fantastic Kent businesses exhibiting! A fabulous event with the gang from Kent Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs. Some great businesses and people showing off their products and services!”

Philip Gearing of Foster Gearing the guest speaker for the evening spoke about his journey in business and how the support from Kent Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs back in 1990 spurred him on to never give up.

Philip Gearing Guest Speaker “It all started off at a small market one day where my business partner and I had sold next to nothing. But we learnt something special that day; never to be beaten. To always get back up again, never say no, try again and you will succeed”

Philip who is the man behind the WW1 memorial arch being opened by Prince Harry in Folkestone on 4thAugust this year went on to say:

 “Don’t be scared. I don’t think anyone is ever completely ready, so the moment to do it is now. If you don’t ask you don’t get. I remember calling up my first potential large client with a proposal to rebrand their business and what did they say – YES” 

None of these events would have been possible without the funding and support from Community First, Golding Homes, Wilkins Kennedy, Let’s Do Business Group, Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council.

 A picture says a thousand words…Click here to watch the event unfold in pictures thanks to Photographer Tom Phillips. 

Check out the young entrepreneurs that exhibited:

All of our services are provided free of charge to Kent’s young entrepreneurs, so if you would like to support our work please donate through Charity Choice.

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