FUNDING, ADVICE AND 1-2-1 MENTORING AVAILABLE THROUGH DARTFORD’S YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS SUPPORT PROGRAM

Budding entrepreneurs in Dartford can now access expert support and the chance for a grant to help make their business dreams a reality, thanks to a new scheme launched by the Kent Foundation and funded by Dartford Borough Council.

This program is open to anyone aged 18 to 30 who has a business idea, or is already trading and wants to grow their company. The program provides workshops, support tailored to their business needs and full access to the Kent Foundation’s business mentoring service. Those who sign up will also have an exciting opportunity to make a Dragon’s Den style pitch to access a small business grant to help these entrepreneurs get off the ground.

The Kent Foundation is a charity that provides support, guidance and mentoring to young people aged 30 or under who are interested in starting and running their own business. The charity was founded in 1985 and has been helping thousands of young entrepreneurs ever since.

As part of its offer it has a range of services to aspiring young people, including free advice and guidance on starting and running a business, networking opportunities, and training courses. Their mission is to help young people turn their business ideas into a reality, and to support them through every step of the journey.

One of the main services offered by the Kent Foundation is their Business Support Programme, which provides one-on-one business mentoring. Through this program, aspiring business owners are matched with an experienced mentor who can offer advice and guidance on everything from writing a business plan to securing funding, marketing, and more. This personalized support can be invaluable for young entrepreneurs who are just starting out, as it can help them navigate the challenges of starting a business and avoid common mistakes.

Stuart Tanton, Director of Kent Foundation said: “We are very pleased to be delivering this exciting program for young people in Dartford, through the support of Dartford Council. The opportunity this creates for young people in Dartford who want to start their own enterprise is going to create not just a short term achievement in kickstarting new enterprises, but enforce Dartford as a great place to start and grow a business. Our plan is to embed this support in the local community through a network of volunteer business mentors, and we look forward to creating key partners in the area to achieve this.” www.kentfoundation.org/dartford