Justin Chant and Claudia Sykes

Working together to promote sustainable business

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Delegates from banking, local authorities, community groups, business and charities met this week to work out the best way to pool resources, boost the economy of the county and keep jobs in Kent.

Enterprising Opportunities, which facilitates links between companies, the voluntary sector and individuals, in order to promote sustainable growth held the sessions which took place at Kent Enterprise House in Herne Bay.

Those present said they saw the event as a sort of “Big Society for Business” as the organisers looked to show how co-operation and innovation can allow growth in a time of economic uncertainty where previous methods of funding have dramatically decreased or dried up altogether.

“What we want to do is form partnerships between charities, community groups and companies,” said Enterprising Opportunities director of resources Claudia Sykes.

“We want charities and community groups to decrease their reliance on grant funding which is ever-more uncertain at the moment.

“In the current economic climate opportunities do still exist – and greater innovation and co-operation can lead companies, and especially charities, away from a reliance and dependence on grants towards self-sustainability.

“Many small companies and community groups do not have the resources to do such things as effective marketing. But by working together they can use one another’s abilities to work in co-operation to mutual benefit.

“When times are hard, that’s when innovation needs to be at its height.”

Among the 40 delegates at Tuesday’s meeting were representatives of banks such as HSBC as well as local property developers.

Justin Chant is head of marketing for Enterprising Opportunities, which receives some support from Kent County Council, but is self financing thanks to the businesses which are under its umbrella.

“For smaller companies and charities this event was an opportunity for them to talk to those involved in the financial and property sectors,” he said.

“Forming partnerships is what we consider important for sustainable growth.”

Ms Sykes added: “Another important part of the work we do is keeping jobs in Kent. By focussing on local sustainable businesses we can achieve this. They are not multi-nationals who will pull out of Kent at the drop of a hat and take jobs elsewhere.

“An example of how we make these partnerships work was well demonstrated by the catering we organised for our event.

“Two groups – on that looks to provide jobs in Ramsgate and one which promotes healthy eating have joined together to set up a kitchen. Staff who work there provided the food for us. It was an effective way of showing our delegates how our ideas work in practise.”