The document discusses the opportunities provided by the Big Society agenda for small business organizations like the Medway & Swale Small Business Leaders Forum (MSBLF) to provide local support services and networking for small businesses. It notes that Medway and Swale, which MSBLF serves, share a common geography and likely similar business needs. The document argues that MSBLF and similar business networks will be invaluable in helping small businesses meet challenges together during difficult economic times through collaboration and maintaining competitiveness.

1. agenda presents opportunities
for organisations like Medway
& Swale Small Business Lead-
ers Forum to step forward and
provide much needed localised
services, local solutions and
help establish a local network
for businesses to engage with.
At its heart, the Big Society is
also an advocate for innovation
and enterprising ventures; it’s
therefore fitting that MSBLF,
leading by example, displays
many of the qualities its mem-
bers will look to emulate.
Medway and Swale share the
common bond of geography
and therefore, are more likely
to share similar needs. Over
the next few years, these
needs may intensify and vary
however, business support
networks like MSBLF will prove
invaluable in helping small
businesses meet these chal-
lenges together whilst main-
taining their competitive edge.
Small busi-
nesses are
often said to
provide the
bedrock of
society and
the local
communities
which they
serve - from
trusted local
tradesmen to
long estab-
lished, family
-owned restaurants to independ-
ent convenience stores. Each
community has them and Med-
way & Swale are no different.
Small and medium sized busi-
nesses’ overall contribution to our
economy is unrivalled. In Kent
and the South East alone, small
and medium-sized businesses
account for over 99% of all enter-
prises and generating over
£500,000 million in revenue,
underscoring their importance to
economy. We do however, un-
doubtedly face challenging eco-
nomic times for small businesses.
With the launch of the Medway
Swale Small Business Leaders
Forum (MSBLF) micro and small
businesses can now manage
better than before and survive the
difficult financial climate.
The deep cut in public expendi-
ture has no doubt affected the
prospect for upcoming, new and
less established small businesses
and to protect, strengthen and sus-
tain the sector which largely de-
pends on statutory guidelines,
KSEN has created an interactive
social and economic plat-
form for entrepreneurs to
actively engage network
and prosper.
To tackle the identified
shortfalls and promote the
sustainability and growth of
small businesses through
MSBLF, ‘The Big Lottery
Fund’ awarded a grant to
the Kent Small Enterprise
Network.
The maiden edition of
‘KentConnect’ has been
dedicated by KSEN to the suc-
cess of MSBLF in providing up-
coming and prominent entrepre-
neurs and small business opera-
tors opportunity to network, rob
minds, share ideas and best
practices and lessons learnt,
debate and
contribute to
government
policies and
actions that
could create
sustainable
communities.
Tribute to MSBLF
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
Living your dream in a
recession
2
Big Society: all bluff
and no bite?
3
Changing how com-
munities work
4
MSBLF…Making of
the Big Society
5
Taking your business
to the next level.
6
Karen Hurley to
Chair MSBLF
7
The Riots:
Race and Class
8
MSBLF Groundbreaking Launch
KentConnect
O C T . / D E C . 2 0 1 1V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
KentConnect provides
the enabling environ-
ment for its readers to
positively interact on
big ideas, challenge
and promote good
policies, circulate
wealth of information
and enhance prosperity
in the face of austerity.
KentConnect —
a must to read!
Good Wishes from
Bank of England
The Government has swiftly
tackled the deficit with a credi-
ble plan but, in doing so has
also made supporting these
businesses, whilst supporting
the start-up of new enterprises
a priority through specific policy
measures: the exemption on all
new domestic regulations for
micro-businesses employing
less than 10 employees and
genuine new start-ups; National
I n s u r a n c e Co n t ri b u ti o n
discounts for new firms; extend-
ing the Enterprise Finance
scheme and doubling the
lifetime limit of Entrepreneurs
Relief. Although these are im-
portant and welcome measures
directed at fostering entrepre-
neurship and relieving some of
the burden on small busi-
nesses, providing support can-
not be left to Whitehall alone.
The Government’s Big Society
Tracey Crouch MP
Chatham & Aylesford
“Speaking as a Member of
Parliament representing part
of MSBLF’s catchment area,
I very much look forward to
working with them”
MSBLF ….. Leading
by example
Big Society a hard
sell with no money?
9
Global Entrepreneur-
ship Week
11
Social enterprises
leading the UK …..
12
Unfounded Myths,UK
Enterprise Barriers
13

2. P A G E 2
Social Enterprises and
entrepreneurs need
space to develop,
interact communicate
and network , the
Medway Swale Small
Business Leaders
Forum provides just
that.
To connect with MSBLF
Email:
ksencic@live .co.uk
LIVING YOUR DREAM...IN A RECESSION
K E N T C O N N E C T
There are almost five million small businesses in
the UK and they are ideally positioned to drive our
economic recovery. Not only that, but they can also
strengthen communities and help revive Cameron’s
flagging Big Society project. Small businesses are
part of the social fabric of any place: whereas inter-
national companies tend to base their business strate-
gies on global considerations and relocate with little
consideration for the impact on the local community.
Size is as important in business as ownership. Many
innovative younger people do not differentiate be-
tween public and private at the small business level;
some are sole traders, others public interest compa-
nies or partnerships – many want to succeed in busi-
ness but are also interested in adding public- value.
For them small businesses, local community organi-
sations and social enterprises have a lot in common.
They employ local people and are locally connected
– however they also lack the capital to start up and
finance to manage cash flow problems.
In Manchester, small
businesses are anxious,
they face rising costs,
VAT increases, signifi-
cant reductions in trade
and little access to fi-
nance. Large clients are
cutting back and custom-
ers are readjusting their
spending as consumer
confidence flatlines.
Public institutions and companies are returning
to being insular and insulating themselves from
the daily stress of cash-flow problems. Small
enterprises are coping with the same problems as
larger companies but with fewer people and
much less credit and resources. SMEs carry the
responsibility of local revival but are subject to
unfair financial and tax practices.
Are you Medway or Kent base and thinking of starting a business or already running a business or have been in
business for years with one, five to ten staff, the Medway Swale Small Business Leaders Forum (MSBLF) is
ideal for you. MSBLF is a forum for entrepreneurs, micro and small businesses and established to initiate strate-
gies and techniques for growth in business income and client base. MSBLF is a platform that facilitates
economic growth, skills development, promotes strong partnerships and social media networking.
No matter how small your business is either run from a premises or directly from home MSBLF is created to
promote simple and practical ways of building a business that meet entrepreneurs individual needs and help
them to realise their potentials, their dreams, increase income, gain more free time and get back to enjoying life
through strategic economic and social networking. For your FREE membership of MSBLF – an emerging
‘Chamber of Small Entrepreneurs’ (CSE) write to ksencic@live.co.uk and subscribe for a FREE copy of
‘KentConnect’ your authoritative local business eNewsletter.
The Chancellor could support social
enterprise and SMEs by:
• Increasing the VAT turnover starting
point to £150K
• Freeze or reduce NI payments for staff
• Provide national funding for smaller
social innovation projects.
• Develop models of finance for invest-
ment in all small enterprises.
• Invest in Digital Access as a utility.
• Provide financial support for infrastruc-
ture bodies that stimulate innovation, mar-
ket access, supplier chain networks and
knowledge exchange.
The Government should also be aware that
women are losing public sector jobs faster
than men. Many innovative social ventures
tend to be run by women and investment in
women’s businesses has been shown to
generate greater return than other
investment.
“So how can the chancellor support
women entrepreneurs? One way is to
invest in childcare provision for women
social entrepreneurs and protect
Sure Start.”
Government could:
• Extend VAT and NI holidays to beyond the
start-up phase
• BIS could support SMEs on the ground with
roving mentors to tackle cash-flow etc and
relay problems to the banks.
• And the Small Business Federation to work
with Business Schools to access problem solving
support from MBAs.
• Incentivise HE work placements and
interns.
Dr Su Maddock, is a Senior Fellow MIOIR.
Research, Manchester Business School,
University of Manchester, MBS
The Unemployed, Social Enterprise and Small Businesses
“It is not just ‘start-ups’ that
need support – it’s two
years down the track that
most small businesses
struggle. Creating the
conditions for growth is
about creating the space for
social enterprise and small
business to grow and
experiment.”

3. Big Society: all bluff and no bite?
K E N T C O N N E C TV O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
R h e t o r i c h a s
surrounded the trinity
of the Big Society,
localism and social
enterprises – allegedly
the potent mix needed
to turn around the
social and economic
crisis – but they appear
to lack bite, says Stuart
Jackson, founder of
Schools4Life, which
helps local authorities
and PCTs navigate the
uncertain economic
landscape and sustain
a vital health agenda.
For full transcript log on to
http://publicservice.co.uk/
feature_story.asp?id=17110
Kevin Curley will in March ‘12 retire
as Chief Executive of NAVCA.
Under his strong leadership NAVCA
has become a credible, financially
stable and highly respected national
infrastructure organisation which
speaks for and effectively supports its
members.
According to NAVCA Chairman “The
departure of an effective Chief Execu-
tive inevitably creates uncertainty in an
organisation, more so if you are just
emerging from a difficult period of re-
structuring.
We have
t h e r e f o r e
decided to
p r o c e e d
w i t h o u t
delay to the
business of
finding a
successor
to Kevin”.
Kevin has been nominated for the Kent
Champion of Entrepreneurship (KCE) Awards.
Policy Framework for consultation
which closes on 17 October 2011.
The key part of the reform is to
make the planning system less
complex and more accessible, and
to promote sustainable growth.
For a copy of the consultation draft
visit http://communities.gov.uk/
publications/planningandbuilding/
draftframework
We are keen to hear your views, helpful-
comments and contribution on Policy
framework as it affects you, your family,
your community and business.
Write to us at kentconnect
email: ksencic@live.co.uk.
A “National
Planning Policy
Framework” is to
replace all previ-
ous regulations.
The Government
has published
the draft Na-
tional Planning
Draft National Planning Policy for Consultation
Hunt for New CEO at NAVCA
Kevin at NAVCA Conference 2010
Kevin flanked by Abdul Mohammed
KSEN Group CEO (left) & Sajid
Hashmi NAVCA Treasurer (right)
Social enterprises have often been the poor man's innovation, tarred with an altruistic
brush and excused from market demands. But with central government facing the
challenge of reducing the national debt by £80bn and the expectation of innovative new
ways of working, social enterprises and a spate of mutuals are starting to emerge as
cost-effective, sustainable community models to tackle ingrained social and health
inequalities.
The risks of partnerships and setting up a social enterprise are high – both financially
and relationally – as it requires a mindset transition which isn't easy in the political and
economic circumstances that we're in; it is a changing landscape for everyone.
It's painful to discuss a new cooperative when many organisations are experiencing the
loss of safety and security that significant government funding brings.
With the move away from centralised, costly, top-down infrastructure, social enterprises
are free from nationally driven targets and in a unique position to be demand-led,
adapting their services to local priorities, while responding to wider social determinants
of health and academic attainment.
We are all experiencing new economic challenges as we respond to and tackle long
-term behaviour issues such as obesity, teenage pregnancy, and raising aspirations to
improve academic attainment.
These issues aren't going to disappear like government funding has and they aren't
going to improve with hit-and-run campaigns. I believe it's only through long-term, co
-created partnerships and evidence-based interventions that we will begin to see these
health inequalities tackled, aspirations raised and academic outcomes achieved, and I
would encourage every leader to consider the sustainability of their health and
wellbeing provision in their locality.

4. P A G E 4
In reality, the machinery of
government remains poor
at connecting to and
commissioning with SMES
and the same is true for
local voluntary
organisations and social
enterprises. The Big Society
cannot work so long as this
remains the case and the
Coalition continues to
centralise ‘localism’.
- Dr. Su Maddock, MBS
Institute for Innovation Research
S u s t a i n o u r
Communities….
Its time for Govern-
ment, the Civil Soci-
ety & the Private
Sector to build trust
& work in harmony.
- ksen
Are you an Enterprising Graduate?
Blow your whistle, Get Recognised
Changing how communities work
KSEN advances social capital
by forging growth and the
sustainability of micro and
small enterprises through the
promotion of skills, employ-
ment, entrepreneurship and
social networking among
Kent’s thriving, failing and
impending entrepreneurs.
In building a strong economy
and prosperous community
through support for entrepre-
neurship and enterprise, the
promotion of thrust, restora-
tion of confidence, shared
partnership, and community
ownership among operators of
small enterprises, the civil
society and government,
KSEN promotes and
strengthens the Big Society
through the establishment,
growth and sustainability of
Medway and Swale Small
Business Leaders Forum
(MSBLF), and the yet to be
constituted Kent ‘Civil Soci-
ety & Employers Forum(CSEF)
For a slide of the power point
presentation made at Kent
Science Park by KSEN
Group Chief Executive,
Abdul D. Mohammed
please visit:
http://www.slideshare.net/
KSENCIC/cfakepathksen-
presentation.
The Public Service
Awards, running in partner-
ship with Hays, are for all
organisations involved in
commissioning or deliver-
ing public services,
whether they sit in the
public, private or voluntary
sectors.
Now in their eighth year,
the awards consistently
produce inspiring examples
Awards: Guardian
Public Services Awards
2011
of innovative work being
carried out by teams
across the public services.
Have you made an impact?
If you're from a national or
local organisation, a statu-
tory, voluntary or for-profit
body, then the Guardian
would like to hear about
your achievements. Log
on:http://guardian.co.uk/
publicservicesawards
or have already begun to
turn your idea into reality.
The Graduate Business
Start-up Programme has
been designed to ensure
that budding entrepreneurs
have the necessary skills
and knowledge to make
their business thrive; not
just for the initial support
that we offer, but support in
the evaluation and monitor-
ing of the growth of your
enterprise.
KSEN's tailored support will
assist you with business
growth. All you need is the
commitment and drive to
m a k e i t h a p p e n .
Why not send an email to
ksencic@live.co.uk NOW..
The Kent Small Enterprise
Network (KSEN) has
designed a scheme that will
provide support and inspire
you to realise your life
potentials.
If you are a recent graduate
living in the Kent area, you
could be eligible for KSEN’s
comprehensive business
support programme.
We welcome graduates at
various different levels of
experience: whether you
are just developing an idea
K E N T C O N N E C T

5. Technology Trends and Small Business
P A G E 5V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
I'm not a huge fan of studies that predict the
future, but I do respect those that try. Their
job is to look at the past, analyze the present
and conduct surveys to gain insight into the
future. Based on all of this information,
researchers try to provide a road map for
what's to come.
In this case, Intuit, working with the Institute
for the Future, found that tomorrow's success-
ful small business owners will be far more
reliant on technology than today's entrepre-
neurs. They'll be more connected in a mobile
world, market to customers in ways only
imagined today and blur the lines between the
virtual and physical worlds. The findings are
part of the”Intuit Future of Small Business
Report: Technology Trends and Small Busi-
ness” the second installment of the three-
part "Future of Small Business" series.
What's happening in business is what's
happening in our personal lives. My own
children, from their birth, have been im-
mersed in a culture of technology. My
daughter, as a toddler, was playing with my
PDA. My son's entertainment is watching
NFL video clips online, and he has his own
football blog. I, on the other hand, grew up
in the '80s, when computers were still
thought of as special tools that not every-
one owned, and Word Perfect for DOS
was the reigning champion.
This study of the future indicates that small
businesses will continue to go through a
similar evolution in their own use of tech-
nology. The study predicts that technology
will revolutionize the nature of running a
small business and identifies three emerg-
ing technology trends:
Report by Ramon Ray continues in your
next edition of KentConnect.
senior international stakeholders
to participate in a high level
conference which will have as a
central theme the importance of
skills and technical education in
global economic recovery.
The conference will be hosted
during WorldSkills London
2011 and delegates will have
the opportunity of visiting the
Competitions.
World Skills London 2011 is the
world’s largest international
skills competition with young
people from across the globe
competing to be the best of the
best in their chosen skills from
bricklaying to mobile robotics.
British Council, in partnership
with WorldSkills London 2011
and WorldSkills International, is
offering the opportunity for
This is a unique opportunity
to observe the world's best
young skilled professionals
competing and to participate
in a world class conference
on the themes of skills devel-
opment, policy and practice.
On how to participate Email:
Sabine.Telesford@britishcouncil.org
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7389 4626
The establishment of the Medway
Swale Small Business Leaders Forum
(MSBLF) thus become essential when
considering the comments received
from about 45% of the 167 small and
micro business operators (with 1 - 5
staff) in Strood, Rochester, Chatham,
Gillingham, Rainham, Sittingbourne
and Kemsley, to questionnaires on the
business climate. Their experiences
and needs are:
- Lack of entrepreneurship skills
and weak business enterprise
culture.
- Need to bridge communication on
`Good Practices' and open up
linkages to community champions,
role models and mentors.
- Lack of access to premises,
capital and finance
- Lack of knowledge of business
support programs.
- Lack of knowledge of IT and
eCommerce
- Lack of government's adequate
protection and business support
networks.
- Ineffective partnership in
enterprise development.
- Lack of inclusive (diverse) social
regeneration.
Means of resolving a number of
these issues raised by community
entrepreneurs shall be the focus of
MSBLF.
It is stimulating and fun to share
ideas and network. MSBLF is
committed to the development of the
small business market and the
regeneration of sustainable, healthy
and stable communities.
It has become necessary and obvious
to initiate applicable strategies that will
effectively combat today’s harsh
economic climate.
MSBLF– Making of the Big Society
LONDON HOST 41ST WORLDSKILLS
4TH - 9TH OCTOBER 2011 SKILLS For EMPLOYABILITY

6. P A G E 6
“ Twi t t e r a n d
facebook were
high Social Media
functions that kept
Obama up to
winning the US
P r e s i d e n t i a l
election. Social
Media help gather
people to clean up
the street after the
recent riot in the
country.”
“When Steve Jobs
resigned as CEO
of Apple, shares
d r o p p e d
c o n s i d e r a b l y.
However a big
surprise might
spring up soon
with the new
management now
chaired by Steve
Jobs himself”
- Zoe Cairns
Taking your business to the next level...
Q. Permit me to start this
interview by asking, who is
Zoe Cairns?
A. I am a social Media
speaker training consultant
and ex mortgage broker.
After being in the property
market for about seven
years helping mortgage
firms to use the social
media to take their business
to the next level through
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
and U Tube, I have been
working on my own as a
Social Media expert for the
past nineteen months
training small businesses
on how to use social media
to enhance their business.
Q. Do you have a back-
ground in IT ?
A. I graduated in 2003 with
a degree in business infor-
mation, management and
computer Science.
Couldn’t find a job in the
city and had to settle for a
part time job working for a
mortgage brokerage firm in
Gravesend where I was
trained to be a mortgage
broker and worked for
seven years before setting
up my own business.
When the recession came
about three years ago I
decided to use social net-
working and offline network-
ing to get my presence felt
out there as an experience
mortgage broker and that
became very successful.
With the help of my business
coach I was able to build up
my marketing strategies and
develop my client base which
also equipped me to set up
Zoe Cairns Finance Services.
Now I am able to really show
companies strategies and
tips I have leaned over the
years to enhance their busi-
nesses. I did set up a prop-
erty networking event in Kent
which had about 100
investors in attendance.
Q. To many, marketing
online may feel very daunting
what’s your advice?
A. People find social media
daunting because of its tech-
nicalities. I work with both the
older and younger generation
and make them realise that
Social Media is all about
communicating online in the
form of pictures, video, text
and audio. Anyone could use
Twitter or Facebook in a sim-
plest form however some use
it in a wrong way, spamming.
Training my clients in social
media through a step by step
approach I make them follow
my actions to develop knowl-
edge of how to use the inter-
net, use google and other
applications. I make it much
easier for them to understand
the use of social media to
enhance their businesses.
Q. According to one of your
trainees Gillian Flegg “Zoe
Cairns has a roller coaster of
information and ideas” what
advise will you give young
people who see you as their
mentor and will want to be as
successful as you ?
A. It’s all about dedication. You
need to take action and show
your presence. There are vari-
ous ways I help my clients to
master the use of social media.
You can learn the stuff but the
only way to success is to get
out there and get on with it.
I have learned the hard way. I
love to get into schools and
work with universities to teach
and promote social media.
Q. How significant is social
media to retailers and busi-
nesses who are struggling to
break even talk less of profit?
A. Social media is very effective
when it comes to promoting
campaigns, goods and ser-
vices. It is for ever changing,
you learn different tools, you
can’t cut off, functions are for
ever improving and changing.
I advice people to take their-
minds off recession. Seat down
with a social media expert and
develop the appropriate strate-
gies to meet your needs.
I train my clients to perfect the
use of twitter, Facebook,
LinkedIn, Flickr U tube, webi-
nar, RSS and other social me-
dia integration tools
Zoe holds many workshops
across the UK and abroad.
To contact Zoe
c a l l 0 7 9 3 1 9 7 1 2 4 9 ,
Email: zoe@zoecairns
or visit http:zoecairns.com
K E N T C O N N E C T
Interview with Zoe Cairns, a Social Media Expert

7. Karen Hurley Chairs MSBLF
P A G E 7V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
Karen
Hurley
CEO
Medway
Cyrenians
Karen Hurly has been appointed
interim Chairman of the Medway
Swale Small Business Leaders
Forum (MSBLF) and will preside
over the quarterly meetings of the
small business leaders starting
from December 2011.
Karen was born in the Medway
area and has had an interesting
and varied career. She has run a
successful business in the hotel/
catering sector and more
recently, Karen’s focus has been
related to social justice and
housing/homelessness.
Her career has spanned employ-
ment in the public sector (local
authority and criminal justice)
and the voluntary/community
sector in various parts of the
country. She is currently Chief
Executive of the Medway
Cyrenians.
Prior to that Karen worked in
London homeless charity with a
budget 60 times larger than her
current one.
Karen has an academic back-
ground in psychology and social
research, gained as a mature
student with OU.
Until recently she was a director
for a national charity working with
offenders.
A Director of Medway Voice,
she believes that the most
important characteristic for a
successful professional life is
to be a good role model,
manage your time well, and
above all else hang on to your
sense of humour, even when
times get tough.
Promoting the Localism Bill,
Medway Voice on September 5
organised a forum for its members
at the Lordswood Leisure Centre.
Cllr. Tom Mason, Potfolio Holder
Big Society spoke on Localism and
responded to questions from the
audience which include today’s
pensioners’ concerns.
Titled ‘Local Solutions for Local
People’ the workshop thematic
Participants at the Voice Local
Solutions for Local People Forum
g r o u p s e s s i o n
addressed issues of
concerns to Young
People; Older Peo-
ple; Social Wellbeing:
A c c o m m o d a t i o n
(crisis) and Safety In
the Community. For
purposes of partner-
ship, the forum pro-
vided opportunities for some of the organisations present
to promote their services express their constraints and
identify the way forward.
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Medway Localism Voiced
“I personally feel
that there are
o p p o r t u n i t i e s
within Kent for
MSBLF to avail
itself of the excel-
l e n t w o r k
p e r f o r m e d a t
Higher Education
institution in Kent.
I believe that
MSBLF with the
latest academic
SME thinking,
together w ith
cutting edge best
practice and the
goals of the Big
Society could be
extremely success-
ful”
— Prof. Paul Phillips
Angela Prodger Chair of the
Forum with Cllr. Tom Mason

8. P A G E 8
Peter Madden, the
chief executive of
s u s t a i n a b l e
development charity
‘Forum for the Future’
warned businesses that
it would be a mistake
to focus their attention
only on community
engagement: the first
iteration of corporate
social responsibility.
He said the most
important contribution
companies could make
to a better society
would be to create a
broad sustainability
strategy and embed it
into the heart of their
operations.
Kent Champion of Entrepreneurship Awards
The Riots: Race and Class
These weren't race riots in the
good old-fashioned sense. Ra-
cial disadvantage still blights
prospects in Britain, though
there has been much improve-
ment since the hardest times
back in the early 1980s. Some
of the young Britons of colour
who came out last week, might
have been protesting with terri-
ble inarticulacy against a des-
tiny that never changes. But
most of the other troublemakers
came from a variety of back-
grounds. It wasn't an uprising
by black Britons against overtly
discriminatory police action
either, even though the trigger
had been the shooting of a
young black man by police offi-
cers. Nor was this a conspicu-
ous conflict between different
ethnic communities or yet an-
other episode of endless strife
caused by disaffected Muslims.
The murder of the three Muslim
men in Birmingham, allegedly
by black men, was prevented
from turning into internecine
war by the exceptional moral
behaviour of the bereaved fami-
lies. So far, the city has avoided
the catastrophic hostilities of
yesteryear between black
youths and Asian shopkeepers.
But, truth to tell, race, religion
and ethnicity still stain the way
people feel, act and try to
understand what has
happened.
Young black men say they
are treated like scum by
Arab, Turkish and Asian
businesses.
It is worrying, too, that
some anti-riot groups are
identifiably exclusive, like
the white battalion in
Eltham where Stephen
Lawrence was murdered
by racists and the muscular
Southall Sikh troop, who
said they would see off any
rioters. Beware of self-
made enforcers - vigilan-
tism is volatile and tribal.
Consider too the way soci-
ety has reacted to recent
breakouts. When young
black men are killing each
other, or deeply dysfunc-
tional estate kids of all
races tyrannise their
neighbourhoods, it is their
problem, and few give a
damn. Now that they have
broken out, sometimes
enthusing well brought-up
white kids, everybody sud-
denly takes it very seri-
ously. Race and class de-
termine everything, even
when they seem not to.
We can't afford to be so
divided, mistrustful and preju-
diced against this group or
that.
The millions who are revolted
by what just happened had
better understand that to
bring greater national unity
we need to hear less from the
likes of David Starkey and
more from wise people like
Tariq Jehan, father of one of
the dead men in Birmingham
who talked so movingly about
our collective humanity.
Seal Ltd; Geraldine Allinson
Chairman KM Group and
Newspaper Society President;
Kevin Curley NAVCA's outgoing
Chief Executive; Jaswant
Cheema, MD Cheema Group;
Bob Jones former Chief Execu-
tive BSK; Hamish Mackay Miller,
Publisher the Net; Carole Black
Events and Production Manager,
Best Business Events Ltd; Linda
Pasricha MD Beeline Sameday
Ltd.; George Poku Consultant
GEP Safety and Peter Holbrook
CEO Social Enterprise UK.
The newly instituted Kent
Champion of Entrepreneur-
ship” (KCE) Awards sponsored
by the Kent Small Enterprise
Network (KSEN) is to be for-
mally launched and inaugu-
rated at an expanded Gala
Awards Lecture Night to be
staged in early 2012.
Among the nominees for the
first “Kent Champion of Entre-
preneurship” (KCE) Awards
are James Brathwaite former
Chairman SEEDA and Chair
K E N T C O N N E C T
The recent distur-
bances affected a
number of local
communities across
the country, in-
cluding Chatham
and Gillingham.
Share your experi-
ence with us and
tell us how we can
ensure similar
occourence does
not happen in
future.
Email your com-
m e n t s t o :
ksencic@live.co.uk
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, The Independent
Jim Brathwaite CBE
KCE Awards Nominee

9. P A G E 9V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
,
which will see the maximum
stake increased from £1 to £2.
The maximum number of
category B machines permit-
ted in adult gaming centers
and bingo clubs will also vary.
The changes, which Mr Hen-
derson has been campaigning
for some time, will help
amusement arcades and
bingo clubs in Sittingbourne
and Sheppey, which have
been struggling in the current
Changes have been made to
the Gambling Act 2005: Cate-
gory B3 Gaming Machines,
economic climate. Amusement
arcades and bingo clubs can
prove important for local tour-
ism and fulfill a vital social
function.
The additional revenue will
help these businesses remain
competitive, protect jobs and
boast British gaming machine
manufacturers and suppliers.
Mr Henderson said, “I have
been campaigning for this new
legislation and so I welcome
the changes which took effect
party politics” but criticises Govern-
ment for failing to articulate a clear
plan on Big Society, as research con-
ducted by the Commission finds that
only 13% of the public believe the
Government has a clear plan.
The Commission, chaired by Lord
Rennard, brought together politicians
from across the political spectrum and
civil society leaders. Its members
were Hilary Belcher (Mosaic Club-
house), Lord Boateng, Nick Boles MP,
Phil Collins (The Times), the Bishop
of London, Matt Hyde (NUS), Peter
McGurn (Goodwin Centre), Michael
Quicke (CCLA), Srabani Sen (Contact
a Family), Jane
Slowey (Foyer
Federation) and
D a m e C l a r e
Tickell (Action for
Children).
Their report urges
the Prime Minister
to seize the reins in driving forward the
Big Society agenda, and calls for a sea
change in the way banks engage with the
UK’s communities.
Means of resolving a number of these
issues raised by small business operators
and local entrepreneurs shall be the focus
of the newly instituted MSBLF.
A year on from the Prime Minister’s
launch of the Big Society programme
an independent, cross party Commis-
sion set up by ACEVO has called on
the Government to “fill in the blanks”
on Big Society.
Powerful People Responsible Society:
the Commission on Big Society ’s final
report, em-
braces the
Big Society
a s a n
agenda that
“ s h o u l d
transcend
The Big Society a Hard Sell with No Money?
MP welcomes Amendments on Gaming Machine
Support Package
Looking for start-
up support?
Three of the UK’s leading organisa-
tions have announced the ultimate
solution for individuals who wish to
transform the world in which they
live, creating a package of support to
kick-start an entrepreneurial revolu-
tion; funding to make your idea a
reality, support to develop it and a
free website so that everyone knows
about it!
There are many urban myths which
could deter individuals from starting
up their venture.
UnLtd will be collaborating with the
Institute of Directors (IoD) and the
Getting British Business Online
campaign (backed by Google and
its partners to deliver) the ultimate
package of support for entrepreneu-
rial individuals.
Entrepreneurs are becoming a force
in UK society and those with socially-
minded ventures are at the forefront
of this innovation. If you have a
great idea that will also create
positive social change, then you
could be eligible to access one, two
or all three elements of this
Ultimate Package.
Nick Hurd
Civil Society Minister o
i n J u l y
2011.“Amusement parks
are an important part of
our local leisure and
tourist industry, particu-
larly on Sheppey, and I
very much hope these
changes will give our
hard pressed amuse-
ment industry a big fil-
lip.”
Send your views and
comments to KentConnect
Gordon Henderson MP

10. Organisations closing services due to cuts
P A G E 1 0V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
By Gareth Jones— More than half of London-based volun-
tary and community organisations
participating in a recent survey have
closed services in the past year as a
result of funding constraints.
The Big Squeeze, which is produced by
the London Voluntary Service Council
(LVSC) and surveyed 120 organisations,
found that 51 per cent of charities had
closed services, while 54 per cent expect
more services to close in 2011/12.
Furthermore 86 per cent expected
demand for their services to increase,
but 77 per cent were not confident they
c o u l d m e e t t h a t d e m a n d .
More than three-quarters said they expected
their statutory funding to decrease in the next
year.
Peter Lewis, chief executive of LVSC, said:
“Whilst local authorities and government
departments have complained about 8 per
cent cuts, many charities and voluntary
organisations have faced 20-30 per cent cuts.
Our evidence shows that those Londoners
who are already most disadvantaged are
baring the brunt of these cuts.”
“But perhaps the most worrying thing is that
it seems cost-effective preventative services
are being targeted the most for immediate
cuts.”
Beauty Clinic, Macknade Fine
Foods, NBC Bird & Pest Solu-
tions and O’Connells Drywall
Contractors Ltd.
Representatives from all these
twelve businesses are invited
to attend the event’s Gala
Dinner, which will be held for
the first time at The Barnyard in
Upcurch on the evening of
October 7, and at which the
The finalists for the 2011
Swale Business Awards have
b e e n a n n o u n c e d .
The 12 companies shortlisted
are: Britain and Hobbs TV &
Electrical Ltd., Carousel Logis-
tics Ltd., Century UK Ltd.,
Creative Resins Ltd., Hemp-
tead House Hotel & Spa., Inten
Ltd., Judd’s Folly Hotel, Julie
Gamble Advanced Skin &
winners will be announced.
Other categories of the Swale
Business Awards include four
new awards: Small Business
of the Year, the Customer
Service and Commitment
Award, the Retail and Hospi-
tality Award and the overall
Swale Business of the Year.
To contribute your ideas and thoughts,
p l e a s e v i s i t :
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7TNG962
Due to popular demand and numerous
enquiries, the se² have produced a series
of six "Social Enterprise fact sheets:
A Beginner's Guide to..." factsheets that
can all be downloaded for FREE via its
website: http://www.se2partnership.co.uk/
capacity-builders.asp?p=181
The current series consists of:
• Social Enterprise: A beginner's guide
to... Social Impact Measurement
• Social Enterprise: A beginner's guide
to... Procurement & Tendering
• Social Enterprise: A beginner's guide
to... Social Franchising & Replication
• Social Enterprise: A beginner's guide
to... Delivering Public Services.
• Social Enterprise: A beginner's guide
to... Building Consortia in the Social
Enterprise Sector.
• Social Enterprise: A beginner's guide
to ... Diversifying Income Streams.
se2 partnership is working with the
Social Enterprise Coalition who is
part of a stakeholder group working
with BIS on the possibility of an
over-arching theme for Global Entre-
preneurship Week.
SEC proceeds to work closely with
the regions to deliver a national
campaign and are really keen that it
be a social enterprise led campaign.
They have therefore put together a
short survey to get some feedback on
what social enterprises think we
should be campaigning on and the
type of materials they would like us to
provide for them to get involved.
Global Entrepreneurship Week
12 companies shortlisted
Paul Price MD
Insource Marketing Man-
agement, Award Sponsors
Is the The Big Society
Agenda on Course?

11. P A G E 1 1
In most people’s
vocabularies, design
means veneer. It’s interior
decorating. It's the fabric
of the curtains of the sofa.
But to me, nothing could
be further from the
meaning of design. Design
is the fundamental soul of
a human-made creation
that ends up expressing
itself in successive outer
layers of the product or
service.
Steve Jobs, Founder and
Chairman, Apple
‘Made in China’
The piece that won
Amy recognition
Growing Business Awards
NAVCA’s Annual Conference ‘11
Rochester Student gains national recognition
A Foundation Diploma
student from the Univer-
sity for the Creative Arts
(UCA) at Rochester has
been awarded a prize at a
national exhibition.
Amy Leung, 19, from Bex-
leyheath, was one of three
artists to be singled out by
judges as representing
best in show at the
National Diploma Exhibition
in London.
Her installation piece
‘Made in China’ was one of
85 works on display at the
exhibition. Amy said: "I
initially wanted to create
work based on my cultural
heritage but ended up
more interested in the
perception of modern day
China. Ideas of mass
production, consumerism,
capitalism, communism,
labour, sweatshops, imita-
tions, tacky and useless
objects have all influenced
the final installation of 'her
exhibit ‘Made in China'.
"For the installation I
wanted to take on the role
of a labourer and carry out
the repetitive nature of
making the same pointless
objects over and over
again. The objects I chose
were souvenirs which are
imitations in themselves
Creative Amy Leung
and hold a sort of cultural
meaning."
The Foundation Diploma
at UCA Rochester allows
students to explore a range
of areas in art and design
and helps prepare them for
degree courses in the
creative arts.
local voluntary action, then this is the
conference for you and your team.
Speakers will share their vision of
true localism, debate the challenges
ahead and Kevin Curley will make
his farewell address to NAVCA
members. For details log on to
www.navca.org.uk
Localism is coming, but
what does it mean for you
and your communities?
This is your opportunity to
hear what key figures in
central & local govern-
ment as well as the volun-
tary sector think. It will
also be a chance for you
to share your ideas. If you
are interested in support-
ing and strengthening
Giving entrepreneurs
opportunities to showcase
their companies at mega-
UK events in 2012, new
awards have been intro-
duced by CBI and the cate-
gories include "Made in
Britain" Digital Elite awards
and "Local Hero of Enterpr-
ise" The Growing Business
Awards are the longest
running awards for UK
entrepreneurs and British
businesses and organized
by CBI UK's top business
lobbying organisation.
Kent and Medway play host to
many world-class entrepre-
neurs and SMEs and these
people should be put forward
for the Growing Business
Awards.
Established in 1999, the
Growing Business Awards are
the most established and
prestigious recognition of SME
and entrepreneurial success.
To complete a full entry for
this priceless recognition,
bestowed by the CBI and Real
Business log on to http://
gba.realbusiness.co.uk/
K E N T C O N N E C T

12. Strengthening the Big Society
P A G E 1 2
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
KSEN advances social capital by
forging growth and the sustainability
of micro and small enterprises
through the promotion of
skills, employment, en-
trepreneurship and busi-
ness retention among
Kent’s thriving, failing
and impending entre-
preneurs.
In building a strong econ-
omy and prosperous
community through
support for entrepreneur-
ship, the promotion of thrust, confi-
dence building, shared partnership,
and community ownership among
operators of small enterprises, the
civil society and government, KSEN
promotes and strengthens the Big Soci-
ety through the establishment, growth
and sustainability of initiatives such as
the Medway and Swale
Small Business Leaders
Forum (MSBLF).
In a diverse and more
culturally sensitive environ-
ment, and helping to
improve quality standards
and promoting healthy
competition within the small
business sector, MSBLF will
provide opportunity for
members to explore finance, understand
strategies for raising capital and Inter-
net based income business experi-
ence, learn more about healthy living,
volunteering and doing business with
private and public institutions.
The Forum will create opportunities for
local authorities to become more small
business friendly and aid members to
obtain local benefits and support from gov-
ernment’s ‘Economic Development Strate-
gies, the procurement and invoice payment
procedures and participation in business
rates and policy reviews.
Enriching the ‘Big Society’ agenda and
providing useful links, MSBLF will provide
both management and capacity building
support and volunteering opportunities to
both thriving and prospective community
entrepreneurs, particularly those with
financial, accounting, managerial, planning,
marketing and ICT concerns.
agency for families with disabled
children. It recruits, screens,
trains and places care workers
who then support these young
people and their families.
According to the index, which
was set up to track the perform-
ance of the sector in the UK, the
top 100 social enterprises in the
index grew on average by 91%
(compared to 79% last year).
Social enterprises are outper-
forming the rest of the UK
economy in terms of growth,
according to the RBS SE1001
Index unveiled recently at an
event in London.
Named Growth Champion,
Cool2Care, based in Surrey but
working across the UK, is an
innovative social enterprise,
which acts as an introductory
Meanwhile, the total combined
revenue of the top 100 enter-
prises on the index grew by
51% and the revenue growth of
all those on the index who sub-
mitted figures was 14%. This
compares well with revenue
growth of the FTSE 100 in
20103, which was around 5%.
It also compares well against
the fastest recorded growth
period of UK SMEs4 (in 2006)
1993 and rose to become chairman
in 2006 said:
“There is much comment about
the challenges facing local news-
papers and, indeed, all media
sectors today, but the simple fact
is that no other media can replicate
the local press.
"Our newspapers scrutinise those
in authority, support local
businesses and campaign on behalf
of our readers.”
Geraldine Allinson
Chairman KM Group
For her vast contribution to Medway, Swale
and Kent in general KSEN is proud to
nominate Geraldine Allinson for the
exclusive “Kent Champion of
Entrepreneurship” (KCE) Awards.
The KM Group’s Chairman
Geraldine Allinson becomes the
newly appointed president of the
Newspaper Society.
The Society, which represents the
interests of the newspaper industry
across the UK had her father
Edwin Boorman, the KM Group’s
President 2001, and grandfather
HR Pratt Boorman 1960, serving
in the same capacity as President.
Geraldine who joined the KM
Group as development manager in
Geraldine, a Credit to Kent
Useful Links
Social enterprises leading the UK economy
South East Cool2Care is Growth Champion
when their revenue
growth was 8.4%.
409 social enterprises
entered the RBS
SE100 Index and 18
organisations were
shortlisted across
three awards.

13. P A G E 1 3
When people feel they
had to express
themselves for
originality for its own
sake, that tends not to
be creativity. Only
when you get into the
problem and the
problem becomes
clear, can creativity
take over -
Charles Eames, Architect,
Graphic and Industrial
Designer, Filmmaker
Barry Clout Chairman Medway
Voice clears a point, while Mark
Reckless MP addresses the
audience on the Big Society.
Take advantage of KentConnect
Unfounded Myths — UK Enterprise Barriers
We need to shatter the
unfounded myths that act as
barriers to the UK realising its
entrepreneurial potential declares
Enterprise UK.
Through its new research Enter-
prise UK has identified the three
main gaps that need to be closed
to increase entrepreneu-
rial behaviour.
NARROW THE AMBITION
GAP
50% of the population wants to
start a business but only 5.8%
are actually in the process of
starting a business.
A rise in 1% in self-
employment in the UK
would boost the UK’s GDP
by around 1.5% and make
up for the effect of the
government cuts on GDP
over the next two years.
ADDRESS THE
DEMOGRAPHIC GAP
Young people (aged 18-
24) are five times more
likely to be unemployed
than starting their own
business.
More than twice as many
men start business in the
UK as women (2009,
approximately 1.5 million
men and 650,000 women
started a business).
CLOSE THE
SKILLS GAP
Enterprise education
doubles the chances of
business success but
enterprise is still not a
staple often education
system in schools, colleges
and universities.
To download the Enterprise
UK report or and find out
more about the Ambition,
Demographic and Skills gap
log on: http://enterpriseuk.org
towards big businessesAs the economy fails to
show any recovery,
small businesses and
voluntary groups
continue to struggle to
secure capital to
sustain their existence.
Under the economic
downturn, many find it
difficult to secure
business loans, some
claim the banks have
m ore pref erenc e
K E N T C O N N E C T
Watch Out …Medway-Kent
Education & Skills Summit
For details email: ksencic@live.co.uk
Get a FREE Website
& Domain…..
• A free website and domain
is available from the Getting
British Business Online cam-
paign by Google and its
partners allowing you ac-
cess to the tools to create a
customised website tailored
to your organisation, free
indexing on the search
engine and a business email
address if required. For
more information about
‘GBBO’ visit www.gbbo.co.uk
If however you require some
help such as in developing
your contents & materials
Email:ksencic@live.co.uk
Check these Out!
Flying Start—
Help for students and
graduates starting
a business
DirectGov—
Help to become self-
employed if you are
over 50
.
If you run a small business
or about to start one and
you were able to secure a
loan or found it difficult to
get one please share your
experience and thoughts
with KentConnect and for
the benefit of others leave
us to spread the news all
over town and across
boundaries.
Call 07501855914 or
Email:ksencic@live.co.uk
Under the Big Society,
will charities have to
operate as social
enterprises to maintain
sustainable income?
Please send your com-
ments to KentConnect
Email:ksencic@live.co.uk

14. News in Brief
P A G E 1 4V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
Government Announces Public
Disorder Support Measures for
Businesses and Homeowners
The Government has announced a package
of support measures to help businesses and
communities recover from the recent out-
breaks of public disorder. The Secretary of
State for Business Vince Cable and Commu-
nities Secretary Eric Pickles have today (11
August) announced a package of financial
and practical support measures to help
restore damaged high streets and devas-
tated communities.
Recruitment, Marketing & HR Awards
O p e n t o E n t r i e s
The RAD Awards aim to celebrate ideas
that evolve around businesses within the
recruitment, marketing and HR industry.
The 2011 programme is now accepting
entries.
Government’s New Publication on
the Green EconomyThe Government
has published a document that outlines
a number of actions towards achieving
a green economy and boosting eco-
nomic growth. Enabling the Transition
to a Green Economy: Government and
Businesses Working Together outlines a
number of planned actions towards
achieving a green economy and boost-
ing economic growth in the UK
New Support for UK & Ireland's
Short Film Makers Collabor8te is a
new platform for short film-making,
designed to champion talented film-
makers from the United Kingdom and
Ireland. It will support script develop-
ment through to production and distri-
bution of new short films. The initiative
will produce up to eight short films
during 2012, with budgets up to
£10,000. The funding provider will
develop, fund and produce the
selected films entirely, with no neces-
sity for applicants to contribute
finances from their own resources.
End of Business Link?
Business Link will close by 25 Novem-
ber with its paid advisers replaced by
thousands of volunteer mentors, the
government has revealed.
As part of a major overhaul of its
business support structure, ministers
said entrepreneurs previously served
by England's Business Link advice
centres will by supported by
improved online services and a
contact centre.
Please send your comments to Kent-
Connect email: ksencic@live.co.uk
Are you an Expert in Local
Internet, Mobile Marketing
& eCommerce with knowl-
edge of Social Media, Word
Press & SEO Applications.
Please contact us by calling
07501855914 or send us an
email ksencic@live.co.uk
There is great benefits for
volunteering with KSEN.
IT Volunteers
Needed Urgently
Interest rates ...Any guarantees?
Earlier this month the BBC asked 32 leading economists for their predic-
tions into when the base rate would be upped. 26 forecasted that rates
would not rise this year, while three predicted that there would be no
change until 2013.
The most popular prediction for an increase in the base rate was the first
quarter of 2012 – an option that 12 economists chose.
In addition, more than half of the forecasters also said they expected the
base rate to rise to at least 1.5% by the end of 2012.
The full list of surveyed economists can be found on the http://
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14386958
So if the base rate does stay at 0.5% until the first quarter of 2012 or later
– as a majority of the forecasters polled by the BBC expect – what does
this mean for you? And what should be done before the rate is hiked?
Send your comments to: ksencic@live.co.uk
Are You the Chosen One ?
P
L
A
C
E
Y
O
U
R
A
D
V
E
R
T
S
Join the Red Tape
Challenge
The Government has launched a
website challenging the public to help
cut unnecessary regulations. It will,
for the first time, give the public and
businesses a chance to have their
say on regulations that affect their
everyday lives; To find out about the
regulations likely to be axed visit
http:redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.g
ov.uk/home/index/

15. Innovation Centre
Maidstone Road
Chatham
Kent ME5 9FD
Phone: +44(0)1634 887 282
Fax: +44(0)1634 562 060
Mob:+44(0)7501 855 914
E-mail: ksencic@live.co.uk
KSEN is committed and determined to work in part-
nership with relevant stakeholders in fostering an
all inclusive, dynamic, vibrant and sustained re-
generation of our poor but di-
verse and richly endowed communities.
Its vision is to extensively promote social and
economic inclusion, healthy lifestyles, employ-
ment, skills and enterprise development, wealth
creation and social networking
mainly for the disadvantaged in our
unbalanced and troubled society.
For contacts with KSEN write to
Abdul Mohammed,
Nigel Edwards or Jinu Mathew
email:ksencic@live.co.uk
Kent Small Enterprise Network
MSBLF— a counter-recessionary measure
'Promoters of Kent Small Businesses & the
Regeneration of Sustainable Communities’
MSBLF—Growth in
Partnership
MSBLF aims to explore
members shared concerns
and valued role within the
Big Society.
The Forum will carry out:
- Extensive Outreach
Program Consultations and
Membership Drive.
- Conduct Capacity
Development and Roundta-
ble Workshops/Seminar
and Exhibitions
- Organise regular inter-
active economic and
social networks.
KentConnect is a publication of KSEN, its contents represent independent judgment. KentConnect offers a forum for free debate and will resist undue political or
commercial pressures. Providing the highest quality in content services and advertising, KentConnect listens to its readers and responds to feedback. Kent Small
Enterprise Network,( KSEN), Innovation Centre, Maidstone Road, Chatham Medway, Kent ME5 9FD email: ksencic@live.co.uk Web:http://ksen.org.uk
Create a Job, Not take a
Job, Create Wealth
Not wait on Pension.
- KSEN
“What you can see the
most makes you the least
money. What you can’t
see at all makes you the
most money.
Vision is what drives the
leader most”
- Lebo Gunguluza,
youngest black South
African to become a
millionaire.