RIFT Small Business Base Camp at Kent B2B, Tonbridge, 27th March

Monday March 2, 2015

The first RIFT Small Business Base Camp will take place on Friday 27 March 2015 at the River Centre in Tonbridge, 9 am - 4 pm and will be a great opportunity to meet, network and collaborate.

Setting up and running a small business is an exhilarating ascent into the unknown, but the right training and equipment can mean the difference between a successful assault on the peak and the uncontrolled plummets that claim the lives of so many promising young ventures.

To get to the top, you'll need expert guides, seasoned safety specialists and the best climbing and safety gear around. Start your ascent at a RIFT Small Business Base Camp, and meet the adventurers, inventors and explorers of RIFT Accounting. We'll be bringing along six of our clients and partners who will have their own stands in the camp and who can show you how we can take you from your first solid handhold in business to its loftiest peaks. Our first guest campers will be:

• The Hammond Consultancy
• Dakota Blue Consulting
• The Business Bunker Radio Show
• Fan Business Solutions
• Teague Consultancy
• Evolution For Women

We're here to help you plan your journey, field test your equipment and make sure you have all the supplies, advice and funding your expedition requires. With solid, practical guidance and the sharpest eyes in the business for spotting opportunities and dangers, we'll make sure your footing is firm and your grip strong enough to reach the summit.

RIFT Accounting's very own Chief Explorer and NASA-trained super-scientist Jane Ollis will be on hand with the powerful restorative blend of advice, support and encouragement that only she can brew, so come over and see one of the greatest explorers of our time in action!

RIFT Small Business Base Camps are designed to form the foundation of your business journey. From planning your route and packing your kit to sending our rescue parties if you start to lose your way, we're here for every step of your tricky climb.

Highlights of the day include:

• Engaging keynote speakers
• Informative workshops on key business topics
• Speed Networking sessions
• Networking Breakfast
• Free business advice sessions - 1-2-1 with an experienced advisor
• Exhibtion hall of businesses demonstrating their products and services

The Keynote speakers at the show are:

• Justin Urquhart Stewart
• Hilary Steel
• David Taylor

You can read their full bios and more about the topics they will be covering on the West Kent event site.

Before the show opens there is a Networking Breakfast from 7.00 am - 8.30 am hosted by The West Kent Partnership.

The session is free to attend and includes full English Breakfast but places are limited and must be booked on the event site. Over breakfast you can:

• Join the discussion on any big local issues that are holding back your business - difficulty in getting funding, traffic hold ups, problems retaining staff with the right skills?
• Have the chance to tell the community what you think our big priorities for West Kent should be.H
• Hear about the report commissioned by the West Kent Partnership - The Case for West Kent - that sets out how important the West Kent economy is for Kent as a whole
• See the consultant present on  the report findings and discuss how to best make the case for more funding to boost the local economy and help your business thrive.

Business backing of the big priorities in West Kent will be instrumental in drawing funding to the area.  The breakfast will provide the opportunity to

• Meet the Leaders of the West Kent Councils and key economic development partners
• Receive an overview on The Case For West Kent on the challenges and opportunities for the area
• Tell us what you think are the key issues facing your business and how we might help address them

We're sponsoring four Best of Kent shows throughout the year:

• 27th of March 2015, River Centre, Tonbridge
• 7th of July 2015, Ashford International, Ashford
• 15th of October 2015, Brands Hatch Circuit, Hawkham
• 4th of November 2015, Discovery Park, Sandwich

You can find out more about the shows on the Best of Kent Website. The event is free to attend, but you need to need to book in advance to be guaranteed free parking.

We'll see you out on the rock face...