Official Launch of Medway Swale Small Business Leaders Forum and KentConnect 23rd September 2011, Innovation Centre Medway, Kent “We have no Chamber of Commerce in Medway and Swale, MSBLF could be the emerging Chamber for the two regions. It is not the business of government to do business. I will be more than glad to support and work with this Forum to achieve its objectives of promoting the growth of small businesses - Gordon Henderson MP (Sittingbourne & Isle of Sheppey) “The Government’s Big Society agenda presents opportunities for organisations like Medway & Swale Small Business Leaders Forum to step forward and provide much needed localised services, local solutions and help establish a local network for businesses to engage with. 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 challenges together whilst maintaining their competitive edge. Speaking as a Member of Parliament representing part of MSBLF’s catchment area, I very much look forward to working with them” – Tracy Crouch MP (Chatham & Aylesford) “I personally feel that there are opportunities within Kent for the MSBLF to avail itself of the excellent work performed at Higher Education institution in Kent. I believe that MSBLF with the latest academic SME thinking, together with cutting edge best practice and the goals of the Big Society could be extremely successful. Furthermore, initiatives such as the Kent Small Enterprise Network (KSEN) attempt to launch the Medway Swale Small Business leaders Forum are excellent. SMEs need to maximize economic and/or social performance and need to use an array of managerial tools and techniques. These managerial tools and techniques can be shared across formal and informal networks. KSEN’s exciting developments include a variety of electronic and face-to-face interactive roundtable for networking” - Professor Paul Phillips, Former Director Kent Business School “I must commend the work of the Kent Small Enterprise Network and its Chief Executive, Abdul Mohammed for initiating the MSBLF and KentConnect we need to sustain this Forum in the interest of the development of micro and small businesses in this austere time” - Caroline Swift, Chairman Medway Credit Union

1. Fostering an Inclusive, Dynamic, Vibrant and Sustained Regeneration of our Diverse Communities

3. MSBLF: OFFICIAL LAUNCH

5. Provides a platform for operators of small businesses to engage and network.

7. Contact: www.ksencic@live.co.uk www.ksen.org.uk Tel: 01634 887 282, 07501 855 914 Innovation Centre, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent, ME5 9FD