Entrepreneur Panel Session

Panellists will describe their unique experiences as successful entrepreneurs, the challenges they encountered and offer practical advice to attendees. They will draw on their experience as an entrepreneur to highlight the importance of having a clear vision, a strong and adaptable business plan and a passion for one's work.

Alastair Jessel

Taywell Group

Alastair started work as a stockbroker and was headhunted several times to run sales departments dealing in Japanese securities but left to start up his own business dealing in slate, sandstone and marble tiles. He grew the business to include 8 shops, 2 quarries, 1 tile factory and a granite slab workshop with a combined turnover of over £5m.

He started Taywell in 2005 and it includes a farm, a farm shop business with premises in Tunbridge Wells and Goudhurst, Taywell Ice Creams Ltd, which featured last year in 'The Apprentice' and makes hand made ice creams and sorbets from fruit on the farm and Taywell Composting Ltd which has recently secured planning permission for a 21,000 tonne In-Vessel Composting unit at the old tile factory site in Derbyshire. This will convert food and green waste into organic fertiliser. He also runs a commercial property company, Wayaspect Ltd, which operates three retail sites in Kent, London and Amersham as well as a residential portfolio of 8 properties in Kent.

Gerard Coleman

Artisan du chocolat

Gerard Coleman founded a business that chocoholics adore - and a world class company here in the heart of Kent.

Artisan du Chocolat is recognised as one of the finest and most innovative chocolatiers in the UK with a growing international reputation. It is sold in its own shops, as well as through blue chip names such as Fortnum and Mason, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, British Airways and Virgin Airways, not to mention Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in London.

Artisan opened a concession in Selfridges in Oxford Street, London, in November 2008 and a standalone shop in Notting Hill in 2009. It aims to open another overseas. Judges said “Innovation, obsession about quality and creative excellence are at the core of the business,”

Paula Jones

A few of my Favourite Things

Paula is known for her appearance in series 5 of the Apprentice. Her goal was to do something different that she could feel proud of before she hit her thirties. Appearing on the show and learning so much from Sir Alan Sugar gave Paula the self confidence she needed to start her own business. Hear about what she learnt from Sir Alan and the impact the ‘sandalwood’ episode’ has had upon her life.

Sharon Goodyer

The Cake Bake Company

After 30 years of teaching, Sharon started her business making bread and cakes in the kitchen and selling them in Kent Markets. Only two and half years later their business is close to a turnover of 2 million a year employing 25 people.

Sharon’s company was made famous by one of the most talked about TV commercial’s made – a life size model of a Skoda Fabia made of sponge cake.