downsmail.co.uk Nomination for
entrepreneur FORMER Maidstone Grammar stu- dent Keith Mabbutt (pictured) has been named in the top 100 of Britain’s most successful busi- ness profession- als.
A panel of ex-
perts from the Centre for Entre- preneurs agreed
the 36-year-old, from Harrietsham, should feature in this year’s indus- try-nominated Maserati 100 index for his role in assisting the next gen- eration of business talent. Keith said: “It is fundamental for
young people to have an enterpris- ing attitude and I have a genuine en- thusiasm for helping young people realise their potential.” His first venture was a graduate recruitment company in Maidstone, which he sold before launching a na- tional job board for university stu- dents. He has created a TV business-pitch contest for university students called The Grad Factor, and a social venture with West Ham United for homeless youngsters. His latest venture is a finance and funding academy for business own- ers that will run from The Business Terrace in Maidstone. Fordetails call 01865 261 480.
News
Teenager Ben leading way for young talent
BRITAIN’S next Richard Branson is busy building up his empire from an office in Maidstone’s Busi- ness Terrace. The Virgin mogul has described
Ben Towers as “one of the UK’s most exciting young entrepre- neurs”. Ben,whois still only 17, set up his
first business at the age of 11, de- signing and buildingwebsites from home. He is now an award-winning en- trepreneur, with three companies and a six-figure turnover to his name. As most of Ben’s early work was carried out online, nobody had any idea of his age and he was offered his first public speaking engage- ment – at ExCel in front of 3,000 people – aged only 15. Today, he is an ambassador for
Young Start-Up Talent (YST)awards and for the National Entrepreneur- ship Challenge, a scheme set up to help teach and inspire enterprise for young people in schools. He also works alongside the FSB
Entrepreneur Ben Towers
to inspire young people. Ben’s digital media and web de-
sign agency Towers Design em- ploys 15 people and has more than 700 customers. Heis also behind the social media management company Social Mar- ley and he is working on a third company, NGBT, a social media management platform. He was tempted to the county
town by the attractive office rents available at the Business Terrace, which is in the Maidstone Gateway, King Street.
In December, Ben was named number one on The Times Maga- zine’s Superteen Power List. He has also shot up the Richtopia
British Entrepreneurs Top 100, to be placed at number 34, along with ty- coons Richard Branson and Lord Alan Sugar. He has more than 63,000 follow-
ers on Twitter and regularly appears on television. Ben still lives at home with his parents in Gillingham, but is hoping to buy a house in Maidstone. He is busy campaigning for busi-
ness bank accounts to be made available for youngsters under the age of 18 and trying to influence the payment gateways and merchant accounts, which also restrict the ability of U18s to be in business. He said: “I want to be sure that if
there are budding young entrepre- neurs out there that they aren’t held back by their age. “I hope I can provide valuable support, things which I wished I had known myself when Iwas start- ing out.”
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