by David Jones

A fledgling Kent business will be getting some high-profile exposure next month.

Folkestone-based All the Fun of the Children’s Fair has been chosen as one of 12 UK firms to showcase their business at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
The Start-Up competition attracted entrants from across the country. The 12 finalists will get the chance to talk about their business in front of delegates, national media, company representatives and senior Conservative politicians.

Event organisers All the Fun of the Children’s Fair was launched in May of this year. It caters for businesses related to children, from bouncy castle companies to party entertainers.

Mum Kay McLoughlin was one of the business’s founders. She said: “We entered the Start-Up competition because we viewed it as a wonderful opportunity for our business idea to gain exposure, credibility and contacts to assist us in making All the Fun of the Children’s Fair a viable proposition.”

The Start-Up competition is supported by a number of blue chip companies, including Fujitsu, Inmarsat and the British Venture Capital Association.

Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured above), who launched the competition, said: “I want to encourage businesses to create and innovate, to invest and grow, to develop and break boundaries.

"That is why I’m proud that the Conservative Party is once again showcasing the best of British innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Simon Blagden, of Fujitsu UK&Ireland, said: “The 12 finalists share some common qualities - they are motivated and optimistic people with an innovative approach and a strong understanding of the marketplace they are targeting.

"What I found particularly encouraging, however, is that both the quantity and quality of this year's entrants demonstrate that despite the difficult economic landscape there are still real opportunities for start-up companies to play a significant role in UK business.”

The Conservative Party conference runs from October 7-October 10.