KEiBA younger entrepreneur
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YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD (sponsored by
Mainstream and The Kent Foundation)
Kate Austen, Podplus,
Ashford.
Passionate, committed, self-taught, focused,
clarity of vision.
In those few words, the award judges sum up
the qualities that have made Kate Austen the county's Young
Entrepreneur of the Year.
They said that Kate is a young person “with
all the attributes needed to achieve in business.”
Kate set up Podplus in 2005 to unite sports
retail and professional services. It is based at the Julie Rose
Stadium in Ashford.
Podplus provides a selection of footwear,
clothing and accessories designed for activity.
It combines retailing with a
multi-disciplinary injury clinic for sports and non-sports people,
offering podiatry, chiropody, physiotherapy, sports therapy and
massage. It employs five part-time staff and six self-employed
practitioners,
Kate declares that her business aims to
“provide a pod of information, knowledge and professional advice
for anyone who aspires to be active.”
The idea originated while Kate’s brother Tom
was training to be a podiatrist and came across many patients with
problems that could have been prevented with the right products and
advice.
Kate had always been a keen athlete with a fit
and healthy lifestyle. She decided to combine her interest in sport
and business – she graduated in business studies – with Tom’s
expertise to form Podplus. “This opportunity meant I could create a
business that reflected my desire to keep people comfortable and
active, and also to promote sport.”
Podplus gets out and about, attending gyms
across the county and training staff in topics such as gait
analysis. It also supports various sports organisations and
events.
Kate’s vision is to replicate the business
across Kent, the rest of the UK and abroad, “maintaining the unique
combination of retailing products alongside clinics offering
professional services.”
She adds: “I want to develop Podplus
into a sustainable, replicable and profitable business. I enjoy
helping other people develop their own business ideas and feel
strongly about promoting business start-up as an option to be
considered when looking for work.”
Factfile
Winner
Kate Austen (Podplus Limited)
Location: Ashford
Business Sector: Sports Retail &
Professional Services
Key Product/Services: Podplus provides a
selection of footwear, clothing and accessories designed for
activity. Podplus is also a Multi Disciplinary Injury Clinic for
sports and non sports people, offering Podiatry, Chiropody,
Physiotherapy, Sports Therapy and Massage.
Number of Employees: 5 PT and 6 self employed
Practitioners
Established: May 2005
Runners-up
Owen Hunnam (Vine Media)
Location: Sevenoaks
Business Sector: Media & Publishing
Key Product/Services: Free magazines and
digital services
Number of Employees: Full time: 1, Part time:
9
Established: February 2007
Bradley Mcloughlin (Trading4u)
Location: Strood
Business Sector: Online Trading Agency
Key Product/Services: Assist clients selling
their unwanted items online
Number of Employees: 3
Established: May 2007
Thursday, June 25 2009
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