Business angels are being encouraged to invest in small firms across the county to help them grow and create jobs.

Kent Investment Club (KIC) - run by Finance South East and funded by Kent County Council - aims to raise awareness of angel investment, attract wealthy individuals, and boost small firms with ambition.

It supports first time investors with training and development that highlight the opportunities and challenges of investment.

KIC members will learn how to identify enterprises with high growth potential, manage a portfolio of investments and how to grow their investments.

Finance South East CEO Sally Goodsell said: “Angels are often successful business people who want to help guide a young company, as well as potentially get a good financial return.

“It offers exciting challenges as well as the more obvious rewards. Similar investment clubs in Surrey and Sussex have dramatically increased business angel activity and we believe the Kent Investment Club will do the same.”

The club is being launched on October 12 at the Maidstone Studios. Potential business angels or professionals advising high net worth individuals are invited to pre-register for the event which is supported by the British Business Angels Association.

Potential angels are invited to email Donna Cooper at Donna.Cooper@financesoutheast.com with their interest. A website will also be up and running soon, with registration details at www.financesoutheast.com/ on the events page – the Kent Investment Club.