The fight to keep talented workers in the county was laid bare at the first meeting of a new group for start-up entrepreneurs in Kent.

Bosses bemoaned the pull of London’s high salaries at the gathering of the IoD99 Network at 7 Hotel Diner in Halstead, near Sevenoaks.

Yet there was some hope for bosses as they discussed whether there is a “Kent Powerhouse or a London Brain-Drain”.

Business owner Anwen Cooper, who co-hosted the event, said many firms also felt there are many benefits to working in the county.

She said: “A lot of businesses say it can be difficult to recruit because they are offering a lower salary and don’t have the glamourous clients a London company can offer. But there are a lot of benefits Kent can offer people in terms of work-life balance, the lifestyle aspect and you don’t have to commute every day.

“You can work for interesting and dynamic companies on your doorstep.”

More than 40 people went to the launch event of the Kent group, which has already amassed 60 members since it was launched a few months ago.

As a subsidiary of the Institute of Directors, it offers discounted membership of the organisation to entrepreneurs whose business is up to five years old, with a full-year costing £99.

Mrs Cooper, who launched her own business Get Fruitful Marketing in Maidstone three years ago, said: “It makes membership more affordable to people who are starting up a business and they get the full benefits of normal membership.

“There’s not really anything quite like it that I’m aware of – certainly not in Kent. There’s not a huge amount of support out there for new businesses specifically.

“There are things like the Growth Hub run by Kent Invicta Chamber pointing out funding but there is definitely room for more support.”

The group is run by Mrs Cooper and Dan Corpe, an IoD Kent ambassador, who runs Corpe Consulting in Maidstone.

He invited his friend and colleague Graeme Risby of Maidstone tech start-up HiyaCar to be the keynote speaker of the launch.

Mr Corpe said: “Seeking wise words, connections and encouragement through informal mentoring and more structured networks such as those offered by the IOD can be vital to help a newly formed venture on its way in these early years.”

The group aims to meet every quarter with its next event being planned for sometime in February or March. Details at iod.com/membership/iod-99.