Beer mat entrepreneur Mike Southon is set to get this year's county show off to an inspirational start.

The business guru, one of the world’s leading speakers, tops the bill at a breakfast that kicks off the Kent Show on Friday. The event is hosted by the Institute of Directors Kent and the Kent Messenger Group.

Mr Southon is a serial entrepreneur and co-authour of four books on starting and growing busineses, including The Beermat Entrepreneur, The Boardroom Entrepreneur, Sales on a Beermat and Finance on a Beermat.

He has made frequent appearances on television and radio and has a weekly column on entrepreneurship in the Financial Times. He is also a Visiting Fellor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at London South Bank University.

During the 1980s, he co-founded The Instruction Set, a computer services company which he later sold to what is Cap Gemini.

He worked with 17 start-up venutes during the 1990s, two of which Riversoft and Micromouse, later listed on the Stock Exchange.

The breakfast will be held at the Kent Messenger Group Supporting Business marquee on Friday July 11 from 7.30am to 10am.

To check availability of tickets, ring Debbie Cameron on 01732 849570.

The KMG Supporting Business marquee is open for all three days of the show and a warm invitation is extended to members of the Institute of Directors Kent, chambers of commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, and representatives of any Kent and Medway business.