FIONA POLLARD, former owner of the Hop Farm and Country Park, is to be the keynote speaker at a seminar for business owners later this month.

She will be talking about her experience last year of selling the tourist attraction at Beltring, near Paddock Wood.

The breakfast event, organised by EMC Management Consultants of Turkey Mill, Maidstone, is aimed at businesses with profit or profit potential of £250,000 and more.

Speakers will be a mix of advisers and individuals who have successfully been through the sale process. An acquisitions director for a large corporate will talk about the buyer’s perspective.

"We are aiming to attract about 50 delegates who should be business owners, not simply advisers looking to do some networking," said EMC director Desmond High.

Matrix Venture Capital, a London-based firm with a number of Kent investments, will lead a session on management buyouts.

Other topics covered in the two-hour programme at the Marriott Tudor Park Hotel, Bearsted, on Tuesday, April 24, will be business valuation; grooming (how to reduce buyer risk and increase value); identifying buyers; what buyers are looking for; when to sell; the personal impact; mechanics of selling; marketing the business; legal processes; due diligence; what life like under the new regime; and tax planning.

Organisers are considering follow-up coaching sessions.

* Details from Desmond High on 01622 685734 or 07976 426547.