THE changing face of business was the topic of March’s Institute of Directors Kent Branch Young Entrepreneur’s dinner.

Applauding the attitude of the young guests at Gillingham’s Priestfield conference centre, director of corporate responsibility for Barclays Global, David Weymouth said survival in business increasingly depended on a company’s willingness to put something back into the community.

Growing consumer awareness and scandal – from pension misselling to fraud – meant companies must rethink their goals.

Outlining Barclay’s programme of social involvement Mr Weymouth said: "It is not about acts of kindness, it’s about wanting to be around for the next 30 years."

Hearing the stories of the young entrepreneurs and their approaches to business, the community and their team mates showed, Mr Weymouth said: "This thinking is already ingrained."

The evening was held to celebrate the achievements of Kent’s young business people over the last year. Winners from the Young Enterprise programme and the Prince’s Trust Entrepreneur of the Year shared their experiences with the audience.

In the Company category, winning team Trinity from Rainham Mark Grammar School said they had learned the importance of motivating each other and the need to enjoy your goals. Team member Luke Wilcox said: "We learned that people work harder if they are motivated."

Jozef Furmanek, Public Speaker of the Year, showed a confidence beyond his years as he delivered his winning speech on the opportunities and challenges facing Kent.

Assessing the current climate, Jozef said that developing higher education institutions and promoting itself as a gateway to Europe showed Kent beginning to address its challenges, but he concluded: "How we act now will determine the future."

With a car borrowed from his girlfriend, Prince’s Trust Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Steve Thompson, revealed how he had built up his company Living Landscapes.

Summing up the importance of schemes like KAYE and Young Enterprise IoD chairman Alison Howard said that they gave young people the chance to develop skills which will be the life blood of future businesses.