BUSINESS
Champion of Kent Food and Drink
SUE NELSON CBE
KENT ’ S OWN SUE NELSON , CHAIR OF PRODUCED IN KENT , HAS BEEN NAMED A COMMANDER OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE ( CBE ) IN THE 2022 NEW YEAR HONOURS LIST , IN RECOGNITION OF HER SERVICES TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE UK . insideKENT CAUGHT UP WITH SUE FOLLOWING HER AWARD …
An integral member of the board since 2020 , Sue Nelson CBE , the award-winning entrepreneur , author , speaker , and broadcaster , was appointed Chair of Produced in Kent in June 2021 .
Having previously built her own successful small business , Breakthrough Funding , which was designed to champion the small business owner and to make the complex R & D tax relief scheme accessible , she sold the company to Ernst & Young in March 2020 , allowing her to fund her own social impact work , including The FoodTalk Radio Show ( www . foodtalk . co . uk ) which is broadcast weekly and is available to download as a podcast through iTunes , Spotify or through most podcast apps . The programme showcases small producers and champions the UK as the place to come for amazing food and food tech innovation . Each episode explores the stories behind the incredible food and drink producers , manufacturers , retailers , pubs and hospitality outlets from around the UK but with a particular emphasis on Sue ’ s home county of Kent .
Sue is also a member of the Guild of Food Writers and author of ten books including FoodTech UK and the Fine Food Lover ’ s Guide with Simon Rimmer , the co-host of Sunday Brunch . Alongside her corporate work , she has been involved with charities , not-forprofits and community projects for the last 25 years . “ I ’ ve admired the amazing people who quietly go about their work at grass roots level with huge compassion , generosity , and modesty . It ’ s humbling to watch how they make a positive difference 365 days of the year at a very personal level , often on low pay or as a volunteer . So . . . to all the unsung heroes that I ’ ve had the great pleasure of working with for the last couple of decades , I am honoured to accept this award on their behalf and not mine .”
How did it feel finding out you were being awarded a CBE ?
Well , it was a shock at first ! You don ’ t know you ’ ve been nominated . Then you get a letter in the post from The Cabinet Office about five or six weeks before it ’ s announced and you have to keep it secret all that time . I told my husband though ! I guess I feel very honoured and sort of humbled , especially when you consider the incredible achievements of fellow recipients .
Why is Kent special to you ?
Although I was born in London , we moved to Kent when I was 11 . I went to school in the county and then on to Canterbury to study for my degree . I met my first husband ( sadly deceased ) in Ashford where we got married and both our children were born here too . Very recently I met my second husband and we live in Hythe – we only tied the knot three months ago ! So I guess you could say our family is firmly rooted here . It ’ s where we belong .
Where does your passion for Kent food and drink come from ?
When I started Breakthrough Funding the food and drink sector was a large part of the business . Many of our clients were growers , producers and farmers and I got to see first-hand the amazing work they do and also how dedicated they are . Although my business was sold to Ernst & Young in 2020 , they are still hugely important to us . I feel passionately about our producers – I think we are THE best county for the quality of the goods we produce . I feel so lucky to live here .
Why do you think small businesses are so important in Kent ?
It ’ s the big businesses , those that have over 250 employees , that always get the press coverage and media attention and it really annoys me ! Small businesses contribute 52 % to the UK ’ s annual economy and provide 60 % of private sector jobs . They are much more likely to employ local people and use other local businesses as their suppliers . It ’ s a wonderful circular economy that is critical to our local communities .
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