STORY
Kent’ s Young Disruptors cont...
TECHNOLOGY / AI: Ben Towers, Happl
A Gillingham-born entrepreneur, Ben Towers- who started coding at just 11 years old- has been rewriting the tech rulebook since childhood, building his first digital agency while still at school and exiting the business before his 20th birthday. Today, he is founder of Happl, an AI-driven HR platform designed to streamline employee benefits, engagement and workplace culture for modern companies. The technology aims to replace the fragmented patchwork of HR tools many businesses rely on with a single intelligent system, and Towers’ impact on the UK tech sector has already been recognised nationally. Awarded an MBE for services to technology and entrepreneurship this year at just 27 years old, his story is proof that Kent-born talent can build globally relevant tech companies from remarkably early beginnings.
happl. com bentowers
SUSTAINABLE RETAIL: Lucy Jeffrey, Bare Kind
When Lucy Jeffrey launched Bare Kind in 2018, she set out to prove that a small product could deliver a big environmental impact. Founded in Maidstone when she was 23, the company produces bamboo socks that fund wildlife conservation, donating 10 % of profits to animal charities linked to each design. The concept quickly resonated with consumers looking for more ethical ways to shop, helping Bare Kind grow through a direct-to-consumer online model centred on transparency and sustainability, and the brand now partners with conservation organisations worldwide, supporting causes from orangutan protection to sea turtle conservation. Jeffrey’ s approach demonstrates how purpose-driven retail can challenge traditional fashion models while building a loyal and values-led customer base.
barekind. co. uk barekind _
EDUCATION: Alexandra Duncan, The Teenage Tutor
Sevenoaks-based entrepreneur Alexandra Duncan founded The Teenage Tutor while still a student herself after realising younger pupils often responded better to support from high-achieving teenagers who had recently navigated the same exams and curriculum, and subsequently spotting this gap in the tutoring market. Her platform connects secondary school students with trained teenage tutors, creating a peer-led learning model that is both relatable and accessible. What began as a small initiative has developed into a growing tutoring network supporting GCSE-level students across the region- by challenging the traditional image of tutoring as expensive and driven predominantly by adults, this innovative model opens academic support to a wider range of families while empowering young people to become educators in their own right.
theteenagetutor. com theteenagetutor
MARKETING: Heather Williams, HW Marketing Studio / The Rookie CEO
For many new entrepreneurs, launching a business is the easy part; understanding marketing, branding and digital growth is often far harder. Sittingbourne-based founder Heather Williams established HW Marketing Studio to help fledgling companies navigate that learning curve with practical, achievable strategy. Alongside the agency, she launched The Rookie CEO, a platform offering guidance and community support for founders building their first ventures, reflecting a broader shift in the business world towards collaborative learning rather than traditional consultancy models. Recognised among the Kent Business Awards’ Under-30 finalists, Williams focuses on helping smaller businesses compete online through smarter digital marketing, clearer brand positioning and practical guidance designed specifically for emerging entrepreneurs.
hwmarketingstudio. com hwmarketingstudio www. insidekent. co. uk • 169