One of the county's top business organisations is to host a special event focusing on the benefits of hiring ex-forces personnel.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in the county has teamed up with X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) to host an event in Tunbridge Wells in June.

It will be attended by Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat MP and entrepreneur and XFE founder Ren Kapur.

XFE supports new enterprise in the military community.

FSB Kent's Deborah Turner explains: "Many skills learned in the forces are absolutely key to running a business – technical skills, logistics, leadership and management. Plus, of course, tenacity and resilience. Plus, with one third of firms struggling to recruit, an open recruitment policy is essential for businesses to thrive. This event will highlight ways in which both businesses and ex-forces personnel can benefit.”

Also attending will be Barry Thompson of Me:Now; Kate Lole from the Ministry of Defence; Shaun Micallef-Green of The Rift Group and Lisa Marr from Veterans Employment Transition Support (VETS).

The event, on Friday, June 21, takes place in the run up to Armed Forces Day.

Some 1,200 start-ups have been born out of the military community over the past four years, according to XFE.

The event takes place at the Ephraim Suite of the Royal Wells Hotel in Tunbridge Wells between 8.45am and noon and is free to attend. To book register at the event website.