Kitchen Dancing founder receives national recognition

Jo Porter from Nottingham has been named as one of the UK’s most 100 inspirational female entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain’s f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ campaign.

Porter, who founded dance fitness and events business Kitchen Dancing in 2017, is being showcased alongside 100 female entrepreneurs from across the UK.

Now in its fourth year, f:Entrepreneur was launched in 2017 to highlight female role models.

Porter was also called out for her work within the community and for charity through Kitchen Dancing as well as continuing to run her specialist tour operator business for music ensembles and runners, Sound Escapes (launched 2019) and Running Escapes (launched November 2020), when not mid-pandemic.

She said: “I am over the moon to be recognized and welcomed into this prestigious group of female entrepreneurs especially during such challenging times. I am so excited by this opportunity to meet other business women, also wearing a number of different hats, and to be inspired by their stories and successes.

Both f:Entrepreneur and Small Business Britain were founded by Michelle Ovens CBE, who is also the director of Small Business Saturday UK.

“Congratulations to all the inspiring women chosen to join this year’s #ialso100,” said Ovens. “Despite the significant obstacles thrown at them in the last year, female entrepreneurship continues to grow and flourish. We need to continue, and increase, our support for these incredible women and celebrate their amazing strength and success in the face of huge challenges.”

“We have seen so many women embracing change, generating and exploring new ideas, rallying around their communities and supporting their peers. This resilience is hugely valuable and will set them up for success as they will be at the very heart of the UK’s recovery.”