The Kent & Medway Business Summit will return for its fourth year on Friday 15 January 2021 with a clear focus on business resilience, renewal, innovation and strategies for a return to growth.
Hosted annually by the University of Kent’s Kent Business School with partners the Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Directors and Locate in Kent, the Kent & Medway Business Summit, sponsored by Southeastern brings together some 400 businesses, academics and policymakers to debate key themes.
The Summit delivers an exceptional opportunity to tackle the short and long-term priorities for the region’s business community. Expert keynote speakers will cover topics on the economy, the very latest developments in Brexit and the government’s Covid-19 response.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Professor Anand Menon, UK in a Changing Europe
- Dr Roger Barker, Director of Policy, Institute of Directors
- Phil Eckersley, Bank of England
More speakers will be confirmed in coming weeks and announced on the Kent Business School blog.
Four collaborative workshops will allow delegates to input into and deliver insights into areas including productivity, infrastructure, placemaking and skills.
There will be an opportunity to hear about major developments in the region.
The Summit offers the chance for business, large and small, across multiple sectors to contribute to the debate shaping the future of our region.
The format of next year’s event will be fully online using exciting cutting-edge virtual conferencing technology, Remo providing unrivalled opportunities to engage and network.
The Dean of Kent Business School, Professor Marian Garcia, welcomed the Summit’s return, adding: “At this extraordinary time, we have never needed more the opportunity to come together virtually to drive forward a clear vision for our county. We need to look to the future and to collaborate to provide a strong platform for growth for business of all size and in all sectors.”
Deborah Turner, FSB Area Leader says, “Now more than ever we need to share information, learn from each other and support those sectors of the 
economy that have been hit hardest through the COVD-19 pandemic. This fourth Kent Business Summit will give business owners and leaders the chance to do just that, all in its new virtual format. Over the past few years, I have always gained useful insights and information, both personally and professionally from the Summit and look forward to doing so again in the New Year.”
James Gardner, Vice-Chair of IoD Kent, said: “We are delighted that the Kent and Medway Business Summit will be returning in January. 2020 has been a constant supply of unexpected challenges, but also one from which we can all take many valuable lessons. The summit will be vitally important to provide connections for our business community, bringing us together to share what we’ve learned and support one another. I’m particularly pleased that the IoD’s newly appointed Director of Policy, Dr Roger Barker, will be joining to share his insight with attendees.”
Gavin Cleary, CEO at Locate in Kent, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the business community of Kent and 
Medway to re-group, share what we have learnt over the last few months and plan for the future, moving forward to recovery and renewal. Despite recent challenges, we have proven ourselves to be remarkably resilient, and together we can show the wider UK and the world, that Kent is ripe for investment and open for business.”
Chris Vinson, Southeastern Railway said: “This event comes at an important time, as communities and businesses across Kent reflect on the challenges of 2020 and how they will play their part in our country’s economic recovery. Public transport has been particularly affected by COVID-19, and all of us at Southeastern will continue to play our part in ensuring that key workers, businesspeople and their employees can travel with confidence.”
Please see the Summit agenda here.
Tickets for the Kent & Medway Business Summit cost £10, places are strictly limited to 400.
Register for the Summit to secure your place and follow the conversation via #KandMBusinessSummit