The Kent and Medway Business Summit returns on Friday 15 January with a virtual event bringing together the business community to have their say on the future of the region.
Now in its fourth year, the Summit is a partnership between Kent Business School, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors and Locate in Kent.
Using the world-leading virtual conferencing platform, Remo, the Summit will offer businesses the chance to engage directly with regional political figures and academic experts.
Professionally facilitated interactive workshops will centre on:
- The future of the region’s food and drink sector
- The shape of our high streets and town centres
- Creation of a sustainable green infrastructure and economy
- The opportunity for job creation from the digital creative sector
In addition to the interactive hour-long workshops, businesses will have the chance to put their views to key figures from Kent and Medway councils, who will be presenting their latest strategies.
There will be keynote speeches on:
- The development of Human AI and its implications for business (Dr Rana el Kaliouby, world-leading tech entrepreneur and CEO of Affectiva)
- What the UK’s new relationship with the EU will mean for business (Prof Anand Menon, Director, UK in a Changing Europe)
- The latest government response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its legacy for business (Dr Roger Barker, Head of Policy, Institute of Directors)
- News on plans to bring inward investment to the region (Gavin Cleary, CEO, Locate in Kent)
- The latest insights and future trends in the region’s economy (Phil Eckersley, Bank of England)
- Medway – The Beacon for Recovery (Richard Hicks, Director of Place & Deputy Chief Executive, Medway Council)
Gavin Esler, Chancellor, University of Kent and Deborah Turner, FSB Chair for Women in Business, will open the Summit.
Dean of Kent Business School, Professor Marian Garcia, said: ‘The Summit was born from a round table discussion in 2017 with business leaders about the implications of Brexit. Those around the table called for a place where businesses, politicians, local government and academics could come together and build a roadmap for sustainable economic growth.
‘The need for a strong direction and focus for our region has arguably never been greater which is why this Summit will be one like no other.’
For the full agenda and to register for a place go to Kent Business Summit 2021 – Welcome. Tickets cost £10 and are limited to 400.
Headline sponsor of the Summit is Kreston Reeves, with supporting sponsors British Business Bank, Southeastern Railway, Canterbury AI and Kayo Digital. The KM Media Group and KMTV are official media partners.
