The Kent and Medway Business Summit will return for its fourth year on 15th January 2021 with a clear focus on business resilience, renewal and strategy for a return to growth.
Hosted annually at the University of Kent by Kent Business School and its partners; Federation of Small Business, Institute of Directors and Locate in Kent, the Kent and Medway Business Summit brings together some 400 businesses and policy makers to debate key themes.
Expert keynote speakers will cover topics on the economy and latest developments in Brexit. Workshops will deliver insights into areas including productivity, infrastructure, placemaking and skills and offer the opportunity for businesses to have their say on developing strategy.
In 2021, the Summit will be hosted virtually using the exciting platform, Remo, which offers unparalleled opportunities for networking and collaboration.
The Summit offers the chance for businesses, large and small, across multiple sectors to contribute to the debate shaping the future of our county.
To discuss sponsorship opportunities contact Rebecca Smith at KBSbusiness@kent.ac.uk
Kent and Medway Business Summit
Agenda
January 15 2021 in Remo
9.30-9.50 Conference opens for networking
9.50-10.00 Welcome - Gavin Esler, Chancellor, University of Kent and
Deborah Turner, FSB Chair for Women in Business
10.00-10.30 The UK Economy: Drawing on the most recent Bank of England Monetary Policy Report
insights into inflation, unemployment, GPD and trends into 2021 and beyond, Phil
Eckersley, Bank of England and Q&A
10.30-10.50 Attracting investment to Kent and Medway: an action plan from Locate in Kent,
Gavin Cleary, CEO, Locate in Kent
11.00-12.00 Main Room
11.00-11.15 Medway - The Beacon for Recovery, Richard Hicks, Director of Place
and Deputy Chief Executive, Medway Council
11.15-11.30 Accelerating Renewal: Cllr Roger Gough, Leader, Kent County Council
11.30-12.00 What our new Political Relationship with the EU means for Business,
Prof Anand Menon, Director, UK in a changing Europe. Q&A.
11.00-12.00 Workshops 1 & 2:
1. Necessity is the mother of invention: innovation and productivity in Kent’s
local independent food and drink sector – lessons learnt and next steps.
2. New-collar jobs: skilling and retaining talent in Kent and Medway for our cultural/creative/digital future
12.00-12.30 Lunch and networking
12.40-13.40 Main Room
12.40-13.10 Networking opportunities
13.10-13.50 The Business impact of Covid-19 Dr Roger Barker,
Head of Policy, Institute of Directors. Q&A.
12.40-13.40 Workshops 3 & 4:
3. Placemaking for Kent and Medway: shaping our future high streets and town centres
4. People, Planet, Profit: Our opportunity to create a green economy by building a
sustainable infrastructure for Kent and Medway
13.40-14.10 Emotion AI and future trends, Rana el Kaliouby. Q&A.
14.10-14.15 Closing remarks
14.15- Networking
COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOPS - OVERVIEW
- Necessity is the mother of invention: innovation and productivity in Kent’s local independent food and drink sector – lessons learnt and next steps
Chair: Floortje Hoette, Chief Executive, Produced in Kent.
Dr Alessia Buscaino, School of Biosciences, University of Kent - Growing Kent and Medway: funding opportunities for food and drink producers.
Jonathan Parker, CEO, Foodari, Industry insight: Pivoting during Covid-19.
- New-collar jobs: skilling Kent and Medway for our cultural/creative/digital future
Chair: James Wilkinson, Digital Skills Partnership Coordinator, South East Local Economic Partnership.
Lizzie Hodgson, Re:Gen 2031 advisory board and Creative Estuary project.
George Windsor, Head of Insight, Tech Nation
- Placemaking for Kent and Medway: shaping our future high streets
Chair: Graham Galpin, Fellow, Institute of Place Management
Mark Robinson, CEO of Ellandi and Chairman of the High Street Task Force
Peter Nutting, Leader of Shropshire County Council and a Partner in the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan
- People, Planet, Profit: Our opportunity to create a green economy by building a sustainable infrastructure for Kent and Medway
Chair: Dr Rufus Howard, chief advisor, IEMA
David Statham, Managing Director, Southeastern Railways - Respond, Recover, Improve. Sustainable recovery of the railway after Covid-19.
Emma Toulson, Lead Stakeholder Advisor UK, Ørsted
