{"id":15388,"date":"2022-05-25T11:20:22","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T10:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/?p=15388"},"modified":"2024-07-31T12:59:34","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T11:59:34","slug":"optimism-for-the-regions-growth-at-kent-medway-business-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/2022\/05\/optimism-for-the-regions-growth-at-kent-medway-business-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimism for the Region\u2019s Growth at Kent and Medway Business Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The Kent &amp; Medway Business Summit returned to campus on Wednesday 27 April 2022 welcoming crowds of local delegates, keynote speakers and a plethora of presentations, workshops and debates.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The event, held in partnership with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fsb.org.uk\/\">Federation of Small Businesses<\/a>, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iod.com\/\"> Institute of Directors,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.locateinkent.com\/\">Locate in Kent<\/a> and sponsored by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.krestonreeves.com\/\">Kreston Reeves<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ts-p.co.uk\/\"> Thomas Snell and Passmore<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.british-business-bank.co.uk\/\">British Business Bank<\/a> was held at Kent Business School\u2019s multi-award-winning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.ac.uk\/maps\/canterbury\/canterbury-campus\/building\/sibson-building\">Sibson Building.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"kent-video-wrapper\"><span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text\/html' width='1140' height='672' src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MIjXXm0f9U0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen='true'><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>Host, Deborah Turner, from the Federation of Small Businesses introduced proceedings before<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.ac.uk\/about\/governance\/profiles\/3948\/cox-karen\"> Professor Karen Cox,<\/a> Vice Chancellor of Kent made her opening remarks, reflecting on how happy she was to see people \u2018in 3D\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors, followed with a well-received presentation entitled <em>The UK Economy: Insights and trends for 2022 and beyond. <\/em>The presentation, based on data from the Office of National Statistics, posed a tentatively positive picture of the future of our county.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlthough there are lots of risks, the consensus view is that the economy will grow in 2022,\u201d said Ms Ussher who shared informtion through a series of easy-to-understand graphs. \u201cKeep close to your customers, the weakest are the most vulnerable, the picture could be very different in two years\u2019 time,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15407\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15407\" style=\"width: 5398px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_9028.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-15407 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_9028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5398\" height=\"3599\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15407\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kitty Ussher presented a tentatively optimistic picture of the economy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Richard Hicks, Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive at Medway Council, offered up the exciting innovations planned for the region, claiming he felt \u2018unashamedly upbeat\u2019 about the future and regeneration in Medway.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMedway is a great place to live, to work to learn,\u201d he said before unveiling the plans for \u2018city\u2019 of Medway Chatham and regeneration projects at the award-winning Rochester Riverside. \u00a0\u201cThis is all about paving the way for a new rural town in Medway with placemaking at its heart.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15404\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15404\" style=\"width: 6016px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_7656.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-15404 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_7656.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"6016\" height=\"4016\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15404\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Richard Hicks explained the future of innovation and placemaking in Medway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Councillor Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council, gave a presentation entitled <em>Productive, Sustainable, Inclusive: Kent\u2019s Economic Strategy towards 2030 <\/em>in which he presented Kent County Council\u2019s vision over the next eight years including the recovery phase of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis coupled with the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Thanet Parkway Station project and its benefit for the region, alongside Discovery Park in Sandwich Kent which will generate an \u2018ecosystem for life science businesses\u2019 were highlighted as exciting prospects for the future.<\/p>\n<p>Cllr Gough also explained the council\u2019s key plans to \u2018reconnect\u2019 students who experienced \u2018learning loss\u2019 over the pandemic, particularly the most disadvantaged students.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKent, compared with the southeast as a whole is below average in terms of qualification levels which feeds through to incomes and productivity. This is a long-haul process of change,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15417\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15417\" style=\"width: 6016px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_7979.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-15417 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_7979.jpg\" alt=\"Roger Gough presenting \" width=\"6016\" height=\"4016\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15417\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Roger Gough of KCC unveiled the future plans of the council<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Andy Martin, Director of Communications and Strategy of London Resort Company Holdings presented and answered questions on the bid on the Swanscombe Peninsula and the factors involved in its recent rejection.<\/p>\n<p>Attendees asked plenty of questions and showed enthusiasm for the knowledge and perspective offered by the talks.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It was such a wealth of knowledge and pertinent information being shared to guide attendees on expectations and strategic alignment with current business realities and beyond,\u2019 remarked Project Manager at Balfour Beatty <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/thekentmbacommunity\/2021\/10\/20\/lola-osideko-johnson\/\">Lola Osideko-Johnson,<\/a> who is also studying an MBA at Kent Business School.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKitty Ussher&#8217;s talk on the U.K. economy was fascinating,\u201d said Samuel Cornelius Merrell, who is studying BSc Marketing and currently on his Selfie year, having been invited to the Summit by ASPIRE, said: \u2018I listened to the panel discussion on finance and the journey to net zero, it inspired me to look into what else I could do to reduce my carbon footprint for my small business.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverybody was buzzing- eager to learn, exchange ideas and contacts and so happy to meet again. The love for Canterbury and Medway was in the air!\u2019 said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.ac.uk\/kent-business-school\/people\/senior-leadership-team\/2484\/stoian-carmen\">Dr Carmen Stoian<\/a>\u00a0Senior Lecturer in International Business.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15400\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15400\" style=\"width: 6016px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_7458-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-15400 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_7458-1.jpg\" alt=\"Delegates sat in a lecture theatre watching the Business Summit \" width=\"6016\" height=\"4016\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15400\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Delegates felt &#8216;optimistic&#8217; and &#8216;inspired;&#8217; by the variety of presentations and workshops<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;I was truly impressed by the vibrant and insightful talks of all speakers. It has been fascinating to learn about current trends of the UK economy and to hear the positive and passionate message about the future of Kent and Medway, great places to live, work, learn and visit,&#8221; added <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.ac.uk\/kent-business-school\/people\/senior-leadership-team\/895\/scaparra-maria-paola\">Professor Maria Paola Scaparra.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Kent and Medway Business Summit is a unique platform, not only to discuss challenges and opportunities of our region, but especially to forge new partnerships between businesses and academics that can make a difference in finding innovative solutions to these challenges.<\/p>\n<p>After the break, followed a series of workshops covering hot topics in the business world including Placemaking, Productivity and the Future of Work and Sustainable Innovation, featuring high profile speakers including Turner Contemporary\u2019s Peter Hawkes, Gavin Cleary CEO of Locate Kent and Kresse Welding of Elvis and Kresse.\u00a0 Attendees could also take part in a heated panel discussion surrounding Purpose and Productivity or hear about the \u2018vision\u2019 for Kent and Medway from Liz Gibney Chair of Kent and Medway partnership.<\/p>\n<p>The event finished with a virtual presentation <em>5 in 5: Five Innovations That Will Change Our Lives Within Five Years<\/em>, from Professor Andy Stanford-Clark, IBM Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is something I have been doing for the last ten or so years and we do some crystal ball gazing and focus groups with the technical public,\u201d he explained. \u201cThese are innovations that will make a difference to our sustainable feature.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15402\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15402\" style=\"width: 6000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_9271.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-15402 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_9271.jpg\" alt=\"Professor Andy Stanford-Clark, IBM Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor presenting at the event \" width=\"6000\" height=\"4000\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15402\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Professor Andy Stanford-Clark,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibm.com\/uk-en\"> IBM<\/a> Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor appeared via video-link to present on innovations that will aid sustainability<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>His five predictions included capturing C02 in industrial scale, nitrogen fixation to help food growth, battery chemistry to be less reliant on rare earth metals, electronics and accelerating medical discovery with AI and Quantum Computers.<\/p>\n<p>Closing remarks came from Professor Marian Garcia, Dean of Kent Business School followed by a delicious \u2018sustainable\u2019 lunch as the delegates reflected on a fantastic and productive day had by all.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.ac.uk\/kent-business-school\/news\/14410\/international-advisory-board-member-laura-bounds-collects-her-mbe\">Laura Bounds<\/a> MBE owner of Kent Crisps, Kentish Oils &amp; Condiments and A Little Bit said: \u2018The Business Summit is critical from two perspectives: to network with people outside of your sector and to learn from the experts in the industry, we had a great session with an economist to really give us an in depth understanding of where the economy is heading, and that sort of insight is very rare when you\u2019re working at 100 miles an hour every day. It\u2019s fantastic to be back and it\u2019s a great event and I am really delighted to have attended.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bal Sander, CEO of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hecticlifestyles.co.uk\/\">Hectic Lifestyles<\/a> and Kent alum said: \u201cFrom a networking point of view, events like the Summit are valuable to speak to other businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>CEO of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kentcricket.co.uk\/\">Kent Cricket<\/a> Simon Storey said: \u201cIt was good to get together with leaders from across Kent and Medway to share latest news, forecasts, and learnings.\u00a0 Despite the challenges we are facing today, there is a sense that we are all working hard to make Kent and Medway a great place to live, work, visit, learn and play. \u00a0What is clear is that we will be better prepared to meet the challenges of the future, if we invest in talent development.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_9149.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15412\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/05\/DSC_9149.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"6000\" height=\"4000\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Kent and Medway Business Summit is a unique platform, not only to discuss challenges and opportunities of our region, but especially to forge new partnerships between businesses and academics that can make a difference in finding innovative solutions to these challenges,\u201d said Professor of Management Science Paola Scaparra.<\/p>\n<p>Josh Pitman, Managing Director of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.priorydirect.co.uk\/\">Priory Direct<\/a> said: \u201cThe Summit was full of good people; good presentations and it was thought provoking and motivational. The economic forecast was very insightful and enjoyable. I was chairing the sustainability and innovation break out and it was great to have a full room and strong engagement. It was great to have such an engaged audience, good presenters, and really good questions which generated a lot of shared interest and discussion within the room. The Summit for me was thought-provoking, enjoyable, informative, &amp; motivational and certainly worth taking time for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dean of Kent Business School, <a href=\"https:\/\/research.kent.ac.uk\/time\/person\/marian-garcia\/\">Professor Marian Garcia<\/a> concluded: \u201cIn this constantly changing business landscape, there has never been a greater need for a place where businesses, politicians, local government, key policy makers and academics can come together and build a roadmap for sustainable economic growth. Marking a welcome return to in-person events, this was a day to discuss, inform, influence and, above all, collaborate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Bringing together businesses, key policymakers and leading academics, The Kent and Medway Business Summit features the latest news from key projects, expert keynote speakers and collaborative workshops.\u00a0 To get involved in our 2023 event email <a href=\"mailto:KBSBusiness@kent.ac.uk\">KBSBusiness@kent.ac.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Kent &amp; Medway Business Summit returned to campus on Wednesday 27 April 2022 welcoming crowds of local delegates, keynote speakers and a plethora of &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/2022\/05\/optimism-for-the-regions-growth-at-kent-medway-business-summit\/\">Read&nbsp;more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74553,"featured_media":15422,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[124],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15388"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74553"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15388"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22367,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15388\/revisions\/22367"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}