On Tuesday, Kent hosted its 9th Kent and Medway Business Summit, welcoming businesses and policymakers to our Canterbury campus for a day of discussion around the big issues shaping Kent and Medway’s economy.
The event, delivered in partnership with Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and headline sponsored by Leverets, highlighted the breadth of what the University has to offer the business community and its important role in connecting local communities to drive positive change in the region.
The future of Kent, the local skills landscape and AI in business were just some of the topics covered during a series of panel discussions and workshops led by business leaders and Kent academic experts. New for this year was an expanded itinerary which took delegates beyond the boundaries of Sibson, with ‘netwalking’ across the campus to the Community Oasis Garden, Kent’s cutting-edge ballistics research facility, and along the Crab and Winkle path, where Kent Wildlife Trust shared their vision for the Wilder Blean project. Delegates were then able to get hands-on with AI technology developed by researchers within the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries before sitting down to a fireside chat between the University’s Chancellor, YolanDa Brown OBE DL, and Susie Warran-Smith CBE DL in the Gulbenkian Theatre.
The Summit is just one of the many ways that Kent is extending access to its facilities, talents and resources as part of its civic mission to serve Kent and Medway’s communities. Its range of business-centric professional development courses and apprenticeships, research and innovation support, and Careers and Employability Service are supporting business growth in the region. Many spaces on campus are available for business hire and through its flagship initiatives, Right to Food and University of Sanctuary, Kent is creating opportunities for organisations to give back to their communities.
Acting Vice Chancellor, Georgina Randsley de Moura, said: ‘It was a pleasure and privilege to welcome so many local stakeholders at our Summit. The thought-provoking and lively discussions – within the talks and throughout the networking opportunities – and the enthusiasm for collaboration and growth was really inspiring. We have a key part to play in helping our region prosper – and events like this are a great way for us to facilitate and support this. Next year’s event will be part of our 60th Anniversary, and we hope it will be even better. In the meantime, we will continue to work with our partners on all other opportunities to come together as a region.’
Tudor Price, Chief Executive of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘This is such an important event for business leaders at a time of great economic change and uncertainty. Working with the University to help businesses adapt and plan for the future is of great importance and we were delighted to be able to help deliver what ended up being a really informative day.’
Rupert Butler, Head of Legal Practice at Leverets, said: ‘It was great to see so many people sharing their experiences, insights and forecasts. The mood was upbeat and the outlook optimistic – we are grateful to have had the opportunity to support the Summit.’
The University extends its thanks to everyone that supported the event alongside its partners and headline sponsors, with special thanks to session sponsors Walker Construction, Dodgems and Floss and AKITA, and the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses, Medway Council and Kent County Council.
Kent and Medway Business Summit is set to return in 2026 when the University looks forward to welcoming everyone back. Look out for updates here or sign up to receive Kent’s business news.