The Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Kent Business School has provided us with the data we need in discussions with Government about the practical implications of leaving the customs union. In his presentation at KBS’s Soundbites event on Thursday 11 May, Port of Dover CEO Tim Waggott was unequivocal about the benefits his organisation had gained from cooperation with the School: “KBS has helped us to meet the increasing business challenge of handling record freight volumes, equating to £119bn of the UK’s trade. Their service has been first class”.

The Soundbites presentation was centered on the invaluable work carried out by the KBS’s Management Science group, a team of leading academics looking at improving business efficiency through quantitative analysis of, for example, supply chains and logistics networks. Case study presentations by Mr Waggott and Priority Freight’s Managing Director Neal Williams showed how the application of business analytics had considerably cut operational costs and improved future planning.

Dr Jesse O’Hanley , stressed that quantitative business analytics can be applied to virtually every industry, citing examples of the NHS Blood Service and the tourism sector: “Our work is very tailor-made. Our initial talks and analysis often help a business to understand where the real problem lies. We may start with problem A but end up solving problem B – some companies have completely changed their operational procedures as a result of working with us”.

Businesses attending the event came away inspired. “I found the evening extremely interesting” said a representative of South East Water “and will definitely come again”.

We hope you will, too. For more information on our Soundbites event, please keep an eye on our KBS business page or email us to sign up for our business E newsletter: kbsbusiness@kent.ac.uk.