by Emma Liddiard, chairman of the Institute of Directors Kent branch, managing director and mum

This month I got my first taste of the IoD Kent sporting dinner and it lived up to expectations.

Duncan Lawrie Private Banking sponsored it again this year allowing us to hold a superb black tie event at the Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells. Our charity, Abigail’s Footsteps, gave us access to their vice-president and rugby legend, Victor Ubogu.

The evening got off with a swing thanks to plenty of Mondial wine and gave me the opportunity to continue to meet more loyal Kent branch members. Just when I think I must be getting to know all the regulars, I realise there is no such thing. The IoD family in this county continues to grow.

I met new members, loyal attendees and guests on the table – thank you Avante Partnership, Coffee Bean Shop, My Ferry Link, Kent County Council and Hadlow College. I know many new connections have already been formed.

This isn’t just an exercise in boasting about a great night out but to try and describe to any potential members the value I find in every event and, as is my mantra, business and fun are not exclusive.

I must also give a special mention to the UKTI Export for Growth event we held in November thanks to HSBC and Zen International. We placed a lot of pressure on ourselves to demonstrate we could fill more than 150 places and we did.

A great day with engaging speakers and wonderful feedback from all involved – we look forward to working this into our 2014 calendar. If you have anything you would like to see next year, don’t hesitate to get back to us.

We have some big conversations in the pipeline and the first announcement we have involves our marketing partner opportunity.

We would like to thank Westgate Communications for their support in the partnership position and we are pleased to welcome Adams Creative to the family from January. Adams Creative is an integrated agency based in Maidstone and brings with them a wealth of experience and knowledge across all industries and we look forward to introducing them to you in the new year.

The Kent branch of the IoD continues to go from strength to strength and I am immensely proud of the work we do when I represent us in London and, with 87 new members signing up in October alone (the biggest by far in the region) the future looks bright!

I look forward to seeing you at the House of Commons lunch in December – if they let me in!