Organisers of the Kent Business Summit next month say are expecting record numbers attending the event.

Staged at the University of Kent's Canterbury campus, more than 400 business leaders, academics and local government representatives are set to be present for what is one of the first major events on the commercial calendar.

Organised and hosted by the university’s Kent Business School (KBS), the summit encourages business, government and academia to collaborate in tackling challenges in four priority areas for county Kent: transport infrastructure, placemaking, productivity and skills development.

A key focus of this year's summit, which takes place on Friday, January 10, will be sustainable economic growth for the county.

This year’s speakers include internationally renowned ‘change maker’ and sharing economy expert Benita Matofska; Sam Turner, chief technology officer at High-Value Manufacturing Catapult; Professor Jagjit Chadha, chair of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research; and Bank of England south east agent Phil Eckersley.

The university’s senior deputy vice-chancellor, David Nightingale, and Kent County Council leader Roger Gough, will provide the opening address.

Professor Marian Garcia, dean of KBS, said: "We are thankful to this year's sponsors for helping us to put together a momentous programme focusing on collaboration and sustainability. Through the summit, and together with our partners, the university and KBS are reaching out to the Kent community, offering advice and support in tackling the economic challenges ahead."

Darren Rigden, partner, audit and business solutions at Crowe, main sponsor of the event, said: "We are proud to be the lead sponsor for the third year running of this prestigious and well-attended event.

"The event brings together many of the key people in Kent and provides a lot of insight to the business community which we work closely with in order to support them during which a very interesting and challenging time for businesses.

"We are thrilled to have clients attending, along with the chance to speak to key decision makers around the county."

Supporting sponsors include Brachers, Southeastern Railway and Santander.

The event costs £30 to attend. Tickets are available now.

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