Kent and Medway Business Summit

Kent and Medway Business Summit

Kent and Medway Businesss Summit: Tuesday 13 May 2025

Kent hosted its 8th 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.

Thanks to our partners and sponsors

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.

University of Kent

It was a pleasure and privilege to welcome so many local stakeholders at our Summit. The thought-provoking and lively discussions and the enthusiasm for collaboration and growth was inspiring. We have a key part to play in helping our region prosper. Next year’s event will be part of our 60th Anniversary, and we hope it will be even better.

Professor Georgina Randsley De Moura, Acting Vice Chancellor

Leverets - Headline sponsor

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.

Rupert Butler, Head of Legal Practice, Leverets

Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

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 plan for the future is of great importance and we were delighted to be able to help deliver a really informative day.

Tudor Price, Chief Executive, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce