Bosses face a tough choice this month when two of the region’s biggest business events are held at the same time.

The Kent Business Awards gala presentation dinner takes place at the County Showground, Detling, on June 12.

Thirty miles away, at the Copthorne Effingham Park Hotel, near East Grinstead, business leaders from Kent and Medway will be sitting down for the annual south east dinner of the CBI, the influential business group with members across the county.

Priory Partnership, Brighton-based organisers of the Kent Business Awards, said they were aware of the clash but it was unavoidable because the showground venue was already booked for their preferred date June 19.

Around 500 guests are expected to attend the glittering presentation event that recognises the cream of Kent business.

A similar number normally attend the CBI dinner, which this year features guest speaker Baroness Shriti Vadera, parliamentary under-secretary of state for business and competitiveness.

Malcolm Hyde, CBI South East regional director, based in Sevenoaks, said the clash of dates was unfortunate but he did not expect numbers at the CBI dinner to be badly affected as many guests came from outside Kent.

"The dinner is an opportunity for the region’s business leaders to meet and greet their peers and at the same time consider the big issues facing them in a globalised economy," he said.

Baroness Vadera will be joined by after dinner speaker and comedian Robbie Glen, former Prison Governor at Barlinnie Prison, near Glasgow.