Things have certainly moved on from the first time I attended the Chamber’s Kent Business to Business exhibition, which marked its 28th anniversary this year.

The first one I was involved in – I’ve been involved in 24 out of 28! – was a very small event with a handful of companies showing off their wares at the Elwick Club in Ashford town centre.

This year’s Kent B2B, as it’s known, saw the Ashford International Hotel packed out with companies from across the county.

Each was vying to make its products and services stand out to more than 1,100 visitors who came through the doors.

It was also blessed with several top speakers, including the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, John Longworth.

The one thing that Kent companies know how to do well is to showcase their wares.

Events like Kent B2B show the diversity we have among our business community. We may not be a county of large employers or multi­nationals but we do have an abundance of small entrepreneurial businesses with aspirations for growth.

I was so pleased the event launched the Government’s Regional Growth Fund to Ashford-based businesses.

Up until now, businesses across the county have been able to access interest-free loans to support business growth, with the exception of Ashford.

At last we have county-wide coverage as firms from the borough can apply for money through Kent County Council’s Expansion East Kent fund.

The highlight of the event for me has to be the dinner. We set the date for the event prior to the announcement of the World Cup match dates, which left us clashing with the first semi­-final.

Always striving to make a positive out of a potential negative, it gave us a good theme for the evening.

To really get into the spirit – even if England were nowhere to be seen – we had legendary 1966 goalkeeper Gordon Banks as our keynote speaker. Despite his undoubted status, I was not prepared for the reaction of the men attending.

I could say the words hero worship but in truth it was like being in a room full of 12-year-old girls in front of One Direction.

That said, by the end of night, I too, had to agree with them.

He is a true gent and a national treasure.