Hundreds of delegates will be attending the new year’s traditional networking curtain-raiser this week, as the Kent and Medway Business Summit returns.

Now in its seventh year, the summit brings together businesses, policymakers and leading academics to discuss the key economic challenges facing the county.

Taking place in the Sibson Building at the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus, speakers at Friday’s event include Roger Gough, leader of Kent County Council and Adam Bryan, director of place at Medway Council.

This year’s keynote is from Dr Esther Fee Feichtner, pianist and artificial intelligence scientist, who has combined her passions for music and computer science to explore the link between AI and sound, and its role in the future of business.

Topics being tackled by the numerous panel sessions and Q&As include how to unlock Kent’s growth potential, ways and means of solving the skills shortage and business finance options.

The event, which starts with a business breakfast from 8-9am, ends at 2.15pm following a networking lunch.

Tickets, which cost £45, can be booked here.

The Kent and Medway Business Summit is organised by the university’s Kent Business School and supported by Leverets Barristers and Solicitors. It is partnered with the Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Business and the KM Group.