Former BBC Director General Greg Dyke has warned Kent businesses to engage their employees’ emotions as well as brains if they are to survive a predicted economic downturn.

Speaking to delegates at the largest-ever Kent 2020 Conference and Exhibition at the Kent Showground, Detling, this morning, Mr Dyke said: “Rougher times are coming. I suspect we are going to face at least a downturn if not a fully-fledged recession.

“Winning in the tough times is much harder.

“The organisations which do well when the going gets tough are those with strong values where people from across the organisation try to help each other.

“It is about getting the strategy right ensuring everyone at every level from the canteen right the way through and from every part of the organisation is on-side, giving you the benefit as leader.

“If you can do that and you are honest with your staff then they will support you.”

The conference and business-to-business event is now in its third year and this year's show, and has a record 350 business stands and 4,000 visitors expected.

The event is sponsored by Kent County Council, the Kent Showground and the Kent Messenger Group.

Other keynote speakers are business forecaster Professor Richard Scase, multi-millionairess Karen Darby and Government adviser Alan Knight.

Mr Dyke, who became director general at the BBC in 2000 and resigned in 2004 after criticism of the BBC in the Hutton Report said: “The real point is to engage emotions not just brains.”

Full report in this week's Kent Messenger.