Kent CIM attends dynamic business event

The Kent Branch of the Chartered Institute of Marketing recently attended Kent 2020 Vision – ’07, an event organised by Business Link which provided the branch with several opportunities including raising the profile of the branch amongst the Kent Business Community.

More than 3,000 visitors thronged Kent Showground, Detling, for the one-day event to see the cream of the county’s business community, hear from world class speakers, network, receive free business advice and attend a series of workshops.

Kent 2020 Vision – ’07 kicked off with the BIG Breakfast, in association with the Institute of Directors, which heard words of wisdom – and warning – from independent consultant and successful author Jeff Grout.

Ian Lockyer, Kent CIM Chairman, said: “Judging by the huge number of visitors from across the county representing businesses of all sizes, sectors and stages of growth who attended, that community was determined to get full value from this event. A number of seeds were sown at the exhibition for the future including future links with the Chartered Institute of Management. It was also good to see some old friends who I hope will be attending our events in the future.”

Highlight of the day was a presentation by Edward de Bono – the ‘father of lateral thinking’ and leading authority on creativity – who brought his experience of working with major corporations worldwide to Kent for the first time. Other speakers included Antony Turner, founder of CarbonSense, who explained how local businesses can benefit from the opportunities posed by climate change; Sahar Hashemi, founder of the £30m+ turnover Coffee Republic; and Chris Bailey, South East Agent to the Bank of England.

The day concluded with the BIG Dinner, sponsored by Kent County Council, which included a presentation from Tim Campbell, winner of the BBC’s first ‘The Apprentice’ series. The evening also saw the announcement of the winner of the £25,000 Kent Innovation Challenge first prize, won by Chatham-based Carbon8 Systems.