More than 3,200 people gathered at the largest business show in the South East.

Kent Vision Live generated an estimated £22 million for the companies that took part last year, with organisers hoping the financial impact was greater this time around.

The business-to-business exhibition, formerly known as Kent 2020, was held at the Kent Showground in Detling on Wednesday and featured speakers like former Superdry chief financial officer Chas Howes.

The finalists for the Kent Excellence in Business Awards, known as the KEiBAs, were revealed shortly before a speech by British Airways and First Direct marketing pioneer Louise Fowler.

“Businesses must start with the customer in everything they do,” she said, outlining her 3is to success as insignt, innovate and inspire.

“If you think about customers then you get a blinding flash of the obvious and realise something you already know but had missed.

“By changing the way we ask the question, we are able to innovate."

She added: "No one gets it right 100% but what makes a difference is trying to give a good customer experience and a diligent focus on the 3is.”

Rich Tribe, co-managing director of Revolution Events, which organises the show, said: “We were delighted with the first event under the new Kent Vision Live brand, with thousands of really positive conversations and fantastic feedback from both visitors and exhibitors.

"In particular, the extra breadth and depth of seminar content went down a storm, with over 40 different workshops on everything from effective marketing and customer service, to starting a new business, building brilliant teams and using technology to grow.

"Many of the sessions were so popular that there were three or four rows of people watching from the back, so we’ll be putting in more seats next year.”