The full line-up of speakers for one of 2023's first major business events in the county has been confirmed.

The Kent & Medway Business Summit takes place on Friday, January 13 at the University of Kent's Canterbury campus.

More than 300 business figures, key policymakers and leading academics are expected to attend the sixth annual event organised by the university's Kent Business School.

Now back in its traditional January slot, the 2022 event took place in April due to Covid concerns at the start of the year.

Among the speakers will be Roger Gough, leader of Kent County Council; Richard Hicks, deputy chief executive of Medway Council; Emily Dawson, head of benefits from the Lower Thames Crossing; Susan Eilliot from the British Business Bank; Rebecca Smith, deputy CEO of Social Enterprise Kent; and Harry Dance, digital marketing director from Kayo Digital.

Being held in the Sibson Building, the summit will feature a day of speeches, workshops and panel sessions.

Key panel sessions will include: Placemaking - can 'Brand Kent' draw and retain investment, businesses, jobs and talented people? Sustainability - Funding your green future - how sustainability can improve your business' bottom line; Skills - how can building loyalty and diversity in the workforce impact of skills, training, retention and recruitment and; Productivity - how can digital tools boost profits and drive measurable efficiency improvements.

Other panellists include Michelle Clarke-Cowell, associate director at Holiday Extras; Professor Catherine Robinson, deputy dean of the Kent Business School; and Lisa Carlson, chief executive of the Canterbury Business Improvement District.

The event runs from 8.50am to 2.30pm. Tickets cost £40 and include refreshments.