Big breakfast to boost business

Kent and Medway business people are invited to the launch of the University of Greenwich at Medway’s Business Innovation Group (BIG-Kent) at a networking breakfast on Tuesday, February 2.

The event, originally planned for early January, has been rescheduled following the recent bad weather.

Guests will be able to learn about public sector contracts, particularly in manufacturing and engineering, London 2012 related opportunities and public sector funding.

Speakers at the launch breakfast will include Professor Tom Barnes, University of Greenwich Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Dr Steve Woodhead, University of Greenwich at Medway Director of Engineering Research & Enterprise; Tracey Manley, Chief Executive of Thames Gateway Chamber of Commerce; Ray Wynne, of Kent & Medway Innovation & Growth Team; and Dr Martin Davies, Director of Greenwich Research & Enterprise.

Mona Lewis, of Business Link will speak about contract opportunities for London 2012 and Tim Allen, Managing Director of MJ Allen Group will present a keynote address entitled “A Manufacturer’s Experience of Public Sector Contracts”.

BIG-Kent has been established by the University of Greenwich at Medway in partnership with Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and Thames Gateway Chamber of Commerce. It is bringing local businesses together with university staff and business support experts to help local companies and entrepreneurs take more advantage of commercial, research and development opportunities.

The group is supported by a number of organisations including the Kent & Medway Innovation Growth Team and The Partnership for Profit Improvement Limited.

The networking breakfast, which runs from 7.30am to 9am, is being held in the Wardroom, Pembroke Building, at the University of Greenwich at Medway campus at Chatham Maritime.

To register for the BIG-Kent launch breakfast, please contact Catherine Ahiekpor by email:C.S.Ahiekpor@gre.ac.uk or tel: 020 8331 8799.

For further information about BIG-Kent, visit www.big-kent.org.uk or contact Dr Pal Kulandaivel, Business Development Manager, at Greenwich Research & Enterprise, tel: 01634 883912, email: kp32@gre.ac.uk

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For interview opportunities and further media information, please contact:

· University of Greenwich Public Relations, tel: 020 8331 9420

· Delphine Houlton or Georgette McCready, at Maxim, tel: 01892 513033