Welcome & Contents
Digital can fuel growth of Kent businesses already grappling with sky-high energy bills and, in many cases, a steep increase in the cost of raw materials. The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis and, with the energy price cap set to increase further in October, this will inevitably bring more pain for consumers and households. Welcome to the latest edition of Thinking Business. It continues to be a challenging time for businesses up and down the country. Soaring inflation, the highest we’ve seen for four decades, is heaping more cost pressures on businesses, who are
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Chamber Business Awards
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Members News
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Legal Update Patron News
Members News
Ask the Digital Expert The Big Interview
Our Patrons
Despite all of this, many of our businesses here in Kent have shown the necessary resilience and agility to grow and prosper. This is particularly true of companies that have been prepared to embrace new technologies. The digital transformation – the subject of
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Members News Cover feature - Digital Transformation The people behind the business International Trade Members News Members News
our cover feature in this edition – has opened up opportunities for firms to win new contracts, diversify and streamline their business models to make them even more efficient. Some firms have managed to capitalise on emerging consumer behaviours – the boom in online shopping is a good example of this – while others have joined forces with various partners to create robust, tech-driven supply chains. Here in Kent, right now we have a real shortage of digital skills, I'm not really confident that we have the talent to take advantage of these.
There are obstacles to overcome if we are to maximise future opportunities and growth. As a Country we find ourselves in a position of having more job vacancies than job seekers, which if not addressed, will slow down economic growth. However, I am confident that as a County we have the aptitude and ability to mitigate these barriers to growth and embracing technology will be a key driver.
Jo James OBE, Chief Executive, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
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Chamber Events
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Membership Benefits
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Business News
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Health and Wellbeing New Members
Movers and Shakers Last Word
32 Editorial and General Enquiries Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Ashford Business Point, Waterbrook Avenue, Sevington, Ashford, Kent. TN24 0LH Chief Executive: Jo James OBE Tel: 01233 503 838 Fax: 01233 503 687 info@kentinvictachamber.co.uk www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk Media No. 1866 Published June 2022 © Benham Publishing
Publisher
Benham Publishing Limited, Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Ian Fletcher Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 admin@benhampublishing.com www.benhampublishing.com
Advertising and Features
Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 karen@benhampublishing.com
Editor
Jez Davison Tel 0151 236 4141 Jez@benhampublishing.com
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Peter Wilkinson Tel: 0151 236 4141 peter@benhampublishing.com
Disclaimer
Thinking Business is published for Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in Thinking Business are not necessarily those of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2022. Please note that submitting an article does not guarantee publication. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.
Cover image by Pan Yunbo on Unsplash
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