With a strong focus on AI
Orbital Net Attends the Kent and Medway Business Summit 2025
On Monday 13th May, our very own Calla Marenghi and Chris Chandler proudly represented Orbital Net at the Kent and Medway Business Summit, held at the University of Kent. The event brought together hundreds of local leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from across the region.
From the moment doors opened at 8am, the event offered a brilliant opportunity to network with fellow Kent-based businesses and gain valuable insight into the future of the region’s economy, innovation, and workforce development. As a local provider of scalable, full-fibre internet and telecoms solutions, we’re always looking to stay connected, not just digitally, but in the business community too
Exploring the Future of Kent
After a warm welcome and a light networking breakfast, we attended the keynote session hosted by Professor Georgina Randsley De Moura. The talk featured insights from Anna Leach, Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors, who spoke on the evolving economic landscape and what it means for businesses in Kent and beyond. It was also great to hear views from local government and business leaders in an engaging panel Q&A.
Later, we joined the “Future of Kent” breakout session, which explored the region’s growth opportunities in light of increased devolution and economic change. It was an inspiring and timely discussion about ensuring Kent has the infrastructure and environment it needs to support long-term growth which is something Orbital Net is deeply committed to through our ongoing investment in digital connectivity.
The session included a panel discussion with Walker Construction, The Port of Dover. Kent Wine Garden of England and The Kent Business School.
AI in Business
The mid-morning plenary on AI in Business offered a mix of real-world examples and panel discussions, showing how Kent businesses can integrate AI. As a tech-forward organisation, it was refreshing to see so many regional businesses embracing digital transformation.
The panel discussion was lively and included:
- Jim Ang, Professor at the University of Kent (Computing) and Co-Director of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Technologies
- Nick Ellis, Lead for Generative AI and Innovation, Select Technology
- Ben Fitter-Harding, Founder and Studio Director, Dodgems & Floss
- Tarnia Gonzo, T&S Consulting
There were some fascinating discussions during the AI session, particularly around its application in the medical field and the importance of optimising websites to be AI-friendly. It is predicted that within the next 2-years, the way websites are found via search engines may be more AI driven. Ensuring your digital presence can be effectively read and leveraged by AI-driven tools and platforms is going to be vital. As Orbital Net have recently launched our new website, this was a valuable session for us to learn and adapt.
One of the standout presentations came from Tarnia Gonzo of T&S Consulting, who raised a thought-provoking point about the gendered impact of AI. She highlighted how AI is increasingly capable of replacing roles in administration and hospitality, which are roles that are statistically more female-dominated. This raises important questions about workforce planning, and how all organisations can support reskilling and training in the face of automation.
AI in Business – Continued
The session reinforced that while AI offers enormous potential, it also brings some implications that businesses must plan for, acknowledge and address.
Although artificial intelligence can initially seem intimidating, its value across industries is becoming increasingly undeniable. Orbital Net recognises its huge potential to support, not replace, the people behind businesses.
From medical breakthroughs that detect diseases earlier, to smart infrastructure that improves construction safety and speeds up design, AI is transforming the way we work. Even in marketing, AI can analyse customer behaviour to help businesses create more targeted campaigns, saving both time and budget. From an admin perspective, you can automate repetitive admin tasks to free up staff time to focus on more important projects.
At Orbital Net, we see AI as a tool to enhance your business. By embracing and using it responsibly, you can utilise AI to future-proof your business, discover and implement new innovative ideas and stay competitive all while focusing on what you do best.
Sustainable Innovation – Netwalking
Sustainability was another standout theme. During the afternoon Kent Wildlife Trust Netwalk, we learned about the exciting Wilder Blean Project which is an initiative introducing bison into Blean Woods in 2019 to help naturally restore ecosystems.
The project takes place in part of the West Blean woods nature reserve, which is in one of the largest areas of ancient woodland in the UK.
This session was a 2 mile walk with stop-off points concluding with a visit to the Bison mural near the Gulbenkian Cafe
You can learn more about the project HERE.
Bringing Business Closer Together
Throughout the day, we spoke to fantastic local organisations spanning multiple sectors. Events like this demonstrate the power of collaboration and how shared knowledge can spark new ideas and partnerships.
Orbital Net is proud to be part of Kent’s growing and resilient business landscape. With projects like our recent full-fibre rollouts across Canterbury and our tailored connectivity solutions for business estates, we’re helping to build the digital foundation that local organisations need to thrive. But the Orbital reach doesn’t just stop in Kent, we provide our services nationally, replicating our local infrastructure and services to businesses throughout the UK.
We’d like to thank the University of Kent and the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership for hosting such a well-organised and forward-thinking event.
We’re already looking forward to next year!