Kent Construction Focus Group (KCFG) – 7th July

You must be an Ignite Plus Member or above of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce to attend this event.

The Kent Construction Focus Group (KCFG) is a one-stop shop for local businesses to discuss the future of Kent development, giving companies access to local knowledge, expertise and contracts. KCFG promotes the future role of Kent land development and construction businesses in the growth and development of Kent and its environment.

Hosted by members of the KCFG committee, Cheryl Causebrook and Ella Sandall, attendees can enjoy a full English breakfast at the Village Hotel, served from 7:30am, alongside speaker presentations and networking opportunities throughout the morning.

This month’s guest speakers:

Chris Howe, London Gatwick

Chris Howe is a skilled procurement professional with extensive experience covering the entire procurement lifecycle, from strategic sourcing to contract management.

Currently at Gatwick Airport, he leads the revitalization of its construction supply chain to support a £2.1bn, 10-year Capital Investment Plan. His previous roles include leading the commercial strategy for high-containment facilities at Defra and serving as Operations Procurement Director at Heathrow Airport.

Chris advocates for procurement as a strategic function and emphasizes the importance of early engagement in decision-making, robust contract management, and whole-life cost decision-making while fostering collaboration and trust among stakeholders.

Andy Watson and Kim Webster, Kenward Trust

Andy Watson was a resident at Kenward Trust in 2003. Kenward Trust is Kent’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, based in Yalding, Maidstone. Since then, Andy has gone on to do outstanding work supporting young people and adults throughout the community.

Drawing on his own lived experiences, Andy has a unique ability to relate to young people who may be beginning to misuse alcohol or drugs and engage in anti-social behaviour.

Andy delivers outreach youth work, educational programmes, and intervention services as part of the Kenward in the Community team, including “Think Differently”, Kenward Trust’s award-winning school education programme.

This programme is designed to help young people across Kent and Medway think differently about alcohol and substance misuse, encouraging healthier choices and a greater awareness of the risks involved.

Andy is also qualified to deliver bespoke training days tailored to the specific needs of businesses and organisations.

Kim Webster lost her son Will in 2018 after he misused the painkiller Tramadol. Will was just 17 and about to begin his dream career in the army. He was passionate about fitness and had a real love for boxing.

In response to this devastating tragedy, Kim has made it her mission to warn young people about the dangers of substance misuse and to share the reality of the pain and lasting impact that losing a loved one can have on a family.

Since Will’s death, Kim has voluntarily spoken to more than 55,000 teenagers, giving honest and powerful talks about grief, loss, and the life-changing decisions families are forced to make following such tragedies. Her aim is to educate, inform and ultimately help save young lives.

Working alongside Andy Watson, Kim is making a significant impact in schools through powerful real-life stories and lived experiences, helping young people better understand the consequences and outcomes of the choices they make.

• Please be aware that you must be logged in to your Member Account to access Members Tickets.
• Bookings will remain open until the event itself, but please note that if you book with less than 24 hours to go, your name won’t be on the “List of Attendees” or the “Signing-in Sheet”.
• As a Chamber Member, you will have exclusive access to the “List of Attendees”.

Speaker Opportunities:

Are you in the construction industry and would like to keep members up to date on the latest developments and knowledge? Fill out the Speaker application form here to participate in one of our breakfast meetings.

Please see our full Event Terms and Conditions.