by Hannah Withey, Marketing & Engagement Manager at Brighton Chamber

Brighton Summit brings together a wealth of experiences, sessions and ways to learn every year. The programme is curated to surprise you, inspire you, and give you new (and importantly, fun) ways to network and learn with each other.   

We split the day in to keynotes, workshops, HOURS and speakers so there’s a diverse range of content and ways to connect.   

So, what’s the difference? And what can you expect from these different parts of the day?   

Here’s a one-minute run down of what each session is, what you can expect, and why should be getting excited already.   

 

Keynotes  

The big one. Everyone gathers in the main auditorium to hear from a keynote speaker. They’ll bring their stories of business, or their personal stories, and how they relate to our theme – this year, it’s What if?   

Last year, our final keynote of the day was Dr Mya-Rose Craig, aka Birdgirl – telling her story of setting up a charity at just 13 years old, and the work she’s doing for the climate. At other Summits we’ve heard from the likes of Simon Woolley, Floella Benjamin, Gina Miller, Kamal Ahmed and Sam Roddick. For What if? we have keynotes from entrepreneur Jo Tutchener Sharp, campaigner and chancellor Baroness Lola Young, and one of the BBC’s most recognisable broadcasters Clive Myrie. Prepare to be wowed, laugh, hear stories from different perspectives, and maybe shed a tear or two.  

 

HOURS  

HOURS are (you guessed it), an hour doing something different. The Summit is a full, jam-packed day, but it’s not static moving from chair to chair.   

Expect to get moving, learn a new skill, and have fun during our HOURs. This year you could write a novel in 60 minutes, go behind the scenes at Brighton Dome, discover matcha’s hidden secrets or listen to a conversation about how our names tell our story. 

In previous years, we’ve had people come together over crochet, laptop disassembly, exploring a quantum physics lab, meditating, gone through the tunnels underneath the Dome and sung in a choir. 

HOURS are wacky, surprising, unexpected, and a whole load of fun. You might even fit some networking in.   

 

Workshops  

These are your chance to learn new skills from an expert. It might help your personal development, your professional development, get you thinking about new ways to tackle challenges in your business, or just thinking differently.   

This year, retell your business story, change the way you think, learn about self-leading teams or how improv could help you do better business.  

 

Speaker sessions  

Your afternoon speaker sessions are a chance to get a bit more up-close and personal with thought-provoking, interesting humans, all doing brilliant things in Brighton and beyond.   

At this year’s Summit, you’ll hear from Guy Pratt, ex Pink Floyd bassist, Hardeep Matharu the Editor in Chief of Byline Times, young entrepreneur Khamani Edwards and CEO of British Exploring Society Honor Wilson-Fletcher.  

Listen to an engaging talk hearing someone’s business journey, that you’ll want to dissect and discuss with people afterwards.   

 

Food: an honourable mention  

Not technically one of your sessions but it warrants mentioning. We feed you well at Chamber events, and the Summit is no different. It’s a long day (there’s a lot to fit in, as you can tell), so you need to stay fuelled and energised!   

It’s never beige buffet – this year, expect breakfast from Sugardough; mid-morning brain food; a colourful lunch from Kernel Canteen; brunch from Cafe Domenica; an afternoon tea and cake break with Rose Petal Cake Co; rounded off with a drink from UnBarred (we’ll have non alcoholic options too). Plus, tea and coffee all day from Bird & Blend and Redroaster (and yes, that’s all included in the price of your ticket).  

See you on 6 November!