The credit crunch may be starting to bite, but the CBI South East is getting ready to welcome more than 500 of the region’s most influential business people to dinner. On Thursday 12th June, the CBI will host its Regional Annual Dinner at the Copthorne Effingham Park, near Gatwick.

In what has become a must-do event on the business calendar, this year’s dinner will see Baroness Shriti Vadera, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Competitiveness, give the keynote speech.

Alongside the team from the CBI, the event will be hosted by headline sponsors, leading law firm Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons; international accountants and business advisers Grant Thornton; and the world’s local bank HSBC.

Malcolm Hyde, CBI South East Regional Director, said: “The dinner is an opportunity for the region’s business leaders to meet and greet their peers and at the same time consider the big issues facing them in a globalised economy.”

Baroness Vadera will be joined by after dinner speaker and comedian Robbie Glen, former Prison Governor at Barlinnie Prison, near Glasgow.

Businesses interested in attending the dinner should contact Margaret Kelly on 01732 468615.