LEADERSHIP will be the subject of a keynote speech at the South Coast Business Works 2015.

Stephen Gates, managing director of dental health insurance firm Denplan, will be the guest speaker at next year’s showpiece.

Now in its fifth year, the Daily Echo’s Business Works is an annual event allowing firms from across the South to showcase what they do to a wide and influential audience.

Taking place at Novotel , West Quay Road, Southampton on February 11, the event will once again be sponsored by Trethowans Solicitors and partnered by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Destination Southampton.

It will be a chance for entrepreneurs, firm owners and those within the South’s business community to come together under one roof to share their ideas and come face to face with captains of industry and key decision makers.

The event will be an invaluable opportunity to network, while there will also be a series of seminars throughout the day.

And yet again the day will end with a Question Time-style business panel hosted by Lee Peck, director of Lee Peck Media, where delegates at the event will be able to ask questions and discuss hot topics relating to their businesses and the sector in general.

Denplan’s Stephen Gates has been named as a guest speaker at this year’s event, with his speech entitled Leadership and Teams: The learnings of an imperfect leader.

He said: “I am honoured to be a speaker given that this is such a prestigious event.

“I am probably going to focus on looking at some of the practical lessons of leadership and trying to draw out, not just from my own experience but by other people’s too, what are some of the more subtle elements of leadership.

“We can all understand there is a fundamental requirement of leadership to set out a vision and direction to encourage people to go towards that vision, but I think there are also a series of subtler things about how you can do it well, and sometimes badly too.

“I will look at the connection between business success and leadership and then look at the key components of leadership that seem to make a difference.”

Information Simon Rhodes, managing partner at Trethowans Solicitors, added: “Hearing from somebody with the experience of running business is valuable, and everybody will be able to get something from it.

“We believe there is a need to try and pass on valuable information to businesses as well as being able to re-engage and network.”

There are still spaces to exhibit at the event – simply call 02380 424977 or email businessworks@dailyecho.co.uk.

Visitors can register for free by clicking here.