Dear Members and Friends,
A few of us spent some time this week as guests of Wilton Park thinking about how business and Government can support each other better internationally. Although the discussion had been planned for some time, the conversation took place at what turns out to be the first few days of a new British Government with its own set of priorities. We looked at how we communicate our objectives and potential contribution, how well (or otherwise) we understand each other, what training might be useful about the various perspectives of business and government, as well as practical steps – from the value of Ministerial visits and Summits – which can make a big difference on the ground. I hope to have more concrete ideas to share over the coming months in a number of these areas and I’m sure that BEI – with our members’ skills and reach and our networks – will be able to make a contribution to achieving shared goals in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday this week, our International Development Heads of Business met with Ryan Henson, CEO of the Coalition for Global Prosperity to share initial thoughts on UK international development policy following the General Election. We will be organising further discussions with members on this theme in the coming weeks and plan to prepare a note highlighting some of the areas in which our members will be able to contribute to the new Government’s development programme.
Also on Wednesday, we hosted the last of our Senior Adviser Nick Forbes’ “Election Watch” series: “Net Zero – the new economy or bad for business” in which he explored the relationships between climate policy, fiscal policy and growth.
Next week on Thursday, together with the D Group, we will hold a UK-focused workshop led by Nick Forbes on “Creating a National Blueprint to Address the Skills Gap”, touching on approaches to a national Industrial Strategy and how it can be tied into a regional and local model for effective skills development. The workshop will contribute to the preparation of a short report to be launched in the autumn designed to help decision makers at all levels deploy resources and plans effectively in this critical area. If you are interested in attending, please contact Max (max@britishexpertise.org) for further information.
Looking ahead – and to demonstrate that BEI and our partners are active even over August - on Tuesday 20 August, there will be a unique opportunity to meet with a senior delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as part of their UK Roadshow programme. The ADB delegation will include the Director-General of the Sector Group, Senior Directors and directors for five sectors, as well as ADB’s UK board members. Directors will present their sector strategies and priorities in agriculture, environment and food security; water and urban; energy; transport; and finance. The overarching theme for the event is ‘Dialogues for Innovation in Development’ and participants will also have the opportunity to explore a range of cross-cutting themes including infrastructure decarbonisation; coastal resilience; climate risk insurance; government advisory for capital market development; gender mainstreaming in the infrastructure sector; and nature and nature finance.
We are grateful to BEI members Arup for kindly hosting the event at their offices at 8 Fitzroy Street, London, W1T 4BJ. The event will start with registration and light breakfast from 09:30, followed by sector/thematic sessions and roundtables until 15:30 (including a networking lunch). The full agenda will be shared with attendees.
I would also like to draw your attention to two opportunities for the autumn which you may wish to think about now before the summer break.
First, we are seeking expressions of interest for participation in the UK Trade Mission to Azerbaijan and the UK Pavilion at Baku Build (15-17 October 2024), the country’s biggest infrastructure event. The event is a great opportunity for UK organisations working across infrastructure and engineering to meet senior government stakeholders in Azerbaijan as well as participants from the region, particularly Central Asia and the Middle East. The trade mission, in partnership with the British Embassy in Azerbaijan, will include B2B and B2G engagement, a networking reception at the British Ambassador’s residence, speaking opportunities and participation in the UK Pavilion at the exhibition. Please get in touch with Alexandra if you are interested to learn more.
For those with an eye on Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP 29, DESNZ are now seeking expressions of interest from SMEs (500 employees or fewer) working in the climate space for Digital Showcasing in the UK Pavilion. The aim is to showcase the best that the UK has to offer in climate innovations and technologies, breakthroughs and outreach. With the strong support of Secretary of State Ed Miliband, the Department is looking for bold and collaborative innovations demonstrating strong UK leadership, working with businesses and extending outreach across the world. Applications and guidance can be found here: Showcasing at COP29. The process is open now and until Friday 23rd August 2024. For larger companies, sponsorship opportunities can be found here.
With best wishes for the weekend, or for those lucky ones, a good summer break,
David Landsman
Executive Chairman
British Expertise International
Recordings of recent past events:
- 25th June: Sustainable Adaptation: Learning From Communities on the Frontlines of Climate Change
- 25th June: New Solutions for Closing the Climate Finance Gap
Key events coming up include the following:
- 25th July 2024 10:30 – 14:00 BST: Creating a National Blueprint to Address the Skills Gap - This workshop will explore, with members, the optimal approach to help ensure a National Industrial Strategy is linked to a regional and local model and pipeline of effective skills development. The workshop will form the foundation for a short report to be launched in Autumn to help decision makers at all levels deploy resources and plans effectively in this critical area.
- 20th August 10:00– 15:30 BST: Asian Development Bank: Dialogues for Innovation in Development - Join us at Arup’s offices (8 Fitzroy Street, London, W1T 4BJ) as British Expertise International host a senior delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as part of their UK Roadshow programme. Our overarching theme for the event is ‘Dialogues for Innovation in Development’, and participants will have the opportunity to discuss a range of cross-cutting themes with the ADB’s sector teams.
- 3rd September 2024 11:00 – 14:00 BST: Skills & Training WG: Skills - Sectoral Approach - Our September Skills & Training Working Group will look at the importance of taking a sectoral and thematic approach to international skills provision. This session will be led by Jonathan Ledger CMgr FCMI, Skills and Professional Bodies Specialist at the Department for Business and Trade(DBT) and new Expert Adviser to BEI’s Working Group; and Jane Rexworthy, FInstLM, Chartered FCIPD, Executive Director at People 1st International and Chair of the UK Skills Partnership (UKSP).
- 10th September 2024 10:00 – 11:30 BST: Ethiopia - Market Opportunity Overview - Join us for an insightful Market Opportunity Overview, featuring colleagues from the Department for Business and Trade at the British Embassy in Ethiopia. This webinar is a unique opportunity to understand the market dynamics and explore how UK businesses can contribute to and benefit from Ethiopia’s growth trajectory. Don’t miss out on this chance to engage with experts and discover new business potentials in Ethiopia.
- 10th September 2024 15:00 – 16:00 BST: SME Wider Community Engagement with the FCDO SME Advisory Board - BEI is delighted to continue supporting the members of FCDO’s SME Advisory Forum to engage with the wider SME community. Join us for our second virtual meeting led by the FCDO SME Advisory Forum members: Charlie Duff, Managing Director and Vice President, Alinea International & Sue Griffiths, Managing Director, Social Development Direct.
- 17th September 2024 16:00 – 19:00 BST: Climate Change Networking Evening - Join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation, potential new partnerships and the chance to meet with members of our Climate Change Working Group.
- 19th September 12:00 – 13:00 BST: Water Resilience Working Group - The UK has a distinctive offer and world-leading expertise in sustainable and climate-resilient water services. This group, in partnership with the UK government, IFIs and other key stakeholders, aims to define that offer and leverage it to increase exports.
- 23rd September 2024 15:00– 18:00 BST: Creating a Skills Agenda To Support a High Tech Economy: a Case Study and Round Table with Victor Hoskins - As the UK looks to build scale in its position as a science and technology super-power and invest in building regional hubs focused on high tech industries, join us for a fascinating round table with Victor Hoskins, President of the Fairfax County Economic Development Agency. He will examine and share how he and his team have created a skills agenda to support and underpin the economic success of the County.
- 26th September 2024 14:30 – 16:30 BST: Scaling Infrastructure Decarbonisation Through Digital in Emerging Markets - EBRD Green Cities, Connected Places Catapult and Mott MacDonald will explore how the UK’s leadership in digitally-driven infrastructure decarbonisation can be effectively adapted and scaled in emerging markets. By exploring insights from the technical, funding, and government spheres, attendees will gain actionable ideas to accelerate decarbonisation efforts within their organisations and client networks.
Register for an upcoming event →
External Events
- 5th August 2024 09:00 – 11:15 BST: Navigating the Future: Exploring Opportunities in the Ethiopian Ports and Logistics Sector - Join the DBT for a webinar designed to showcase the export and investment opportunities in the Ethiopian ports and logistics sector for UK businesses. This event will feature insightful presentations from government officials, industry experts, and foreign businesses already operating within the sector. The webinar will provide a platform for UK companies to ask questions, network, and connect with relevant stakeholders and potential future business partners.
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