Dear Members and Friends,
I hope that you have enjoyed some time to relax and reflect over the summer. There has been little respite anyone following the news, however, either at home or abroad. Though it’s early days for the new Government, we are beginning to see some more detail about the five Missions, as well as other headline policies which featured in the Labour Party election manifesto. Among more recent developments which will be of interest to our members are an op ed by the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in which he emphasises that the new Government’s (domestic) industrial strategy and trade strategy will be fully integrated. We have also seen news of the Foreign Secretary’s appointment of Baroness Minouche Shafik to chair a review of the UK’s approach to international development and how to improve capability. We are as always actively engaging with the Government at multiple levels and sharing our emerging insights with members. To strengthen political links further colleagues will also be attending party conferences in the coming weeks; we look forward to seeing some of you there. If you are planning to attend, please let us know.
There’s only one event over the past month to report on, but it was certainly a big one. We were delighted on 20th August to convene a day-long meeting with a large and high-level delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by Ramesh Subramaniam, Director General and Group Chief, Sectors Group. Hosted by members Arup at their splendid venue – for which many thanks! – the sessions went into detail on the Bank’s strategy and key projects by sector. The event was part of a week-long visit to the UK by the Bank’s team, and was the product of close collaboration between BEI, led by Alexandra, and our FCDO and DBT colleagues. We were delighted also to welcome Catherine West MP, FCDO Minister for Asia-Pacific and Alternate UK Governor to the ADB. My concerns about holding an event in August were confounded and around 100 participants defied the summer break to attend. We’ve been working for ADB for a long time, but this was the most substantial single engagement so far, so I’m most grateful to everyone who helped make it happen. The clear message to our members was that the Bank has a huge appetite for more engagement by “British expertise” in its projects to match the UK Government’s substantial contribution to the Bank’s funds. We are working alongside FCDO and DBT colleagues to ensure that we can deepen the relationship with the ADB further in the coming months.
Our work with FCDO is multifaceted and I hope that our international development members can spare a few minutes to help the Commercial team in their efforts to understand the cost of bidding by responding to their questionnaire.
Our regular programme resumes next week. Details of confirmed events so far are here, with more to be announced soon. Similarly, please take a look at our upcoming calendar of planned events for the Autumn period. You may have heard that the FCDO Leadership Conference, postponed from July, will now take place in the second week of September. We will do our best to schedule a few “Meet The Ambassador” events that week with Heads of Mission whose schedules allow and will aim to find opportunities to engage with the rest – in person or virtually – over the coming weeks and months.
Next week, we look forward to a meeting on Tuesday 3 September of the Skills and Training Working Group, which will look at the importance of taking a sectoral and thematic approach to international skills provision. It 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 the working group; and Jane Rexworthy, FInstLM, Chartered FCIPD, Executive Director at People1st International and Chair of the UKSP.
Also on skills, I would also draw your attention to a special Strategy International (BEI and D Group) event taking a different look at a perennial topic: how to create a skills agenda to support a high-tech economy? The session in the afternoon of 23 September will be a case study of Fairfax County, Virginia, US. The speaker will be Victor Hoskins, President and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA).
Fairfax County is less than 30 minutes from Washington DC. It is home to a huge number of growing businesses, with a focus on the Technology, Defence, Space, Aerospace, Cyber, and Quantum Computing sectors. Virginia boasts the highest concentration of tech talent of any US State, with the highest investment into computer science education. Virginia also draws talent every year from thousands of veterans, many with security clearances and a strong work ethic. Companies that have announced new locations or expansion in Fairfax County under Mr Hoskins’ leadership include Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon Web Services, Volkswagen Group of America, Amentum, Guidehouse, Starkist, Qualtrics, Alarm.com, Hilton, Clark Construction, Blue Origins, V2X and The Aerospace Corporation.
This interactive session will give participants to hear about the Fairfax County experience and to share ideas on the national, regional and local skills picture, from secondary and higher technology education, apprenticeships, the veteran talent pool and reskilling.
Looking further ahead, I’ve been asked to pass on details of a conference in Belgrade on November 14-15 to be organised by the Sustainable Development Forum, in collaboration with United Nations agencies, the University of Cambridge, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, and with contributions from stakeholders and businesses from Europe, Africa and China. The conference will focus on the Green Transition (Economy, Energy, and health) through the prism of technology policy. Confirmed speakers so far include Lord (Martin) Rees; Professor Michael Pollitt of the University of Cambridge; Frank Liu, President of INTCO; and Jorge Laguna-Celis, UNEP director and head of One Planet Network. I’m conscious that this coincides with COP29, but for those able to attend (or with colleagues based in the region), details can be found at www.sustainabledevforum.org.
It’s hard to keep one’s eye off the deluge of international news. While international developments are central to our professional activities, it’s important to keep in mind that the British public rightfully has a strong interest in our foreign policy. To help us understand where public opinion is on the key issues at a crucial moment for the UK, colleagues at BFPG will be publishing their keynote 2024 Opinion Survey on 19 September. I’ve had a sneak peek at some of the findings and can assure you that they are striking, perhaps in some cases unsettling. Watch this space.
I look forward to seeing our members and stakeholders soon,
David Landsman
Executive Chairman
British Expertise International
Recordings of recent past events:
- View our recent recordings here.
Key events coming up include the following:
- 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.
- 11th September 2024 10:00 – 11:00 BST: Meeting the Global Demand for Biodiversity Credits - This session will explore some of the innovative approaches and partnerships related to biodiversity credits. For the first time in BEI’s programme, we are pleased to welcome Gold Standard. Gold Standard are currently developing a biodiversity impact framework methodology that guides the design, management, implementation, and monitoring of actions that generate true biodiversity impacts.
- 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.
- 3rd October 2024 10:00- 11:30 BST: Education Working Group | Including everyone: Supporting people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - Join us as we host a panel event showcasing best practice for supporting people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in education. The panel will explore the current challenges of and approaches to SEND in an international education context through K12, Further Education and Higher Education.
- 3rd October 2024 15:00 – 16:30 BST: Innovations in Insurance for Climate Adaptation - International development organisations are actively supporting innovations in insurance to enhance climate adaptation. Our panel will discuss how some of these mechanisms are enabling investment in climate resilience while bringing co-benefits and positive social outcomes.
- 8th October 2024 12:00 – 13:00 BST: Working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - Join us at 23 Grafton Street or virtually as we host the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for an update on the bank’s strategy and guidance on navigating its procurement processes. In addition, there will be a briefing on EBRD’s infrastructure Project Preparation Facility and a review of the infrastructure project pipeline.
- 23rd October 2024 15:00 – 16:30 BST: Argentina - Market Opportunity Overview - Argentina is a valuable trade and investment partner for the UK due to its diverse economy, rich natural resources and strategic location in South America. We are delighted to welcome DBT colleagues to share insights on Argentina’s strategic priorities and resulting opportunities for UK plc, in sectors including Infrastructure, Security and Mining.
- 12th November 2024 09:00- 10:30 GMT: Tanzania – Market Opportunity Overview - Tanzania offers a range of exciting opportunities to UK organisations in sectors including energy, infrastructure, mining, climate-resilient agriculture and skills development, as well as opportunities in the Blue Economy in Zanzibar. We are delighted to welcome a stellar panel including the new UK High Commissioner to Tanzania alongside her counterpart in the UK, as well as speakers from the Tanzania Investment Centre and UK DBT.
- 14th November 2024 10:00-11:30 GMT: Morocco – Market Opportunity Overview - Wrapping up an eventful and exciting year in UK-Morocco bilateral trade relations, we are thrilled to welcome back our colleagues from the Department for Business and Trade to share updates on recent UK achievements and future opportunities.
Register for an upcoming event →
External Events
- Wednesday 2nd October - Thursday 3rd October 2024: The Global Leakage Summit - Join presenters and panelists from leading UK and international water companies, and explore the latest technologies, data innovations, and software solutions from our exhibitors. In the face of climate change and record-high global investment in leakage management, this two-day conference promises a world-class knowledge-sharing program and invaluable networking opportunities. Follow the summit on LinkedIn here. Please do email us if you have any further questions about attending this event and we can connect you with the right partners.
Not a member?
Learn more
For more information about British Expertise International: Sign up to receive this Weekly Update
- View our upcoming events
- Becoming a member
- Follow us on Twitter
- Join our Linkedin group
