Annex A: The Business Ambassador Network - March
Update
When Sir Andrew Cahn last wrote out to you at the
end of 2009 to thank you for your efforts as a Business Ambassador,
I also provided you with a summary of the work of the network
over the last year. I'm writing to you now to update you on a
number of the activities I referred to in that report and to give
you an idea of how our programme for 2010 is progressing.
The Network Gets Wider
In December 2009 and February 2010 the Prime Minister
announced that he had asked another seven business and academic
leaders to become Business Ambassadors—bringing the number
in the network to 25. The decision to add to the group was made
for two main reasons: to be able to increase the overall number
of engagements that the Business Ambassadors are able to undertake;
and to widen the specialist sector coverage we are able to offer.
This also reflects the recently published findings of Parliament's
Business, Innovation and Skills Committee (BISCOM) report
on 'Exporting out of recession'. The report said:
"We agree that the British Trade Ambassadors
are doing a very good job selling Britain as a place to trade
with and invest in. Having high powered individuals singing the
praises of the country can only benefit UK plc. We ask the Government
to provide us with yearly up-dates on the activities of each of
the Ambassadors, and to inform us what steps it is taking to ensure
that the specialist knowledge the network possesses reflects all
those industries which are of central importance to the UK's economic
future."
This is a tremendous endorsement of the Business
Ambassadors initiative, particularly as the 'singing the praises
of the country' referred to by the BISCOM took place at the height
of the global financial recession—a challenging and complex
time for anyone involved in promoting trade and inward investment.
During this period the Business Ambassadors played an important
role in helping to restore confidence in UK business by getting
positive trade and investment messages out to the front line and
to potential customers and investors around the world.
Of course there is a lot more that still needs to
be done. The point made by the Committee on the need to ensure
that the network reflected all of those industries of central
importance to the UK's economic future was also one of
the drivers behind the appointment of the seven new Business Ambassadors.
The new members are:
Chris Brinsmead - Chairman, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
UK
Lord Ara Darzi - Professor of Surgery, Imperial
College London
Larry Hirst - Chairman, IBM Europe, Middle East
and Africa
Lady Barbara Judge - Chairman, UK Atomic Energy
Authority
Professor Julia King - Vice-Chancellor, Aston
University
Samir Brikho - CEO, AMEC plc
Sir John Sorrell - Chairman, London Design Festival,
Co-Chair, The Sorrell Foundation
Many of these names are already well known to UKTI
and we are looking forward to working closely with them in their
new role as Business Ambassadors. As a result of these appointments
our sector coverage in the Creative, Health, Pharmaceutical, Energy,
ICT and Manufacturing areas will significantly increase. A complete
list of the current members of the Business Ambassador Network
is attached at Annex A.
The End of 2009
Further to my last update, the Business Ambassadors
finished off 2009 with a number of top class events. Building
on the really successful programme of work that was summarised
in my November report there were additional contributions in November
and December, including: Lord Rogers in Australia and South
Korea; Paul Skinner in Trinidad; Lord Browne in
Finland; Sir Roger Bone in London; and Digby, Lord Jones
in the USA.
The trip that Lord Jones made to the USA is worth
highlighting as it consisted of three cities in three days, nine
speeches and many additional meetings. The trip promoted the
UK's focus on innovation and the generation of foreign direct
investment by encouraging US stakeholders to tap into the UK's
innovation networks. At every stage of the programme Lord Jones
gave out positive messages about the UK innovation agenda - with
tremendous responses from all of his audiences. Our Posts in the
USA are following up a number of leads and ideas that can be directly
linked to the Business Ambassador work undertaken by Lord Jones.
We were also pleased to organise a Business Ambassador
dinner at Chevening House, on behalf of Lord Mervyn Davies, where
we were able to bring together a number of the Business Ambassadors
to discuss the network and wider business issues. Finally, in
December, a group of Business Ambassadors took part in the first
UKTI Business Advisory Group meeting in the Locarno Suite at the
FCO - the culmination of a very successful year for the Business
Ambassadors.
The Programme for 2010
The Secretariat team within UKTI has been working
hard to build a full Business Ambassador programme to take us
through 2010 and we are already well underway, with a number of
very good events confirmed or completed.
Events that have taken place in January and February
2010 have included: Lord Darzi delivering keynote speeches
at the 'Arab Health' Conference in Dubai; Sir Kevin Smith
leading a UK Aerospace delegation at the Singapore Airshow; Sir
Roger Bone speaking at the London Chamber of Commerce; Sir
Victor Blank undertaking a number of engagements at the Winter
Olympics in Vancouver and later in the USA; and Marcus Agius
met with HMA Edward Oakden and senior business figures in Abu
Dhabi. In addition, a number of the Business Ambassadors attended
the Prime Minister's Global Investment Conference in London.
Business Ambassador events coming up during March
include: Professor Julia King delivering key-note addresses
at a Low Carbon Capabilities Conference in London and at a Low
Carbon Vehicles event in Newcastle; Digby, Lord Jones facilitating
at a UK/South African Business Forum in London for SA President
Jacob Zuma and later visiting Australia as part of a Western Australia
initiative; Sir Roger Bone attending the Nordic/UK Business
Awards in London; Lady Barbara Judge undertaking engagements
in Kazakhstan, China and Jordan; Sir John Sorrell delivering
a key-note address in Barcelona; and Paul Skinner speaking
at the Construction Equipment Association AGM Conference in London.
Further into the future, we are currently planning
events in a number of markets, including: Australia; China; Russia;
India; and the USA. A copy of our current programme is attached
and this includes details of all the work the Business Ambassadors
undertook in 2009, as well as events we have already completed
or are planning in 2010. The programme is ongoing and will develop
further over the coming months.
MAKING THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES
In all our activities we ensure that the Business
Ambassadors programme directly supports UKTI's strategic business
and trade priorities. By working closely with our sector, market
and regional experts we have a good picture of where we need to
target our resources in order to achieve this.
In addition to these major conferences, exhibitions
or trade shows, the programme will also be made up of a series
of more 'reactive' events. These will be added to the programme
as we work with our overseas and UK networks to make the most
of every Business Ambassador opportunity that becomes available
to us. Although it is just not possible to support every proposal
we get (either because we don't have the resources to do so, or
it is not in a priority market/sector or just because there isn't
a suitable Business Ambassador available to do it), on balance
we have taken the view that, if an opportunity arises, it is better
to try to do something to promote UK expertise, rather than nothing.
In the case of opportunities arising in the margins
of the Business Ambassadors own personal or business travel, we
rely heavily on our FCO colleagues in UK Embassies, Consulates
and High Commissions around the world being able to deliver a
suitable trade event. Over the last year a significant number
of successful Business Ambassador events took the form of small
business dinners or receptions hosted, often at comparatively
short notice, in this way. With the right audiences, these sorts
of events can be extremely effective and we are keen to continue
with this approach.
Getting the right information
We will also continue to update you with the current
trade and economic messaging. In addition to this generic information
the Secretariat has been providing detailed briefing and speeches
for many Business Ambassador events and we will continue to do
so. Although we think we mostly get it right, any feedback about
the quality or timing of briefing would be appreciated, particularly
as everyone has different preferences and working styles. The
key thing we always need to do is to ensure you are absolutely
clear about why you are at a function and what your involvement
is meant to achieve.
We also welcome your reports back of the events you
have attended. These do not have to be long, but your general
summing up whether you felt the event went well, if the organisation/briefing
was right and any follow-up actions or general thoughts, would
be extremely helpful in evaluating the value of the event.
FINALLY
If we haven't yet got around to talking to you or
your advisors about potential Business Ambassador activities in
2010, please get in touch and I (or a member of my team) will
be more than happy to come and discuss ideas with you.
Once again, many thanks for your efforts to date,
a warm welcome to the new Business Ambassadors and I look forward
to working with you all throughout 2010.
Jack Charteris
Head of Business Ambassador Secretariat
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