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Message from the new British Ambassador
to the United States
 Sir Peter Westmacott
"As Britain's new Ambassador to the United States, I am delighted at the opportunity to help strengthen the transatlantic commercial relationship and our mutual prosperity.
We're in a good place. Britain and the US remain each other's single largest investors. Over a quarter of investment projects in the UK in 2010/11 came from the US, more than our next four largest foreign investors put together. British investment accounts for nearly a fifth of all investment in the US and is more than fifty times that invested by Brazil, India and China combined. Britain is the US' 6th largest trading partner and the US is Britain's largest export destination. Bilateral UK/US trade amounted to almost $200 billion in 2010, and it continues to recover. We are each other's most productive partners in science, generating a third of global research funding. But why stop here? As President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron wrote in The Times in May last year, "we want to encourage more of this exchange of capital, goods and ideas".
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Diamond Jubilee
The Queen received loyal addresses from "Privileged Bodies" at Buckingham Palace, 27 March, 2012
Organizations including the University of Oxford, the Royal Academy of Arts and the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral presented addresses to The Queen to mark her Diamond Jubilee during a reception at Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty responded with a short speech. Certain organizations retain the long-held right to present addresses to The Queen and to receive a response from her. This right is usually only exercised on special occasions of outstanding public interest, such as a Jubilee.
During the reception at Buckingham Palace on 27 March 2012, Her Majesty responded to the Privileged Bodies' loyal addresses with the following words:
"It is ten years since you were last gathered here on the occasion of my Golden Jubilee. Over the past decade, you, the Privileged Bodies and corporations of the United Kingdom have continued your important work in supporting the core values of this nation, in helping to preserve our time-honored traditions and most importantly, in shaping its future.
Today's ceremony, on the occasion of my Diamond Jubilee, provides an opportunity to reflect on the significant contribution your diverse organizations have made to the fabric and well being of society. Over the past 60 years, you have strengthened this country, boosting prosperity through innovation and development, and enriching its spiritual life.
For those bodies in the fields of education, science and the arts, you have added to our intellectual capital and enhanced our reputation for ingenuity and creativity; the Church and other religious bodies have offered a spiritual and social framework, sustained communities and helped the disadvantaged; while the civic and other bodies have provided vital services to support people in their daily lives. All of you have worked to promote cooperation and friendship within the communities of the United Kingdom, and the wider Commonwealth community.
Today's gathering allows us to pay tribute to the leaders of the Privileged Bodies represented here today, but also to the staff and volunteers who are the strength of these organizations. I have enjoyed reading your Loyal Addresses, which reflect the professional excellence and achievement for which you are internationally renowned.
Prince Philip and I thank you for your warm expressions of loyalty and affection, and for the dedicated service you continue to offer our nation." Source, the Diamond Jubilee website
The Central Weekened to celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee takes place from Saturday 2 to Tuesday 5 June 2012, with celebratory activities throughout the UK, across the Commonwealth and beyond. more
Jubilee event being planned by the British Consulate
3 June
The British Consulate will be marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on Sunday, 3rd of June. Starting with a service at the Old North Churchfor Her Majesty (11am-1pm), the attendees will then be trooped down to the Old State House by redcoats.
At the Old State House, the Consulate will be holding a traditional British street party, with bunting, Union Jacks, and refreshments. Please contact the Consulate if you would like to attend. more
London events calendar
telegraph.co.uk
There is plenty happening in London before the 2012 Olympics. Here is our pick of the best London events in advance of the games. more
Excitement ramps up for the London 2012 Olympics
The eyes of the world will be on London during July and August 2012; watching the greatest athletes of a generation performing their amazing sporting feats. But there is more to the Games than sport; the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games represent a once in a generation opportunity to showcase the best of Britain to the world. The Games are estimated to be worth some £21 billion to the UK economy, in business and tourist revenue.
Add to this the priceless opportunity to showcase UK business opportunities to the world. The British Consulate in Boston will be doing its part to highlight this GREAT year for Britain. Please stay in touch with us, our website, twitter, and LinkedIn pages, to hear more about events we have planned for this exciting time.
more on the Olympics
UK Budget
BABCNE members may be interested in the following summary of key points from the recent UK Budget announcement, including key figures on the UK economy and the activities the Government are engaged in to support the UK economy.
We have a report available giving key points from this week's UK Budget announcement. Please click here to read the full report, which is courtesy of Annabelle Malins, HM Consul General, Atlanta.
BABC Network Conference, May 16-18 - all welcome
High Level speakers are now confirmed for the BABC's Transatlantic Business Conference for 2012, in the historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from May 15-18, 2012. This Conference will offer a truly exceptional business and social experience. Members of the BABC's chapters from throughout North America and the UK will participate so it will offer an outstanding opportunity for transatlantic business development and networking.
The social program includes a Gala Dinner in the splendid Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, hosted by Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland; a Civic Reception, hosted by Edinburgh Council in their historic Chambers; and a Golf Tournament at Gleneagles (which will host the Ryder Cup in 2014). Other high level speakers include; Louis B. Susman - US Ambassador and Nick Baird - CEO, UK Trade and Investment.
The business program, hosted at RBS's Global Headquarters Conference Center, will feature an outstanding line-up of business and government leaders, and focus on 'Developing Transatlantic Relations' in a broad range of sectors including financial services, innovation, technology, defense/homeland security, cybercrime and education. As usual, it will also include a session of BAGOL (BritishAmerican Group of Lawyers), before the start of the main Conference.
You can register, find full details, and follow planning for the Conference on the conference website .
Liverpool Football Club at the Fenway July 25
As part of the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park, Liverpool Football Club will kick off against AS Roma at the historic home of the Boston Red Sox. Tickets will go on sale on 28 April. For more information, click Liverpool FC's tour website.
Young Professionals Group Update- Join us!
From the YPG Co-Chairs
We've had an exciting start to 2012. BABCNE's Young Professional's Group (YPG) celebrated leap year on February 29th with a private shopping night at Jack Wills. Attendees braved the evening's inclement weather and enjoyed socializing over cocktails and discounts at thiship British retailer. In March, YPG arranged for a special tour of "Beauty as Duty: Textiles and the Home Front in WWII Britain" which highlighted wartime fashions in Britain. Everyone was struck by thecreativity born by necessity and more than a few of us were closely eyeing the beauty and whimsy of Jacqmar scarves!
Additionally, YPG continues its monthly pub quiz meet-up at Elephant and Castle on the second Tuesday of each month. We invite all BABCNE young professionals (the under-40 set, please) to join us next on April 10th. Also, please watch for information about the YPG financial forum to be held in June in conjunction with PWC.
Annabel, Elizabeth, Jennifer and Ashley
The 23rd of April is St George's Day
To celebrate England's National day and the Patron Saint of England, the BABCNE Young Professionals and the Boston Brits will be joining together at the Elephant and Castle Pub from 6pm on Monday 23 April.
Please come along, bringing your friends and colleagues to help us celebrate England in style. more
Questions? Want to get more involved with the group? Get in touch!
ypg.babcne@gmail.com
Recent news
March 26, 2012
The event celebrated the outcomes of the Governor's UK trade mission, one year later.
To a packed house of 250+ executives and CEOs, MA Governor Deval Patrick and UK Minister for Business, Innovation, and Skills, Mark Prisk, MP addressed how the UK and US can mutually prosper through our innovation economies. more
Change at the helm for the BABCNE Environment & Energy Committee
Sandy Taft (L) with Steve Holliday, CEO, National Grid and The Speaker of the House of Commons, the Right Honorable John Bercow, MP
Over the past three years, Alexander (Sandy) Taft, Director, Regulation & Pricing, National Grid, has played an instrumental role in launching and building the success of the BABCNE E&E Committee. Sandy's vision, dedication, and flexibility helped assemble a key group of professionals from the Energy & Environmental community to address the important issues of this sector. Under Sandy's leadership, the committee has evolved to offer a key series of lectures, often recruiting industry leading professionals from both the US and UK to share insight in collaboration in this important field.
Moving forward, Rob Dietel, Vice Consul of Energy & Environmental at the British Consulate's UK Trade & Investment will continue this tradition, working with New England's E&E leaders to help forge and strengthen business relations between the US and UK. Rob welcomes wide participation in the E&E committee, and looks forward to planning another great season of lectures and events in 2012-1013.
The next E&E breakfast is on April 19
"Sustainability Strategies that Make Business Sense - Real World Examples"
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MIT Sloan Clean Energy Ventures Program, April 29-May 3
The BABCNE is grateful to the MIT Sloan School of Management for sponsoring the 2011 & 2012 E&E series and invites you to attend the MIT Sloan Clean Energy Ventures Programme, April 29-May 3. This program is designed to enable senior executives from corporations, as well as government agencies and major program leaders to encourage, lead, and manage the entire venture creation process for clean energy, regardless of whether they are stand alone new ventures or pioneering undertakings inside larger organizations.
For details and registration information on Clean Energy Ventures, please visit the website.
Consul General Phil Budden Appears on News Talk Show
The Consul General's appearance on the Mara Dolan Show highlighted the prosperity-focused work of the Boston Consulate-General more
Prime Minister's Official Visit to the United States
This visit highlighted the fundamental importance of the UK-US special relationship and the depth of the friendship between the American people and the people of the United Kingdom, as well as the strong personal bond that has developed between the two leaders and their families. more
Picture slideshow and video
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