The Network   Spring 2012   
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In this issue   

  

New Ambassador's Letter

 

Diamond Jubilee

  

Local celebration, 

June 3

  

London events

  

Olympics

  

UK Budget

  

BABC Conference

  

Liverpool game July 25

  

YP Group Update

 

St. George's Day Celebration

  

Recent News

  

UKTI team

  

Data overload

  

Immigration update

  

Healthcare planning

  

Coping with Stress

  

Investment Update

  

UK Trade Delegations

  

US Trade Shows in Boston

  

 

 

 Events Calendar

 

 

>>April 19

E&E Series:Sustainability Strategies that Make Business Sense

 

>> April 23

St. George's Day Celebration

 

>> May 3

Investment breakfast, Columbia Management  

   

>> May 8   

YPG Pub & Trivia Night 

 

>> May 10  

EU Food Festival  

 

>> May 11 

US/UK Government breakfast 

  

>> June 6

(tentative date)

YPG Forum on Financial Planning

  

>> June 12

Business Forum, NH 

 

>>June 12

YPG Pub & Trivia Night  

   

>> June 27   

Annual Golf Tournament, Pine Hills Golf Club

 

>> July 10  

YPG Pub & Trivia Night  

 

>> July 19 

YPG Summer fling


>> August 14

YPG Pub & Trivia Night

 

>> September 11

YPG Pub & Trivia Night  

   

>> September 13 

(tentative date)

Special Event at the Old State House

 

>> October 9  

YPG Pub & Trivia Night  

 

>> October 10

E&E Breakfast

 

>> November 6  

YPG Pub & Trivia Night

 

>> November 8

Financial breakfast, MFS

 

>> December 7:

26th Annual Christmas luncheon, Harvard Club of Boston. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details please contact the BABCNE office at babcne@comcast.net

 

>> December 11

YPG Pub & Trivia night

 

Other events will be added as the season progresses. We invite you to check the BABCNE website regularly.  

 

 

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The BABCNE is grateful to Ashley Fontes, newsletter design 

 

 

 

BABCNE Contact Info:

 

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Tel: 617 720 3622

Fax: 617 720 4331

 

Email:

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Web:

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Welcome to the BABC-New England Newsletter

Message from the new British Ambassador

to the United States 

 

sir peter westmacottSir 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".

more 

 

Diamond Jubilee

The Queen received loyal addresses from "Privileged Bodies" at Buckingham Palace, 27 March, 2012

queen 

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 websitetwitter, 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
Pic of govs conference    

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 national grid 

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"

more

 

 

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 

 

  

 

 


To help you....

 

Boston's UK Trade and Investment Team located at the British Consulate General

 

The team has both the local knowledge and industry experience to facilitate business-to-business trade and investment services between the UK and Connecticut*, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. (*except Fairfield county). more

 

 

Data Overload An Operational Nightmare The Solution - Questions

Posted by Ian Smith, President, Portfolio Partnership

& author of "Fulfilling the Potential of Your Business", winner 2012 Small Business Book Awards

 

The world's information is doubling every two years according to a survey by EMC and IDC. The number is 1.8 zettabytes. Or as the mashable social media blog stated last year that's 57.5 Billion iPads (32GB) worth of stored data. Or in dollars, that's $34 trillion or the combined GDP of US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Italy and China!

 

"You see the problem with this environment is that we start to look at the wrong stuff, too much stuff, any stuff! We've stopped asking the really smart questions.

 

Here are my top 30 questions to ask yourself, to really get your arms around the operations of your business:"  more

Immigration Update - H-1B season starts soon

By Steve Clark, Partner, Flynn & Clark, P.C. 

 

Timing is everything. Congress sets a limit on the number of H-1B visas...

more

 

Like Death & Taxes?

David Cowles, Principal, Benemax, Inc.

A Top 12 Consumer Directed Health Plan Company    

 

Everyone agrees, whether you live in the US, the UK or "a galaxy far, far away", three things are inevitable: death, taxes and rising healthcare costs. But everyone is wrong!

 

Perhaps we won't find the keys to immortality or self-generating public revenue in our lifetime, but solutions to the healthcare cost crisis have been around for decades. In fact, thousands of US employers have been avoiding real (inflation adjusted) increases in healthcare spending for 10, 15, even 20 years. And they have done so without cutting benefits or shifting premium cost onto their employees.

more

 

99 Ways of Coping with Stress

Courtesy of Diana Darling, President, Effective Networking

Author of "Networking Survival Guide" and "Networking for Career Success"

 

It's a stressful time with taxes, allergies, Red Sox home opener, and a marathon around the corner. Take a deep breath and read some tips on how to deal with it all. more

 

BABC Network Investment News

February 2012

 

This monthly summary of US/UK economic date, investment indicators and recent investments in the US/UK, can be viewed on our website. more

 

 

Trade Delegations from the UK

Organized by the British Consulate General, Boston

 

June: Trade mission to the UK

US Financial Services Forum - work is underway to bring a delegation of UK Financial companies to Boston for a trans-Atlantic forum with companies in Massachusetts.  To learn more about the UK companies needs and business opportunities, please connect with UKTI's Financial Services Trade & Investment Officer, Rob.Dietel@fco.gov.uk

 

June 18-21

BIO 2012 - a large delegation of UK companies will arrive in Boston hosted by UKTI to attend the BIO2012 Conference at the BCEC.  To learn more about the companies attending and UKTI's activities around the conference, please contact Dr. Hilary Glidden, UKTI's US Biotech & Pharmaceuticals Sector Lead Hilary.glidden@fco.gov.uk

 

September

Kent County Council will bring a delegation of up to 15 companies in Biotech, Cleantech and Environmental Technologies for business development discussions in New England.  To learn more, please contact Kirsten Chambers, Head of Trade & Investment for UKTI Boston Kirsten.chambers@fco.gov.uk

 

October

AdvaMed 2012 - for the first time, the AdvaMed Conference usually held in Washington DC, will travel to Boston in 2012.  UKTI is bringing 20-25 UK Medical Device companies to Boston for this show and to meet potential buyers/distributors.  To learn more, please contact Anne Avidon, UKTI's US Healthcare Sector Lead Anne.Avidon@fco.gov.uk

 

November

TechCity - still conceptual at this point:  UKTI's Boston Tech City Officer, David Hughson, aims to bring a group of technology companies from  'Tech City' (Europe's No. 1 location for IT and Creative Industries companies) to Boston for meetings with innovative companies in greater Boston. To learn more about Tech City - visit www.techcityuk.com and connect with david.hughson@fco.gov.uk

 

 

 

Upcoming Trade Shows in Boston 

 

April 13-15

John Hancock Sports and Fitness Expo

more 

 

April 16

116th Boston Marathon

more 

 

April 19-23

National School Boards Association

more 

 

April 25-26

Electronics New England

more

 

April 25-26

BioMedevice

more

 

April 25-26 

Design & Manufacturing NE

more

 

April 28-May 1

Pediatric Academic Societies

more 

 

May 4-8

The American Association of Immunologists

more

 

May 15

Real-time & embedded Computing Conference, Boston

more

 

May 21- 23

61st National Cable and Telecommunications Cable Show 

more

 

June 2-5

American Transplant Congress

more

 

June 3-8

Society for Information Display International Symposium 

more

 

June 10-12

Associated Professional Sleep Societies

more

 

June 18-21

Bio2012

Biotechnology Industry Organization

more

 

June 27-29

National Apartment Association

more

 

September 17-20

ESC Boston

Embedded Systems Conference & Expo

more

 

September 19-21

BioPharm America

Int'l Biotech Industry Partnering Conference

more

 

October 24-26

Railway Interiors Expo

more

  

November 7-9

Industrial Fabrics Association Int'l Expo more

more

 

November 7-9

JEC Composites America

Composites Show & Conference

more

 

 

 

Quick links

 

2012 events 

 

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