Member Article

UKTI to host large South West business event

Throughout the London 2012 Games, hundreds of business events will be hosted across the UK, with the largest event outside London being held in Weymouth and Portland, to coincide with the Olympic sailing events.

From 6 to 10 August, the town will host the British Business Pavilion at Weymouth College – a five day event organised by UK Trade and Investment South West, in partnership with Dorset Chamber of Commerce, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

The event, which reflects the British Business Embassy events at Lancaster House inLondon, is dedicated to showcasing the South West as a thriving business community. Each day will focus on a different market sector, where delegates will have the opportunity to gain insight into just some of the many commercial successes of South West businesses and the level of expertise held within the region. The sectors include:

• Monday 6 August: Creative Industries
• Tuesday 7 August: Marine and Tidal Renewable Energy
• Wednesday 8 August: Urban Environment and Infrastructure
• Thursday 9 August: Retail, Food and Drink
• Friday 10 August: Advanced Engineering

The mornings will see key players from each sector presenting and taking part in panel discussions with delegates on key issues in their sector. Participants from the region include AgustaWestland, RNLI, The Met Office, Clarks, Regen South West, Clipper Teas, Dorset Cereals, New Look, Bright Blue Day, Terence O’Rourke, Low Carbon South West and Atlas ElektronikUK.

The event will also feature video feeds from Lancaster House and provide opportunities for one-to-one meetings. The afternoon will offer business networking and showcase exhibitions to coincide with the sailing races.

UK Trade and Investment regional director, Russell Jones, said: “The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games represent the greatest business networking event in the global calendar, where companies from across the globe will meet, interact and do business.

“The British Business Pavilion inWeymouthis a programme of events designed to engage the business community in the South West and encourage our businesses to explore overseas trade opportunities. It is also an unrivalled opportunity to showcase our thriving region to potential inward investors.

“There is a wealth of expertise in the region, in addition to the number of successful domestic and global businesses based here. Many of these organisations will be present at the event to take part in the discussions.”

Sir Alan Collins, managing director of Olympic Legacy, UK Trade & Investment, added: “The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase all that is great about Britain and British businesses to the world.

“This event will not only demonstrate what a lucrative place the South West is in terms of business opportunities and successes, but will also help create a lasting legacy for the region.”

The British Business Pavilion will also mark the launch of the British Business Club – an online network, created by UK Trade & Investment and other partner organisations - which enables companies to connect with business partners across the world and showcase their expertise online. The club offers the opportunity to arrange one-to-one meetings, find the important business events across theUKand promote their business capability and skills.

President of the British Business Club, Sir John Armitt, said: “The British Business Club offers a unique networking tool forUKbusinesses to capitalise on their involvement in the Olympic Games, particularly in terms of securing work on other major sports events – a fast-growing sector that is creating many new opportunities. British companies, big and small, now have precious experience that they can use to win business at home and abroad. They are already doing so inSochi, host city of the next Winter Olympic Games, andBrazil, where the next football World Cup and summer Olympic Games will be staged.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Vas Sofokleous .