July 2024

Meet the BABCNE Executive Committee

President: Richard McKenna, Managing Partner, Atlantic Strategies

Vice President: Mike Fisher,

Vice President, Head of Business Development, Oncimmune

Treasurer: Jane Ollerhead, Director Business Banking, Capital One

Clerk: E. Barlow Keener,

of Counsel, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

Labour wins landslide in general election – What does this mean for SMEs?

Labour hammers Tories with win, ending 14 years

of government under the Conservatives

Elitebusiness. July 5, 2024, Latifa Yedroudj

The Labour Party has won a landslide victory, meaning Keir Starmer will be the UK’s new prime minister. In his constituency victory speech, the Labour leader said it was “time for us to deliver”. “We have to return politics to public service,” he goes on, adding his government will “show it can be a force for good”. Labour has won a House of Commons majority of 412 seats giving Labour a general election victory.

This is the first time Downing Street has seen a Labour Prime Minister since 2010, as Rishi Sunak stands down as leader. This leaves Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party facing one of the worst defeats in its history, winning only 121 seats in Parliament.

Read more here | AP News

British Consul General sips tea on the T

to connect with Bostonians

BOSTON - The United Kingdom is famous for its tea drinking, but now you can catch one of their diplomats sharing a bit of tea on the T. His name is Peter Abbott, and he is the British Consul General in Boston. 

CBS News, July 10, 2024, Mike Sullivan

Abbott has been in the city for a few years now and he decided to get to know the townsfolk better. He thought the best way to do that would be to ride the MBTA. 

Read more here

BABCNE Cabana Club - England vs. USA

August 31, 2024. Match begins at 5:00 p.m.

Join the BABCNE at the Cabana Club private suite for the USA vs. England holiday weekend challenge on August 31st at the Newport International Polo Grounds.

Already a British American Business Council Corporate Member? This event is included with your BABCNE corporate membership. However, space is limited, so sign up now! One per member company. Guest tickets are available at $50 per person.

This is the perfect opportunity to make great friends and business connections, for you and/or your clients.

What time can I arrive? The match starts at 5 pm, we suggest arriving early to network and connect, anytime after 2 pm.

FAQ: Should I pay for general admission? Nope! The complimentary Member ticket and the $50 Guest ticket, includes general admission, VIP cabana access, food and beverages, and a silent auction.

If you would like to be a sponsor, multiple media opportunities are available, including a jumbotron video!

Sponsorship and questions: Contact Richard Hawke, event organizer, here

Location: Newport International Polo Grounds

50 Linden Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871. Parking is available on the grounds on a first come, first serve basis.

Members Ticket: Included in your BABCNE corporate membership. One per company.

Non-members: $50

BABCNE Website listing | Newport Polo website Event link

In case you missed it...

Paul Snape, CEO, Great British Marketing

2^nd British American Sailing Challenge

On a beautiful June day in Newport, Rhode Island with some lively winds, 30 executives from New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire participated in the British American Business 2nd Annual Sailing race on classic America's Cup yachts in Newport Harbour.

With His Majesty’s Deputy Consul General Nicola Moss for Team GB at the helm of two-time America’s Cup winning yacht Intrepid, and team USA aboard American Eagle, and Team Rest of the World competing aboard racing yacht Heritage, the participants enjoyed three races with some very competitive sailing, and hands on participation by all

crews.  The hono(u)rs went to Team Rest of The World who narrowly prevailed in the gusty conditions with 20+ knot winds sailing only under jib, and lifted the British American Sailing Challenge trophy at the shore party after the races at the Landing Restaurant in Newport, and later at the famous Fastnet Pub in the town. 

Huge thanks go to our corporate partners Marsh McLennan Agency, Fragomen, JetBlue, Venterra Group and Hollywood Agency who enabled the race to grow from two boats to three, with four vessels planned for the 2025 event. A big team effort by GBM (Great British Marketing), America's Cup Charters, Kirsten Chambers-Taylor, Richard TK Hawke, Richard McKenna and Darlene Hollywood, and congratulations to Team Rest of the World on their victory and also to Chris Wolfe, CEO, MNR Technology Inc. in NH who won free tickets to anywhere JetBlue flies, courtesy of sponsor Andrea Mulligan!

See you next year!

Revitalising the UK's Life Sciences Sector - Charting Progress to Improve Commercial Competitiveness

June 2024

BritishAmerican Business (BAB) has released a new report, assessing the state of the commercial environment for the UK life sciences sector and calling for continued government intervention to strengthen the UK’s competitive edge. 

The report provides a comprehensive update on the progress made, one year on from BAB’s UK life sciences White Paper, published in May 2023. It offers targeted recommendations to policymakers which seek to address sectoral issues across three areas: Commercial Environment, Clinical Trials, and Trade & IP. 

Download the report here

2024 Transatlantic Confidence Index shows vote of confidence in US-UK economic ties amid anxieties over future policy stability and corporate tax levels

July 24, 2023

Leading British and American businesses have given a new vote of confidence in the strength of transatlantic ties on trade, business and economic relationships despite an uncertain political context with national elections this year in both the UK and US.

The fourth annual Transatlantic Confidence Index from BritishAmerican Business and Bain & Company shows US companies’ confidence in the UK as a place to do business has stabilised in 2024, after two back-to-back years of sharp drops in sentiment, driven by political and economic turbulence in Britain, with multiple changes of Prime Minister, previous bouts of market turmoil, and the ongoing impact of the UK’s departure from the EU.

Click here to Read the Full Report

BAB July Policy and Trade Update Read here



Download "A Progress Review of the US-UK Atlantic Declaration, One Year on" (RAG)" here

UK Ambassador: At 75, NATO Alliance more united than ever

"NATO is the cornerstone of our defense and security and we are absolutely committed to our leadership role in ensuring NATO remains match-fit for the next 75 years," writes the British ambassador to Washington in this op-ed.

Breaking Defense, July 11, 2024, Dame Karen Piece, British Amassador

There may be a new government in the United Kingdom, but officials are clear: the country’s unwavering support for the NATO Alliance will never change. In this exclusive op-ed, Dame Karen Pierce, the British Ambassador to the US, argues that the Alliance at 75 is more vital than ever.

Winston Churchill once said: “There is only one thing worse than fighting with allies, and that is fighting without them.” And as I sit here in my office at the British Embassy in Washington, watching the NATO flag flying next to the Union flag above our gate as world leaders gather for the NATO Summit, those words seem more relevant than ever.

Read more here

Main take aways from the NATO summit

Held in DC, July 10, 2024

NATO leaders have released the Washington Summit Declaration, a consensus document setting forth what the Alliance stands for. Hear more here, Atlantic Council

What is NATO | Member Countries (32) | Activites

WTO chief warns against global trade breakdown

July 7, 2024 Jonathan Josephs, Business reporter, BBC News

Global trade “is not having the best of times at the moment”.

That is the admission of the director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. “We are seeing increasing protectionism, some undermining of the WTO rules, and some of this is leading to fragmentation,” she tells the BBC.

“Global trade is really part of the lifeblood for making countries resilient - and also for underpinning growth, so we are concerned about that.”

Read more here

British Chambers of Commerce Annual Conference

'The Future of the Economy”

London, UK, June 27, 2024

The conference was opened by Shevan Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce who urged the next UK Government to improve US/EU relations by reaching agreement in areas of mutual benefit for businesses on both sides. “A better deal is best for everyone”.

Read the Director General’s speech here

The British Chambers have prepared a Manifesto which is a set of business-made policy recommendations to grow the economy, namely:

• Green Innovation – Industrial strategy with green innovation at its heart
•  People and Work – Plan for better skills
•  Local Economy for the Future – Business Rates Reform
• Global Britain – Improve EU relations to cut costs for business
•  Digital Revolution – Government to appoint an AI Champion for SME’s

The US Trade & Investment Guide to the US 2024/2025

June 6, 2024

The latest version of its annual Trade and Investment Guide, is the most comprehensive resource for British companies seeking to expand their business in the US.

BAB’s new Guide explores how businesses can tap into the opportunities presented by the Memoranda of Understanding on trade and investment signed between the UK and the US states of Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington State, Florida, and Texas.

Download the guide here