Welcome to the April Trade and Investment Update

This Spring, BABC is busy preparing for the Annual Transatlantic Conference, held this year in Birmingham on 6-8 June. The Annual Conference provides BABC with the opportunity to bring together members from all 22 chapters throughout the US and UK for a 2-day program of high-level business discussions and networking. We have previously held these in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Washington and San Francisco. For more information on this year’s conference, please click here.

To give small businesses the opportunity to grow and connect, BABC Midlands has provided a special 40% discount to those companies with less than 20 employees wishing to attend the conference. For more information, please click here.

April also brings with it preparations for next month’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR) which enhances the protection of EU citizens’ data. Please see below for more information on data privacy.

Our transatlantic network grows every day. Join us and get in touch at trade@babinc.org. Don’t forget you can also follow @BABCTrade on twitter for the latest information. If you are interested in receiving our policy news, see information at the bottom of the update.

GDPR: What We’re Doing

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation will commence on May 25 th , 2018 and will require significant changes in the way BABC both collects and uses personal data that is either provided to or collected by BABC. This applies fully to the UK Chapters of the BABC, and to the US Chapters when dealing with contacts based in the EU.

BABC is taking a number of steps to comply with the GDPR, including updating our privacy policy, as well as ensuring our staff are trained to handle your data in the most secure manner possible. As with all of our electronic marketing material you are free to unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe or update profile buttons at the bottom of this email, however a separate email will be sent in the coming weeks outlining what we have done, your rights as an EU citizen under GDPR, and an opportunity to unsubscribe from BABC’s marketing communications.

Help on GDPR – The Privacy Advocate

THE PRIVACY ADVOCATE is a woman-owned, Washington DC-based global enterprise founded by industry leader Grace Buckler to provide cost-effective strategic privacy advisory and security consulting services to public and private sector businesses to better align privacy and technology practices with organizational mission, business goals, governance, and accountability.

THE PRIVACY ADVOCATE is an influencer and leader in European data protection supporting transatlantic companies and markets. The company’s core value embraces the practice of respecting and maintaining the privacy of personal information, empowering customers, employees, and business partners as good business. With GDPR enforcement deadline on May 25, and fines of up to 4% of global annual revenue or €20 million, THE PRIVACY ADVOCATE helps business managers address privacy as a risk management concern in a manner that meets their needs and budget.

THE PRIVACY ADVOCATE is poised to continue advising SMEs while partnering with leading global industry organizations such as ISACA International in delivering transatlantic perspectives on privacy and cyber security at the renown ISACA’s CSX European Conference scheduled for October 2018 in London. Visit the website.

BABC Transatlantic Conference 2018
“The Future of Transatlantic Trade”

The program of the BABC Conference is shaping up. More speakers have been confirmed. Please see the full list of speakers here.

The Conference will be held in Birmingham, United Kingdom, on 6th – 8th June and will bring together over 250 global thought leaders and members of the BABC chapters located across North America and the United Kingdom.

Sessions include:

Transatlantic Trade Post-Brexit
The Economic Challenges Facing Business and Industries
Trade and Productivity in the Context of the Industrial Strategy
Digital Trade and Cross-border Data Flows
Cyber Crime
The Future of design-Driven Innovation
Realising the Opportunities from International Business
The Annual Interview: The Future of the Transatlantic Relationship

Full list of Speakers:

Robert Wood Johnson, United States Ambassador to the Court of St James’s
The Rt Hon Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State for International Trade
John Simmons, Minister Counselor, Commercial Affairs, U.S. Embassy
Emma McClarkin MEP, Member of European Parliament, East Midlands
Steven Bridges, Managing Director Business Development, Grant Thornton Chicago (Previously UK Consul-General Chicago)
Mark Proctor, Managing Director, EU Automation
Professor Philip Plowden, Vice-Chancellor, BCU
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands
Sir John Peace, Chairman, Midlands Engine
Priya Guha, Ecosystem General Manager, RocketSpace
Julian David, CEO, techUK
Steven Bridges, Managing Director Business Development, Grant Thornton Chicago (Previously UK Consul-General Chicago)
Professor Alex De Ruyter, Centre for Brexit Studies, Birmingham City University

The Conference will be an opportunity for companies to connect with senior business executives from the BABC network across the UK and the US. Ambassador of the Unites States to the Court of St. James and the Rt Hon Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State for International Trade will be attending the Conference.

Titled “The Future of Transatlantic Trade”, the two-day event promises fascinating debates as well as a platform for making crucial connections in our growing transatlantic community. Join us, and if you are an SMEs you will get a special price.

As BABC is always keen to support SMEs, we are happy to offer a special price to SMEs.

Special registration for SMEs only

To learn more about the BABC Conference, please visit the website or email events@birmingham-chamber.com

Women’s Series: 5th Anniversary Celebration
Organised by BABC Georgia
30th April, 6.00 am
Location: F&B Atlanta, 3630 Peachtree Rd NE, #160 Atlanta, GA 30326

Across the Pond: a US/UK Business Briefing
Organised by BABC Pacific North West
24th May, 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm
Location: World Trade Center Portland, 121 SW Salmon St. Portland, OR 97204

Market Actions & Investor Reactions” with Dr. David Kelly, JP Morgan – annual financial breakfast
Organised by BABC New England
31th May, 8.00 am – 10.00 am
Location: One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110, USA

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UK
Business, art and culture combine in Liverpool for the 2018 International Business Festival

Liverpool, host city of the 2018 International Business Festival, offers visitors an opportunity to experience a truly global city rooted in local history and culture.

Liverpool’s historic docks established the city as one of the most important trade hubs of the 19 th century. Today, it enjoys a reputation as the second largest economy outside of London and the South East, growing faster than anywhere else in the UK. Furthermore, the docks are now a UNESCO world heritage site, regularly hosting global events like the Clipper Round the World Race. Liverpool still retains its status as an important trading hotspot for international businesses thanks to Liverpool2, Europe’s first semi-automated port.

The evolution of the city means Liverpool is the natural home of the 2018 International Business Festival, which it will once again host in June. The aim of the event is to help small and medium-sized companies to access the support and expertise they need to take their next step towards growth, through strengthening import and export partnerships.

Taking place over nine days across three weeks, the 2018 Festival will bring together investors, innovators and business leaders from around the globe to make connections, share knowledge and do deals. Industry thought leaders and experts speaking at the Festival include Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the CBI, Jurgen Maier, Chief Executive of Siemens and Alex Cruz, chairman and CEO of British Airways.

To find out more about the 2018 International Business Festival, or to buy tickets, visit www.internationalbusinessfestival.com.

British Embassy Open House Day
12th May, 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Location: 3100 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA

Learn More About BABC
If you are interested in joining the BABC network spanning the UK and North America, please get in touch at srizzo@babinc.org

For more information on BABC’s Trade and Investment Work please contact Silvia Rizzo at srizzo@babinc.org

To stay up to date on relevant policy issues concerning the transatlantic business community contact Theo Bachrach at tbachrach@babinc.org to sign up for the BABC Policy Update.