The British American Business Council in the Midlands
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  BABC Midlands
  75 Harborne Road
  Edgbaston
  Birmingham B15 3DH

 tel: 0121 454 6171 ext 2208
 fax: 0121 607 0130

 babc@babcmidlands.org.uk
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Recent Events

Business Luncheon with US Ambassador, Louis B. Susman

On the 26th February 2010 over 135 delegates from the Birmingham business community attended a Luncheon with US Ambassador, Louis B. Susman at the ICC, Birmingham, which was kindly sponsored and supported by the BABC in the Midlands, the Birmingham Law Society, the Birmingham City Council, and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce/UKTI.

 
L-R: Pic 1:Gaynor Whitby; Bernard Shepherd, Birmingham Law Society; Ambassador Susman; Cllr Mike Whitby, Birmingham City Council; Cassie Muir, BABC Midlands Pic 2: Farah Baksh, Aston Business School & BABC Midlands Board Member; John Morris, BHX & BABC Midlands Board Member; Jill Robinson, ExCathedra
     
L-R: Pic 1: Ambassador Susman addresses audience; Pic 2: Cllr Whitby and Ambassador Susman; Pic 3: Attendees seated for lunch
 
The Ambassador’s remarks highlighted the transatlantic trade and investment links between the City of Birmingham and the US which has remained strong and vibrant for the past 80 years. In addition the Ambassador identified the key sectors which have created strong and solid trade and investment relationship for the US and the UK, namely environmental goods and services and how these areas can be enhanced to make this relationship even stronger.
 
By touching on his professional background and interaction with President Obama, the Ambassador emphasised the importance of UK and US connections which is embedded in our history, culture and language. The Ambassador also highlighted the ‘Sister City’ relationship between Chicago and Birmingham, and acknowledged Birmingham as a significant city for developing and retaining the US and UK ‘Special Relationship’.
 
Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Mike Whitby was amongst many high profile guests at the luncheon, who all gathered to meet with the Ambassador, creating the opportunity to show case the City as a powerful player on the global stage.
 
Autumn Networking Breakfast & AGM
On Wednesday 11th November 2009, BABC Midlands members joined together for the BABC Midlands Annual General Meeting 2009, kindly hosted by Mills & Reeve LLP, Birmingham. It was a great opportunity for members to hear how the BABC Midlands has found the past year during the recession, the successful events that have taken place over the past year, and what lies ahead over the forthcoming year for members. Reports were given by Cassie Muir, Executive Director; Harry Reilly, Chairman and Steve Allen, Board Member & UK Regional Representative for the BABC ExComm. The morning also provided members with great networking opportunities and a complimentary breakfast.
 
Fall Economics Briefing Breakfast
On October 20th, delegates joined together at the Radisson SAS hotel for a Full English Breakfast, networking, and topical presentations on US and UK markets. HSBC Senior Economist Mark Berrisford-Smith, briefed the attendees on the current economic climate in relation to the US and UK economies.
 
Right to Left: David Enghauser, Virginia Economic Development Partnership (Sponsors) addressing attentive audience; Mark Berrisford-Smith, HSBC, engaging attendees.
 
Many thanks to David Enghauser at Virginia Economic Development Partnership for their kind sponsorship of the event, and Mark Berrisford-Smith, for the informative and enthusiastic talk, allowing delegates to leave with a positive and encouraging outlook on future US trade possibilities.
 
Jaguar Track Day
On Friday 25th September, BABC Midland Members and their guests joined together at Gaydon's Racing Heart Experience Centre, for a Jaguar Track Day.
2009 has seen an exciting transformation in the Jaguar range, with the launch of the dynamic 10 MY XK and XF (voted 'Best Executive Car 2009' by WhatCar?) and most recently, the stunning all new XJ.
 
In celebration of these great achievements, the BABC Midlands were delighted to join together with Jaguar to provide an exclusive Jaguar Track Experience driving programme for BABC Midlands members.
 
This exclusive track day was a remarkable day where BABC Midlands members were able to drive a Jaguar XK and an XF under test track conditions and experience the most dynamic, most exhilarating expression of Jaguar's beautiful fast cars.
 
The BABC Midlands would like to thank Jaguar for providing their members with this unique opportunity. We would also like to thank those members who attended, we hope you enjoyed this 'drive of a lifetime'!
 
 
Right to Left: 1. A great line up - Jaguar Cars; 2. In the Jaguar showroom before the test driving, BABC Midlands Member John Cave, Westhaven Worldwide Logistics with guest Dhiran Vagdia, Vagdia & Holmes

 
Independence Day Breakfast
The 4th July, Independence Day, marks an important moment in American history and with the new Obama Administration now in full swing, the BABC celebrated this with a Breakfast at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. The breakfast was held at the world-renowned photographer Nodav Kander's world premiere exhibition that consists of photographic portraits of the leading men and women in Barack Obama's government, shot on the eve of the presidential inauguration. 

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is the first venue to exhibit these photographic portraits, providing the city with a closer look at 'Obama's People'. The breakfast offered an exclusive chance to view these images privately out of public opening hours, and networking opportunities for the 30+ attendees.
 
Independence Day Cake - Kindly made & donated by Faye Hesson of Faye's Cakes and Catering
 
Luncheon with Guest of Honour Richard Le Baron, Charge d'Affaires, US Embassy 
On the 2nd of June 2009 the BABC Midlands hosted a luncheon at Opus Restaurant, Birmingham with guest speaker Richard Le Baron, Charge d'Affaires, US Embassy. Mr Le Baron was engaging and insightful with his words on current political and economic issues and their potential impact on the West Midlands. The luncheon also provided attendees with a question and answer session with Mr Le Baron in which he addressed their individual concerns and queries. 
 
     
 
Generating Success in the US Marketplace
In conjunction with Midlands World Trade Forum the BABC Midlands hosted a Generating Success in the US Marketplace workshop sponsored by HSBC at the Longbridge Innovation Centre on the 19th of March . The workshop address a number of topical issues regarding operating in the US, with speakers including Fred Bassnett a North American Market Advisor to UKTI providing a market overview, Gina Putnam from Bernhard and Co presenting a case study and David Knight from HSBC with a banking overview. The event also included breakout rooms with UPS and TUV, providing the opportunity for a more interactive discussion about attendees queries.
 
VAT & Duties Breakfast Seminar 
On 25th February 2009, at City Spirit, St. Paul's Square, Birmingham, the BABC Midlands hosted a VAT & Duties Breakfast Seminar. At this event, Colin Woodward VAT & Duties Director for Barringtons Chartered Accountants, gave an insightful presentation on the issues that surround importing, exporting and international trade. For those that attended it was a valuable morning which enabled them to have questions surrounding these issues answered by a specialist in this area of business.
 
The Presidential Inauguration Reception
On January 20th the BABC Midlands hosted a Presidential Inauguration Reception at Opus Restaurant Birmingham. The event was attended by 30 delegates representing a diverse range of businesses across the Midlands. The evening commenced with BBC televised coverage of the inauguration ceremony, progressing into a networking opportunity with refreshments and canapes. 
 
The Changing Face of Manufacturing Dinner 
On the 5th November over 200 members and non-members of the BABC gathered at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole for the Changing Face of Manufacturing Dinner, with guest speakers Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham Kt and Mike O’Driscoll, MD of Jaguar cars, who discussed the manufacturing environment in the current market climate locally and globally. The event was sponsored by Advantage West Midlands and Friend MTS.
 
   
 
The Post US Election Breakfast
The BABC hosted a Post US Election Breakfast on the 5th November with over 40 delegates at the REP Birmingham, with sponsors Friend LLP. The guest speaker Professor Scott Lucas of Birmingham University discussed the US election outcome and the impact it could have on the UK and the ‘special relationship’ shared with the US. The breakfast also included a very insightful question and answer session in which the delegates were able to talk to Professor Lucas about the implications and effects of the election in relation to their specific business operations.