BCC – Virtual Events
The Next Normal – Futureproofing the workforce for a post-pandemic world
- Wednesday 12 May
- 10:30 – 11:30 (UK time)
- Open to all
The British Chambers of Commerce, as part of our People Campaign, will shortly publish two reports looking at the future of the workforce. Each report’s recommendations will be presented and discussed at our next Global Business Webinar on the 12th May 2021 between 10:30 – 11:30GMT.
The Workplace Training and Development Commission’s report, published in partnership with Indeed considers the question of ‘how can we achieve a world-class system for retraining and upskilling our workforce to take advantage of rapid changes in technology, working practices, and industrial and consumer trends?’. The Commission’s range of recommendations will be explored as part of the event.
The Next Normal – futureproofing the workforce for a post-pandemic world, a report published in partnership with Barclays Life Skills, describes what the uncertainty caused by Covid-19 has meant for how businesses manage employees and how it may permanently change how they are managed in the future.
We will hear how the report’s conclusions can be used by businesses, educators and policymakers alike to understand more about how workforces can be futureproofed.
Chaired by Sarah Howard, Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce, Sarah will be joined by:
- Gillian Keegan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills)
- Pawel Adrjan, Head of EMEA Research, Indeed
- Jane Gratton, Head of People Policy, British Chambers of Commerce
- Kirstie Mackey OBE, Managing Director, Citizenship and Consumer Affairs, Barclays UK
Leading the way to COP26 – The UK’s journey to Net Zero
- Monday 17 May
- 14:00 – 15:00 (UK time)
- Open to all
Our latest survey on the Net Zero economy*, conducted in partnership with Drax, showed that 38% of respondents said they fully understand the term net zero and the implications for their business while 21% did not. Amid unprecedented challenges in the past twelve months, one third of firms do not consider net zero to be a priority and more than two-thirds have either never heard of COP or know the name only. However, appetite to become net zero is very high, with 88% saying they are actively taking at least one measure to reduce carbon emissions.
Leading the way to COP26 – the UK’s journey to Net Zero, a panel event delivered in partnership with Drax, will enable participants to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of the term Net Zero and the impact it will have on their business.
- Understand more about Cop26, what it means for their business and how they can get involved.
- Hear a real-life case study from Drax, with their vision to be carbon negative by 2030, including the changes they’ve made and the hurdles they’ve faced.
- Take away actions to bring them closer to realising their net zero ambitions and/or targets.
Claire Walker, Co-Executive Director at the British Chambers of Commerce will be joined by:
- Will Gardiner, CEO, Drax Group
- Chris Stark, Chief Executive, The Climate Change Committee
- James Heath, Chief Executive, The National Infrastructure Commission
- Eliot Whittington, Director, The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group
- Claire Perry O’Neill, Managing Director, Climate & Energy, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
*Conducted in August 2020
In conversation with Emily Thornberry
- Wednesday 19 May
- 13:00 – 13:45 (UK time)
- Open to Chambers only
Join James Martin, BCC’s Director of Policy in conversation with Emily Thornberry, Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade as they explore the Labour Party’s views on:
- The new EU relationship changes and impact on UK-EU trade in goods and services;
- Perceptions of UK economy and continued competitiveness as a global trading nation;
- The City of London’s place as a premier global financial centre and access to global mobility and talent;
- Increased trade and investment opportunities for UK businesses from CPTPP with key regions of the world; and
- How the Labour Party plans to engage British business globally in driving trade and investment between the UK and markets across the world.
Please note that this event is for member chambers in the Global Business Network only.
Key Milestones to UK’s accession to the CPTPP trading partnership and the value for UK Business
In conversation with Graham Zebedee, UK’s Chief negotiator to CPTPP
- Thursday 20 May
- 16:00 – 17:00 (UK time)
- Open to all
UK trade has undergone significant shifts in the past year. The new trading relationship with the EU has led to the biggest changes in day one trading conditions for decades for many. Also, the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted not only our ability to do business, but also that of economies across the globe.
The recovery of our local, national and international economies depends on fundamentally strengthening trading relationships. To achieve this recovery and its global ambitions, the UK government is moving forward quickly in forging new trade relationships with markets across the world.
Join us as we explore and provide a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities offered through the UK’s proposed accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
We will be joined by Graham Zebedee, Chief Negotiator at the Department for International Trade and Liam Smyth, Director of Trade Facilitation and ChamberCustoms at the British Chambers of Commerce.
In conversation with Jonathan Knott
- Tuesday 6 July
- 15:00 – 15:45 (UK time)
- Open to Chambers only
Introducing Jonathan Knott, the new HM Trade Commissioner for the LATAC region and Consul General São Paulo. This event will be moderated by BCC’s Director Global Business Networks, Anne-Marie Martin.
Jonathan will present his key priorities for his tenure as HMTC for the region, driving trade and investment growth between the UK and Latin America and the Caribbean and how he and the team along with other stakeholders will work to create more opportunities for companies to forge deep trading ties to help them on the path to growth, particularly as we move out of crisis into recovery.
Jonathan was most recently British Ambassador to Poland and Director of the UK government’s Central Europe Network.
The LATAC region is hugely interesting with a wealth of opportunities that UK companies can explore, and Jonathan and his team along with our member British Chambers in the countries in the region stand ready and willing to assist your members to penetrate and grow their businesses in these markets.
Please note that this event is for member chambers in the Global Business Network only.