On Thursday, December 7, 2017, the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia (BABCPHL) hosted our signature annual holiday luncheon in the Grand Ballroom at the Ritz Carlton. The room was abuzz with networking and merriment. We are proud to offer the international business community this opportunity to create valuable relationships and learn current information about pressing global issues related to the UK before the end of each calendar year. This year’s program featured the Honorable Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia and Her Majesty’s Consul General & Director-General of International Trade for North America, Antony Phillipson. More than 150 international executives and leading UK and regional government officials attended the event.
Michael Pedrick, BABCPHL President opened the meeting and welcomed special guests and keynote speakers. He introduced Mayor Kenney who was eager to take the stage. Mayor Kenney spoke about UK investment in the region and the City’s commitment to UK business ties. He lauded the BABCPHL for our efforts and introduced Consul General Phillipson.
Mr. Phillipson assumed his position in mid-November, and this was his first official trip to Philadelphia. Previously he was Director for International Agreements and Trade in the Department for Exiting the European Union. Antony joined the Civil Service in 1993 and began his career in the Department of Trade and Industry where his posts included Private Secretary and then Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State. After four years serving as a Counsellor (Global Issues) in the Embassy in Washington, he was the Prime Minister’s Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs (2004–07) and also was Head of the Iran Coordination Group in the FCO. In April 2011 he was appointed as High Commissioner to Singapore. He returned to London in April 2015 as Director (EU External) in the European and Global Issues Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. As Consul General, Antony will lead the Government’s work promoting UK economic, commercial, political and consular interests in New York and the surrounding area. As Head of International Trade in North America, Antony will lead trade and investment promotion and trade policy throughout the North American region.
Antony assumes his new position at an important time, with the total UK-US trade in goods and services worth more than $200 billion annually supporting more than a million jobs on each side of the pond. The US and UK are each other’s largest foreign direct investors and trading partners. During the BABCPHL lunch Antony addressed topics pertaining to the UK-US economy; the UK-Philadelphia and UK- Pennsylvania economic relationship; and provided a Brexit update. Antony noted the UK is the number one European market for Pennsylvania exports. There are more than 1,550 UK-owned companies that provide more than 53,000 jobs in the Commonwealth. And he explained the current climate and goals regarding Brexit, notably, the UK’s goal is to create a “partnership with the EU to reflect the kind of mature, cooperative relationship that close friends and allies enjoy.” Antony said this new relationship with the EU will be “one that will deliver prosperity and security for the people of the UK, as well as the people of the EU in the future.” Lastly, Antony recognized some of the larger British employers in Philadelphia including sponsor companies HSBC Bank and the Almac Group.
Special thanks to BABCPHL 2017 Holiday Lunch headline sponsors, without whom this program would not have been possible: HSBC Bank USA, N.A.; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; United Airlines; Almac Group; Deloitte LLP; and The Department for International Trade. Following a delicious lunch, George Tiger, Vice President of Global Business Development for Almac Clinical Technologies; Phil Nuttall, Senior Vice President and Wealth Sales Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region at HSBC Securities; and Linda Harding, Key Account Manager for the UK for United Airlines, spoke about their companies and connections to the UK.
It would not be a BABCPHL holiday event without some fun and good cheer. Almac Group generously sponsored a Bushmills whiskey tasting, featuring Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey; Red Bush; and ten-year old Single Malt Whiskey. Christmas crackers were popped, paper crowns were donned, and Howard Silverstone, BABCPHL Programs & Events Chairman was the Master of Ceremonies for our coveted gift giving tradition. Our program concluded with nearly 20 raffle prizes given to lucky business card draw winners from local retailers, restaurants, hotels and sports teams, including two United Airlines roundtrip Polaris Business Class tickets to/from US48, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and Europe.
Holiday time is about giving, and the BABCPHL is proud to be involved with the local community. A portion of proceeds from this annual event will be donated to the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) Work Ready Summer Program. PYN is an intermediary organization dedicated to equipping young people for academic achievement, economic opportunity and personal success. The Group coordinates and supports large-scale, cross-sector initiatives while developing targeted programs to expand access to services for underserved youth.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season. We are thankful for your support and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
