Business Ambassadors

In 2008 the Prime Minister announced the creation of a Business Ambassadors Network. Business and University leaders work with the Government to promote the UK’s excellence internationally and highlight trade and investment opportunities. They focus on helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which sometimes face greater barriers to accessing global markets than larger businesses.

The Business Ambassadors Network is coordinated by a dedicated secretariat, led by Don Bolessa, Head of the Business Ambassadors Secretariat.

When travelling overseas, Business Ambassadors will carry out priority meetings at request of the Government, including lobbying for market access or leading events for SMEs. They will also undertake dedicated overseas visits or lead UK trade missions for small businesses.

The Business Ambassadors offer a wealth of business experience and knowledge gained across a range of sectors and geographical markets.

UK Business Ambassadors unite to support the national export challenge.

You can also view the summary of Business Ambassadors events during 2011.

The Business Ambassadors

Details of the Business Ambassadors visits are listed under their biographies.

• Marcus Agius, Chairman, Barclays

• Sir Anthony Bamford, JCB

• Sir Victor Blank, Former Chairman, Lloyds Banking Group

• Sir Roger Bone, President, Boeing UK

• Sir David Brewer, Former Lord Mayor of London/Chair China British Business Council

• Samir Brikho, Chief Executive, AMEC

• Malcolm Brinded – Royal Dutch Shell

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Brittan of Spennithorne QC DL – Vice Chairman, UBS

• Lord John Browne, Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings

• Professor The Lord Darzi of Denham PC, KBE, Professor of Surgery, Imperial College London

• Nick Fry, Mercedes GP Petronas

• Professor Malcolm Grant, CBE, Provost and President, University College London

• Hermann Hauser, Amadeus Capital Partners

• Anya Hindmarch, Anya Hindmarch

• Larry Hirst, Non-executive director ARM Holdings Plc and MITIE Group plc

• Brent Hoberman, mydeco.com

• Baroness Sarah Hogg, Financial Reporting Council

• Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, Chairman of the International Business Advisory Board HSBC

• Lady Barbara Judge

• Professor Julia King, Vice-Chancellor, Aston University

• Richard Lambert

• Lord Jonathan Marland

• Tamara Mellon, Founder and former CCO of Jimmy Choo

• Dick Olver, Chairman, BAE Systems

• Alan Parker, Brunswick

• Chris Patten, Chancellor University of Oxford

• Caroline Plumb, Freshminds

• Lord Charles Powell

• Sir David Reid, Intertek Group plc

• Paul Skinner, Chairman, Infrastructure UK

• Sir Kevin Smith

• Sir John Sorrell, Chairman, London Design Festival & Co-Chair The Sorrell Foundation

• Bob Wigley, Yell

For more information on the Business Ambassadors, contact Don Bolessa

Catalyst UK

Catalyst UK is a global network of influential business leaders who are keen to promote the UK as a place to do international business.

The network is designed to encourage international high-level introductions and global business opportunities.

Read more on Catalyst UK.