french chamber annual activity report 2014
DESCRIPTION
Our Annual Activity Report for the year 2014 in which you will find all the details of the Chambers’ activities and results for last year, showcasing what we have been doing for the benefit of our members and the business community at large. Much more than a record of all the events and activities, the report provides many interesting facts and figures, and an overview of all our services, as well as the outlook for 2015.TRANSCRIPT
FRENCH CHAMBER OF GREAT BRITAIN
ANNUAL REPORT 2014
Carolyn McCall OBE, CEO of easyJet
Having been a member of the French Chamber since 2011, easyJet views it as an important forum through which we can demonstrate our strong business links with France as well as providing us with an excellent network of more than 600 Franco-British businesses. More companies are choosing to fly with easyJet as our links with French business continue to strengthen. The team led by Florence is excellent and we enjoy being part of a dynamic association and adding value wherever we can.
The French Chamber of Commerce plays a critical role in forging partnerships and relationships across the Anglo-French business community. We greatly value our involvement in the Chamber and the opportunities it presents for networking and cultural exchange. I have been particularly impressed with their innovative programme of events and the quality of their speakers. As a business that provides a vital link between the UK and France, we appreciate having this forum for exchanging ideas and building relationships.
Nicolas Petrovic, CEO of Eurostar
The French Chamber gives access to influential business and political leaders, and this is critical to obtain the right information and pass on messages which matter to our business community. The Chamber also forges friendships as it provides an opportunity for our very dedicated members and company representatives to get to know each other.
Arnaud Vaissié, President of the Union of French Chambers Abroad Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of IntErnatIonal sos
The French Chamber provides a unique forum for top-quality, inter-industry leadership networking across the Franco-British business and cultural landscape. Renault UK is particularly proud of its longstanding participation in the Chamber and delighted to contribute and benefit from the continued value to its wide-ranging members.
Ken Ramirez, Managing Director of rEnault uK
I was very impressed by the French Chamber’s dynamism and standing when I became Ambassador to the UK in August 2014. This is reflected in the diversity of its members, the quality of its events and services, and the rich content of its magazine INFO, to which I have already contributed several times. I recognise the critical role the French Chamber plays in the Franco-British community by promoting its members’ interests and the French Embassy is pleased to collaborate with such a committed partner in supporting the economic diplomacy that is a priority of our government.HE MS Sylvie Bermann, FrEnch ambassador to thE uK
The Chamber’s team provides us with expert advice on our accounts, as well as VAT and payroll management. The team is very professional, and always gives clear advice and guidance in a prompt and efficient manner. Recently they conducted a routine VAT inspection of our company requested by HMRC without me having to verify their work. With them I can concentrate on my business! I would not hesitate to recommend their services.
Jacques Bordier, Director of JEan roussEau ltd
OUTGOING PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
MANAGING DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW
WHO’S WHO
HIGHLIGHTS 2014
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10MEMBERSHIP
EVENTS
PUBLICATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES
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FORUMS AND CLUBS 16
OUR PARTNERS
OUR NETWORKS
IncubatorBusiness Consultancy
Accountancy, Payroll & Company Set-up Recruitment
Climate Change ForumCross-Cultural Relations Forum
Finance ForumHuman Resources Forum
Legal Forum Economic Updates
SME & Entrepreneurs ClubLuxury Club
FINANCIAL REPORT
Project Supervisors: Florence Gomez / Keri Fuller
Project Manager: Marielle Fraize
Design: Katherine Millet
Photos of Chamber events by Jose Farinha
Printed by CPI UK
© French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain - July 2015
Lincoln House, 300 High Holborn, London WC1V 7JH
www.frenchchamber.co.uk
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Our thanks to CPI for the complimentary
printing of this report
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RICHARD BROWN CBE
I t is a great pleasure to introduce the 2014-15 Annual Report of the French Chamber.
As Deputy President in 2014 and President since Arnaud Bamberger stepped down for personal and professional reasons in March 2015, I have had a privileged overview of all the Chamber’s activities and achievements, and for this reason I am writing this message rather than our new President, Estelle Brachlianoff, who was elected along with Stephen Burgin as Deputy President at our AGM on 25 June. I would like to thank all of those who helped make 2014 such a good year for the Chamber whether through their support, guidance or hard work, in particular former President Arnaud Bamberger, our Board of Directors and Advisory Councillors, the Chairs of our Forums and Clubs, Committees and the Chamber team under the leadership of Florence Gomez. In 2014 we also had the unstinting support of not one, but two French Ambassadors to the UK, as HE Mr Bernard Emié handed over the reins to HE Ms Sylvie Bermann in the summer. We would like to pay tribute to Bernard Emié for his commitment to the Chamber over his three year tenure and thank Sylvie Bermann for the time and effort she has already put in for the Chamber. 2014 was a year in which the close ties between France and the UK, both past and present, were very publicly celebrated as Her Majesty the Queen was warmly received in Paris on her first State Visit to
Inspiration and Leadership debate to the Luxury Dinner. We have also continued to provide support for the setting up, development and expansion of French businesses in the UK through our Business Support Services, offering, in effect, a one-stop shop for all their needs. Our professional image has been enhanced by the adoption of a new logo that identifies us as part of the network of French Chambers abroad. Hand-in-hand with that, the Chamber has been working with CCI France International to develop a new common CRM tool, which will be rolled out in 2015. This will further professionalise the Chamber’s operations and help us better serve our members. Another new project that is under way for 2015 is the development of a new, more interactive website, which will look and feel more up to date and will cater for the needs of members and prospective clients with relevant content and information. As this Annual Report will attest, this is a vibrant and relevant Chamber, bringing real value to businesses, no matter what their size or sector. It has been my privilege to serve as both Deputy President and President, and I will continue to do so as a Director of the Board. I look forward to working with Estelle Brachlianoff as she leads the Chamber into another successful year. Finally, on behalf of all our members, I thank all of the Chamber’s staff for their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to making the Chamber the continuing success that it is.
France in 10 years, and attended along with world leaders the 70th anniversary commemorations of the Second World War Normandy Landings, which provided a moment of reflection and reaffirmation of our solidarity. For its part, the UK – and Yorkshire in particular – wholeheartedly embraced the Tour de France with what the Tour’s race director Christian Prudhomme described as the ‘grandest Grand Départ’ in the race’s 111-year history. It was also a year of continuing economic improvement in the UK as unemployment fell to 6% and the economy grew 2.8%, the highest pace of annual growth since 2006 according to the Office of National Statistics. Franco-British economic relations played no small part in this with the UK being France’s fourth largest customer and France being the third largest investor in the UK after the US and the Netherlands. The UK continued to represent France’s main trade surplus, standing at £10.8bn in 2014. We also saw Franco-British business partnerships growing and strengthening, most visibly in energy and defence, but in other sectors too, and the wide array of French Chamber member companies are testament to this. The Chamber itself goes from strength to strength. Turnover was over £2 million, producing a small surplus after tax. All the departments worked hard to achieve this and maintain the high quality for which the Chamber is renowned. The biggest growth came from Events as the Chamber added even more high calibre events to its calendar, ranging from the Women,
OUTGOING PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Former CEO & Chairman of Eurostar
‘As this Annual Report will attest, this is a vibrant and relevant Chamber, bringing real value to businesses, no matter what their size or sector’
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2014 was another very busy but good year for the Chamber as we continued to pursue our mission to
develop and connect French and British businesses whether small or big.A particular focus of the year was on SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-ups as we positioned ourselves as a one-stop shop for all their needs. Our services for SME and entrepreneur members include helping companies to set up in the UK, finding the talent for their recruitment needs, providing outsourced accountancy and payroll services, boardroom space to hire for meetings, an Incubator for long and short-term desk hire, visibility in INFO and, of course, our SME and Entrepreneurs Club which offers networking, benchmarking and learning opportunities as well as peer and expert support.
For larger member companies, the Chamber offers exclusive networking opportunities to build business connections with peers and across sectors, as well as for team building and staff development. We encourage our member companies to involve their staff in our Forum activities, as these are exceptional platforms for accessing key information on specific subjects, as well as being opportunities to benchmark and share best practice.
This annual report offers a comprehensive account of the activities and achievements of the Chamber in 2014, but I would like to highlight a few. Our Chamber was singled out among 112 French Chambers Abroad (CCI France International) for the 2014
Communication Award in recognition of the quality of our publications, most notably INFO magazine, which marked its 35th anniversary. For the second year running we were able to generously support a Chamber member charity – Handicap International – through a silent auction at our Gala Dinner. Our turnover increased by 6.4% with services representing 60% of the budget. 150 new members joined the Chamber. We organised a record 57 events, making our Events Department the star performer of the year. Among these were four completely new events – ‘From Scratch to Success: Business Stories’; Women, Inspiration and Leadership’; the Annual Luxury Dinner and the Franco-British Business Forum.All were extremely successful and will become fixtures in our calendar. For these and other events we had a very impressive line-up of speakers (see page 25). Our Forums and Clubs held 33 sessions and saw a significant increase in the number of member companies involved with more than half participating.Since its creation in 2012, our Recruitment Service has continued to develop, and with a new professional team on board, will continue to meet the recruitment needs of member companies. Our very competitive rates mean that members effectively recoup their membership fees with one or two recruitments.
None of this year’s achievements would have been possible without the support and participation of our members and I would like to thank them, particularly our speakers, partners and sponsors.
MANAGING DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW
As busy as 2014 was, we have stepped up a gear for 2015 with a number of new projects. We are in the process of moving to a new CRM which is being developed by CCI France International for all French Chambers abroad. Our Chamber was chosen as a pilot for this and we have been able to ensure that it will be a bespoke professional tool that will not only enhance our efficiency but also understand and respond to our members better. We have also published our first HR Guide, a lot of the work for which wasdone in 2014. Special thanks go to our HR Forum members who contributed.Preparations are well under way for the launch of a Women’s Business Network for female CEOs, CFOs and those in London-based global positions, as well as a Start-up Lab to support start-ups with advice, mentoring and contacts for their development.
On our part, I would like to thank the French Ambassador to the UK, HE Ms Sylvie Bermann and her team at the French Embassy for their support. For their time, dedication, support and advice, we also thank our former President Arnaud Bamberger, the Directors of our Board, the Advisory Councillors, particularly those on the Discover the Chamber Committee and involved in the brainstorming for the Start-up Lab, the Chairs of all our Forums and Clubs, and my hard-working team at the Chamber. Finally, my special thanks go to Richard Brown, who served as Deputy President in 2014 and stepped in so ably as President in March. His guidance and ongoing commitment to the Chamber have been invaluable. Thanks to all for making the French Chamber the best that it can be.
FLORENCE GOMEz
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‘A particular focus of the year was on SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-ups as we positioned ourselves as a one-stop shop for all their needs’
RichaRd BRown cBEFormer CEO & Chairman
Eurostar
PEtER alfandaRy
Head of French TeamReed Smith LLP
ian fishER
Chief Country Officer and Head of Coverage & Investment Banking UK
Société Générale
BRian Gosschalk
Head of President’s Office Ipsos
Other directors
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caRolyn Mccall oBEChief Executive
easyJet
hElEna kavanaGh Managing Director JCDecaux UK Ltd
Paul kahn
President Airbus Group UK
oliviER MoREl
President of CCE UK; Partner & Head of International Corporate
Investment, Cripps LLP
EstEllE BRachlianoff
Senior Executive Vice-President, UK & Ireland,
Veolia
nicolas RiBollEt
Executive DirectorMazars Business Advisors
stEPhEn BuRGin
Regional Vice President, Northern & Central Europe,
Alstom Power
President Deputy President Treasurer
The French Chamber is a private, independent organisation with a mission to develop and connect French and
British businesses in Great Britain. Our policies are guided by a Board of Directors responsible for all major decisions
concerning the Chamber’s strategy. The Board is assisted by an Advisory Council, helping to increase the visibility and
the efficiency of the Chamber. Our dedicated and multicultural team strives to provide high quality services to support
the development of our clients and member companies in the UK.
floREncE GoMEz Managing DirectorFrench Chamber
Managing Director
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS - as at July 2015
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chRistian PoRta
Chairman & CEOPernod Ricard Europe
oliviER nicolaÿ
President, Chanel UK, Canada & Latin America
nicolas PEtRovic
Chief Executive OfficerEurostar International Ltd
siR MaRtin soRREll
CEOWPP plc
aRnaud vaissié
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEOInternational SOS
Honorary members
Pascal BoRis cBEHonorary President
GéRaRd ocquidant
Honorary Treasurer
ADVISORY COUNCILLORS - as at July 2015
Mark BomerSenior PartnerBDO LLP
Guy H.R. BondonneauManaging DirectorWeb Consulting Team
Oliver CarretVice President UK Nuclear Project ENGIE Energy Europe
Victor ChavezCEOThales UK
Alain de Cointet Minister Counsellor for Economic and Financial AffairsFrench Embassy
Laurence Colchester DirectorBitter Lemon Press
Robert DaviesCEOAreva UK Ltd
Renaud Digoin Danzin Executive DirectorSPIE UK
Paul EvansGroup Chief Executive Officer AXA UK PLC
Géraldine FabreSenior AssociateRussell-Cooke LLP
Richard Fostier CEOColas Rail Ltd
Marie-Caroline Frochot PartnerLewis Silkin LLP
David Glass Partner, Corporate and FinanceThomas Eggar LLP
Philippe HenryHead of Banking Continental Europe & Africa - Head of Credit & Lending, Europe - Global Banking & MarketsHSBC Bank PLC
David Herbinet Partner, UK ExecutiveMazars LLP
Dr Peter Hindle MBEGeneral Delegate UK, Ireland & South Africa & Senior Vice President with Responsibility for Sustainable HabitatSaint-Gobain Ltd
Maxime HolderChairmanPAUL UK Ltd
All Board Directors are also Advisory Councillors
Richard Brown CBEFormer CEO & Chairman of EurostarclImatE changE Forum
Peter AlfandaryPartner and Head of French Team, Reed Smith cross cultural rElatIons Forum
John PeacheyChief Financial Officer, Global Markets, HSBC Bank PlcFInancE Forum
Mark PautzHuman Resources Director for Europe, International SOShuman rEsourcEs Forum
Olivier Morel, Partner, Cripps Ken Morrison, Legal Director, Eurotunnel (Deputy Chair) lEgal Forum
Philippe ChalonDirector of External Affairs, International SOS & Managing Director of the Cercle d’outre-MancheEconomIc updatEs
Bertrand Michaud Managing Director of Hermès GB Ltdluxury club
Arnaud de MontilleCo-Founder of Merci Maman Personalised GiftssmE & EntrEprEnEurs club
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Pascal d’Hont FounderEliotus
Ben HughesGlobal Commercial Director & Deputy CEOFinancial Times
Elisabeth MarkartManaging DirectorBarkston Consulting
Jean-Noël Mermet Managing DirectorFrenger International Ltd
Bertrand MichaudManaging DirectorHermès GB Ltd
Jeanne MonchovetFounderOlystix
Ursula MorgensternCEOAtos UK & Ireland
Marc MourreManaging Director, Vice-Chairman Commodities Morgan Stanley & Co. International Ltd
Jean-Pierre Mustier Partner Tikehau Investment Ltd
Ray Newton Advisor to the Chairman Radisson BLU Edwardian Hotels
Gilles NormandCEOMMA Holdings UK & Swinton Insurance
Stéphane Rambosson Managing Director Financial Services Europe DHR International
Kenneth RamirezManaging Director Renault UK Ltd Chairman of the ‘Discover the Chamber’ Committee
Marc Reboux Senior Director - EMEA Office and Tenant RepresentationCBRE Ltd
John Rees Trade and Invetsment DirectorGovernment of South Australia
Rupert ReeceManaging PartnerGide Loyrette Nouel
Emmanuelle RiesManaging Partnerebl Miller Rosenfalck
Warner Rootliep General Manager UK & Ireland Air France KLM
Bob Scott Senior Vice PresidentCapgemini UK
Nathalie Seiler-Hayez General ManagerThe Connaught
Peter Smith PartnerConstantin LLP
Madani SowChairmanBouygues UK
Tarja StenvallGeneral Manager, UK & IrelandSanofi
Peter StevensPartner, Business Law DepartmentTWM Solicitors LLP
Dominique TaiAssociate, French Group Manager Browne Jacobson LLP
Alexandre TerrassePartnerJeffrey Green Russell
Marc de Thomasson DirectorVictanis Advisory Services
Paul VollerPartner, Corporate and CommercialBircham Dyson Bell LLP
Guy Wieynk CEOPublicis UK & Nordics
Honorary Councillor Elisabeth Delahaye
CHAIRS OF OUR FORUMS AND CLUBS
We would like to thank all Directors, Advisory Councillors and Chairs for their commitment and dedication to the Chamber.
THE TEAM - as at July 2015
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Florence Gomez Managing Director
Noémie du Chatelier Executive Assistant to the MD
Carla Coutinho Office Manager
MEMBERsHIp FoRUMs & ClUBs
Roxane Certner Head of Membership
Aude Reungoat Senior Account Manager
Isabelle Meyers Forums & Clubs Project Manager
EVEnTs & MARKETIng
Cécilia Gonzalez Head of Events & Marketing
Sonia Olsen Events & Marketing Manager
Anne-Claire Lo Bianco Events & Marketing Coordinator
Suzanne Lycett Advertising & Sales Coordinator
BUsInEss ConsUlTAnCy & BUsInEss CEnTRE
Sabrina Mimid Head of Business Consultancy
Anne-Laure Albergel Senior Project Manager
ACCoUnTAnCy & CoMpAny sET Up
Naser Nashaat Head of Accounting & Business Support
Sophie Bertoux Business Support Coordinator
Mariam Jatta Accountant
Céline Blanche Accountant
Manon Chauvin Assistant Accountant
Solène Chedeville Accounting & Business Support Assistant
RECRUITMEnT & HUMAn REssoURCEs
Bénédicte Lécuyer Head of Recruitment Service
Christelle Van-Patier Recruitment & HR Officer
pUBlICATIons & CoMMUnICATIons
Keri Fuller Head of Publications & Communications
Marielle Fraize Corporate Communications Manager; Head of Partnerships
Katherine Millet Graphic Designer
CONTACT US
+44 (0)20 7092 6600
www.frenchchamber.co.uk
INSTITUTIONAL ORGANISATIONSFrench Embassy The French Embassy has always been a strong supporter of the Chamber. We are honoured to have HE Ms Sylvie Bermann, the French Ambassador to the UK, speaking at many of our events and hosting some at the Résidence de France, such as the Ambassador’s Briefs. We also co-organise a Franco-British Conference every year in partnership with the French Embassy, and in 2015, HE Ms Sylvie Bermann will be leading our Trade Delegation to Manchester. In addition, the new Minister Counsellor for Economic and Financial Affairs, Alain de Cointet, has joined the Chamber’s Advisory Council.
Business France In early 2015, Invest in France and Ubifrance merged to become Business France. The Chamber supports the Business France VIE programme by welcoming VIEs to our Incubator. Business France was also a key sponsor of both our Franco-British Business Awards and Franco-British Business Forum.
UK Trade and Investment UK Trade & Investment is a UK Government department which helps overseas companies enter the British market. Our collaboration increases access and engagement with French businesses setting up in the UK and opens up referral streams to mutually benefit both our organisations. UKTI was also a sponsor of both our Franco-British Business Awards and Franco-British Business Forum.
London & Partners As London remains a location of choice for companies wishing to set up business in the UK, L&P refers many French companies to the Chamber. Our valuable partnership agreement originally signed in 2013 with L&P was renewed in 2014.
Franco-British CouncilThe aim of the council is to promote better understanding between Britain and France. The FBC has always been a valuable partner, most notably in the organisation of our Annual Franco-British conferences.
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OUR PARTNERS
CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS In 2014, we signed a 3-year partnership with the Royal Albert Hall, and renewed our agreements with the Royal Opera House and the French Institute. Partnerships with such renowned institutions have notably given us access to iconic venues for our events.
PRESS We have renewed our valuable partnership with the Financial Times, which allows us to advertise four times a year in the FT and has also helped us to secure high profile speakers for our events.
Our longstanding partnership with the Agence France Presse (AFP) provides a live news stream in both French and English on the Chamber website, giving members access to the latest business news.
Thanks to our partnerships with Ici Londres, French Radio London and France in London, we have more press coverage of our events and publications, thereby increasing visibility for our sponsors and members.
SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES Collège Français Bilingue de LondresThe Chamber is responsible for appointing half of the Board of Trustees (including Chair and Treasurer) from member company representatives.
Schools and universitiesThe Chamber, through its Recruitment Service, has developed partnerships with member schools and universities to support both young graduates and alumni in their search for positions.
New in 2014: EDHEC, ESSEC Business School, INSEEC, EM Normandie Renewed in 2014: HEC, Sciences Po Paris, ESC La Rochelle, EM Grenoble, Arts & Métiers Paritech, ESSCA and EISTI.
ASENDIA Since 2012, Asendia has supported the Chamber by distributing free of charge most of our publications, especially INFO magazine. Asendia is a leading global provider of mail and parcel solutions which allows us to benefit from an excellent quality of service.
M A G A Z I N E
CCI FRANCE INTERNATIONAL This network, chaired by Arnaud Vaissié, our former President and a Director of our Board, meets annually for a Seminar of Managing Directors, during which, best practice is shared and Chambers of the network are recognised for outstanding work. Every year, three awards are given for Innovation, Best Contribution and Communication. Our Chamber was the recipient of the 2014 Communication Award. Since becoming President, Arnaud Vaissié, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of International SOS, has strengthened the role of the network and encouraged Chambers abroad to combine their resources. CCI France International will thus oversee and co-finance a new common CRM platform. Our Chamber has been chosen as a pilot for this project and we will transfer to the new CRM platform in 2015. This strategic investment will allow us to better cater for our member’s needs. In 2015, we will also migrate our website to the CCI France International portal website which will be fully integrated with the new CRM. This will allow us to share future costs with CCIFI and to benefit from common technical support.
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NETWORKS WE ARE PART OF
COUNCIL OF FOREIGN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCEThe CFCC comprises 45 foreign Chambers of Commerce in the UK, which represent a combine database of more than 10,000 foreign businesses. We are proud to be the largest foreign Chamber in terms of both turnover and range of services offered. The CFCC, organises four meetings a year, which allow us to benchmark and exchange ideas with other Chambers based in the UK. We also organise joint events with other Chambers such as the International Wine & Spirit Tasting.
> A network of 112 French Chambers of Commerce Abroad> The largest private French network in the world> A combined membership base of more than 32,000 companies
‘Beyond just providing a new visual identity for the French Chambers of Commerce and Industry abroad, this new logo is a strategic move for our network. French Chambers are now more in touch than ever with the professional needs of the business community and provide a vast range of services to businesses. They now display their ‘brand’ as a truly harmonised,
unified network, featuring a comprehensive strategy.’ Arnaud Vaissié, President of ccI FrancE IntErnatIonal since 2013
A common visual identity We started 2015 with a new logo which will better identify our Chamber as part of the network of French Chambers of Commerce both in France and abroad. Most of the 112 French Chambers abroad are also adopting this new logo.
A wide range of high quality events
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FRANCO-BRITISH BUSINESS FORUM, held under the high patronage of HE Ms Sylvie Bermann (pictured), French Ambassador to the UK, and the British Ambassador to France.
FROM SCRATCH TO SUCCESS: BUSINESS STORIES with Nathalie Gaveau, Co-founder & CEO, Shopcade & Co-founder, Price Minister, Arnaud Vaissié, Co-founder, Chairman & CEO, International SOS, moderated by Marc Roche, then London Bureau Chief for Le Monde
LUXURY DINNER with Nicholas Coleridge CBE, President of Condé Nast International & Managing Director of Condé Nast in Britain
WOMEN, INSPIRATION & LEADERSHIP with Dame Helen Alexander, former President of the CBI and Laurence Parisot, former President of the MEDEF, moderated by Simon Walker, General Director of the Institute of Directors
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4 new events in 2014
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ANNUAL GALA DINNER - Lionel Barber, Editor of the Financial Times
DîNER DE LA RENTRéE - Fabrice Brégier, President & CEO of Airbus
ANNUAL FINANCIAL LUNCH - Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive of London Stock Exchange Group
FRANCO-BRITISH TRANSPORT CONFERENCE - Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport
FRANCO-BRITISH BUSINESS AWARDS WINNERS 2014: Eric Lalardie (ARM, INNOVATION AWARD), Kevin Crawley (Saint-Gobain, LARGE CORPORATE AWARD), Béatrice and Arnaud de Montille (Merci Maman, SME ENTREPRENEUR AWARD), Philippe Henry (HSBC, JURY AWARD), Bruno Gils (Petrossian, COUP DE COEUR)
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57 events
3,200 participants
72 sponsors & partners
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ANNUAL LEGAL LUNCH with Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE, then Lord Mayor of the City of London, interviewed by Olivier Morel, Chair of the Legal Forum
CROSS CULTURAL RELATIONS DEBATE with Nicolas Petrovic, CEO of Eurostar and Sir Ian Cheshire, then CEO of Kingfisher, moderated by Peter Alfandary, Chair of the Cross Cultural Relations Forum
LUXURY BREAKFAST hosted by Bertrand Michaud, Chair of the Luxury Club at the Royal Opera House with Wayne McGregor CBE, Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet and Faye Toogood, Designer and Founder of Studio Toogood
ECONOMIC UPDATE/FINANCE FORUM JOINT SESSION with Rain Newton-Smith, Director of Economics, CBI and Patrick Artus, Chief Economist, Natixis, moderated by Philippe Chalon, Chair of the Economic Updates, and John Peachey Chair of the Finance Forum
CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM visit to PwC 7 More London office led by Richard Brown CBE, Chair of the Climate Change Forum
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305 member companies were involved in our Forums & Clubs in 2014
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An inspiring programme of Forum & Club activities
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Publication of The HR Guide, A practical approach to HR in the UK
A collection of business-focused publications
An expanding offer of business support services
Record sales of our cross-cultural booklet, Practical
reflections on the French and British in business
Save money and gain visibility with our Member 2 Member Offers booklet featuring
a record 106 offers
INFO magazine featured
330 member companies in 2014
> 267 clients including 170 new clients
> 96% of clients very satisfied or satisfied by the quality our Company Set-up Service
> 170 participants and 160 B-to-B meetings at our very first Franco-British Business Forum
> +3,500 payslips generated by our Accounting Outsourcing Service
> 30 placements by our Recruitment Service
> New all-inclusive offer in our Incubator
23 copies sold per week in 2014
The Membership Department’s main mission is to help members develop their business through the Chamber’s high level network. Our dedicated team is devoted to meeting members as often as possible, providing solutions to their needs and introducing them to key decision makers and potential new clients or business partners. We regularly receive feedback from our members about the connections they have made and the business they have generated through their membership. They tell us direct access to key decision makers is very valuable and time-saving.
> 150 new members
> 10 new Patron members including Ardian, Atos, Aviva, CPI Colour, Gide Loyrette Nouel, Keolis, Longchamp, MI-GSO, Schneider Electric and the Royal Albert Hall.
> 24 new Corporate members
> 117 new Active members
159 exclusive offers! This programme allows members to promote their products and services to fellow members, and entitles members to benefit from discounted rates. In 2014, the M2M booklet featured a record of 106 offers such as events & printing, financial, legal & accounting services, food & drink amongst others. We also issued dedicated newsletters with exclusive seasonal offers: Summer, Autumn and Christmas. Members of the Chamber can also benefit from offers in 82 countries thanks to the CCI France International network. Visit www.ccifrance-international.org for further details.
> A very active SMEs & Entrepreneurs Club with six free sessions in 2014 on transversal issues> A dedicated SMEs and Start-ups section in INFO
promoting our member companies’ know-how and success > Further developing networking events with affordable prices such as Economic Updates or Rendez-vous Chez charged at only £25> Commercial representation, virtual office and outsourced accountancy at very competitive rates
> An Incubator offering short-term contracts and an all-inclusive package> A highly competitive Recruitment Service package for companies of up to 10 employees> The Franco-British Business Awards with its SME & Entrepreneur Award, awarded to Merci Maman in 2014> Advertising and sponsorship targeted opportunities from £300 to increase small companies’ visibility
MEMBERSHIP GROW yOUR NETWORK AND yOUR BUSINESS IN GREAT BRITAIN
2014 KEy FIGURES
The Member 2 Member Programme
SPECIAL SUPPORT FOR SMES
The Chamber has further developed its support for SMEs already established or setting up business in the UK through:
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‘Being part of the Chamber has been invaluable for Simplement Londres for many reasons.First of all, the various networking opportunities, including the SME Club, have enabled us to makenew contacts and reinforce our position as the leading French-speaking relocation agency in London.Furthermore,advertisingontheChamber’swebsitehasprovideduswithadditionalqualitysalesleadsandaplatformtoadvertiseourbrand.Finally,thankstotheChamber,wehavedevelopedanewpartnershipwithanothermember,London&Partners,whichhastransformedtheshapeofourbusinessbyenabling
ustoreachnewinternationalmarkets.’Sylvie Froger, Managing Director, Simplement londreS
Membership UpgradeAs member companies grow, our team encourages them to upgrade their membership to the next level. This allows members to access more events, increase their visibility and extend their networks.
With a diverse membership base we are able to help existing and future members benefit from current growth and business opportunities in Great Britain.Our member companies, from small businesses to global organisations, are represented by 3,000 representatives at ‘decision-making’ level.
425 Active Members
79 Corporate Members
79 Patron Members14%
14%14%
14%
72%
72%
583 member companiesas at December 2014
75% represented at C-level
Other
Lawyer, Solicitor, Partner & Associate
Head of Department
Chairman & CEO
Executive Level
Managing Director Level
34%
34%
19%19%
19%
19%13%
13%
13%
13%
2%
A multicultural network: 43% of main representatives are non French
Other
English
French
57%
57%
32% 32%
11%
11%
A wide range of sectors Food, Drink, Hotels& Restaurants
14%Banking, FinancialServices & Insurance
14%
12%
12% Retail & Consumer Goods
9%
9% Industry, Technology, Transport & Energy
6%
6%
Health, Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics
6%
6%
Services49%
49%
Construction & Engineering
4%4%
Marketing, Media & Communication
24%
18%
HR, Professional Training, Education & Language
18%
Law Firm & Legal Services
16%
16%
Consulting13%
IT, Telecom, Electronics
13%
13%
13%
Property & Relocation11%
11%
Public Services,Development Agencies& Charities
5%
5%24%
OUTLOOK 2015: FOCUS ON START-UPS WITH A NEW MEMBERSHIP CATEGORyWe shall be launching a ‘start-up’ category of membership to attract new and innovative companies which might not have considered French Chamber membership to be for them.
MEM
BER
SHIP
15
MEMBERSHIP PROFILE
Breakdown of services
425 Active Members
79 Corporate Members
79 Patron Members14%
14%
72%
Other
Lawyer, Solicitor,Partner & Associate
Head of Department
Chairman & CEO
Executive Level
Managing Director Level34%
19%
19%
13%
13%
2%
Other
English
French57%
32%
11%
Banking, FinancialServices & Insurance
12%
Food, Drink, Hotels& Restaurants
14%
Retail & Consumer Goods
9%
Industry, Technology, Transport & Energy
6%
Health, Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics
6%
Services49%
Construction & Engineering
4%
Marketing, Media & Communication
24%
HR, Professional Training, Education & Language
18%
Law Firm & Legal Services
16%
Consulting13%
IT, Telecom, Electronics
13%
Property & Relocation11%
Public Services,Development Agencies& Charities
5%
>
‘The French Chamber in Great Britainisakeyandmajornetworkingplatformin the Anglo-French community. I’mvery impressedby itsability to facilitateconnections between decision makersfrom blue chip companies to small
businessesandinawiderangeofsectors.Theteamisimpressiveandtheinfrastructureveryuser-friendly.’ Stéphane Rambosson, Managing Director Financial Services Europe, dHr international
The aim of our Forums and Clubs is to help Chamber members, both small and large, to share information and best practice in order to develop their businesses. Chaired by committed members of the Chamber, they are platforms for high level interaction and knowledge-sharing that provide added value to all participants and ultimately help to save time and money. Through the year, over 45 sessions and activities gave members valuable learning, sharing, benchmarking and networking opportunities. 2014 was a record year of participation with nearly 1,000 individuals and over 300 member companies involved, marking a 48% increase compared to 2013. This substantial attendance can be attributed to the range and quality of the business-related topics covered, as well as the expertise of prominent speakers who contribute to Forum & Club sessions.
Coverage in INFO Reports of most Forum and Club sessions are published in INFO, giving all members the chance to sample the wealth of inspiration, knowledge and advice that is disseminated in the wide variety of presentations and discussions.
FORUMS & CLUBS TO DEVELOP yOUR ExPERTISE AND LEARN FROM yOUR FELLOW MEMBERS
16
> 45 sessions and activities
> 36 guest speakers and experts
> 988 participants overall
> 305 member companies involved (+ 48% vs 2013) > 27 articles in INFO
� / � ��
LEGAL FORUM 25 MARCH
Despite recent legislative initiatives intended to foster fl exibility in the French employment market,
French employment law remains far less fl exible than English law.
The protection afforded to an employee under English employment law is generally lower than the corresponding protection under French law. English employment law is regarded as one of the more fl exible within Europe.
An illustration of such differences can be found in the following examples:• Whilst the use of fi xed-term and atypical contracts is widespread in England, indefi nite-term employment contracts in France are the rule and recourse to fi xed- term contracts is the exception. The use of fi xed-term contracts is very restricted (temporary replacement, increase of activity, seasonal employment, etc.).• Working time: France is subject to a 35-hour working week for all employees, except top-level executives. It is possible to set up schemes to negotiate collective agreements within the companies in question for the purpose of implementing an average 35-hour working week over a certain period of time. French law provides for a maximum overtime limit and premium pay therefor. English law provides for a maximum 48-hour working week subject to the right to opt out. Overtime is governed by the employment contract.• Termination of employment in France is subject to very protective rules (notice period, termination indemnities and additional damages awarded by the courts in cases of termination without real and serious cause) whilst in the UK, employee protection and remedies are limited.
• Redundancies are highly regulated in France where important lay-offs are subject to severe control/ clearance by the labour authorities and negotiations with the works councils and/or trade unions. Implementing redundancies is much easier in England, with no requirement to seek prior clearance and straightforward collective consultation obligations.• Notice period are regulated under French law, whereas in the UK they are agreed upon between the parties to the employment agreement subject to low-level legal minima.• In France, pensioning-off is possible at the employer’s initiative, but only with the employee’s consent, when the employee is aged between 62 and 70, and at the employer’s discretion when the employee is over 70 years of age. By contrast, in England, retirement is subject to age discrimination laws and requires objective justifi cation.
In France, employment reforms are under way. The French labour reform act of 14 June 2013, which mainly concerns redundancy procedures, includes a set of provisions to facilitate workforce adaptation in case of economic diffi culties and to facilitate the internal and external mobility of employees. Draft legislation (mainly the so-called ‘Macron law’ and a draft law on ‘social dialogue’) is currently pending before the French Parliament and should be discussed and adopted in the summer. The intent of such texts is to simplifyprocedures and foster fl exibility in the French employment market. In short, the current trend is to create a more ‘employer friendly’ environment. However, it will remain the case that French employment law is the less fl exible of the two systems, notwithstanding these changes. �
Employment Law
M R, W LLP, F V, G L N, UK F , UK F
info - march / april - 73
sme & entrepreneurs club 27 JAnuArY
Asurvey by Small Business News revealed that over 35% of small businesses consider networking
activities to be ineffective, while on the other hand academic research shows that SMEs lack the skills to network effectively. Unlike large corporates, who tend to use networking for relationship building with existing clients, for SMEs, it is essentially a sales activity to build their business, get a sense of the market, monitor competition and gather information. There is also a huge difference between networking in France and the UK. Here it is a war game, and having the right strategy is all important. So how do you make your networking powerful and effective?
1. Build a strategic networkYour networking strategy should start well before a networking event. Build lists of your top 50 contacts, your active network, your lost network and your future network, and fill in information that you find out as you go along so that you have a clear vision. Don’t forget the lost network – it may be more of an online activity but remember that networking is not just face to face – it is a state of mind. If you have done your homework, you would have researched those who are attending an event and know who to target and the kind of contacts you want to make.
2. Work your network strategicallyIt is no coincidence that networking contains the word ‘work’. If you have the planned objective of attending a physical event, there are four steps to doing this:
Well beforeYou need to be equipped to network in every situation, for example by being armed with business cards at all times, but for a specific event, you should prepare a ‘toolbox’. This does not mean having a 60-second ‘elevator pitch’ because if you spend all your time talking about yourself, you are losing opportunities to gather information. Instead you should come prepared with a set of ‘killer’ questions, customised
by function and industry, for those you wish to talk to. If and when you are asked about yourself, make it as natural as possible using everyday language rather than marketing strap lines. Have a collection of little stories to tell, scripted but adaptable to every situation, and make people laugh so they will remember you. You should also have in your armoury prepared responses to common objections, such as dealing positively with comparisons with a competitor.
Just beforeTime block half an hour the day before an event to tweak your strategy, rehearse your lines and scan your list. If you don’t have a list, work on your objectives. That might be to find one new client, to meet all the actors in a certain sector, or to target three CEOs. Whatever it is, be clear about it and stay focused.
At the eventArrive 10 minutes before the start so that you can scan the room and find those you want to speak to. Important people usually arrive on time and leave early, so that is the best time to talk to them. Don’t spend most of your time with people you already know – you can always catch up with them later! And if you attend with a business partner, don’t stick together – divide and conquer! For breaking into a group, preparation is again imperative: find your style, be natural and prepare questions. Having an exit strategy is just as important – again, have your script but make it natural.
AfterTime block an hour the following morning or even up to 36 hours after the event. Connect with people via LinkedIn, add them to the appropriate list and follow up. Keep in mind the building of your future network and be realistic in your expectations. Some connections bear fruit immediately, but other relationships need to build trust over time and may take much longer. I KF
The power of networking:unlocking and creating business opportunities
Effective networking is a matter of strategy and preparation, as Jeanne Monchovet, Founder and Principal Consultant at Olystix, explained
74 - info - may / june
hr forum 18 mArCh
work from home on occasion, or have a reasonably predictable work schedule from week to week so that plans can be made with friends. For others, it’s about being able to come in later or finish earlier after working late the day before, or being able to take a long lunch break from time to time. For us, flexibility is not a one-size-fits-all concept, and we encourage teams and individuals work together to define it for themselves.
How do we promote/support flexibility? • We are continually working to build business
confidence in implementing flexibility, most recently by launching our ‘Agile Ways of Working’ toolkit, which features our business case for agility; flexibility top tips; and other practical tools and resources for teams; plus stories from people working flexibly around the firm to provide inspiration.
• Our technology supports ad hoc as well as more formal flexibility, including home working; and HR, IT and Facilities Management work in partnership to ensure our people are fully supported.
• Our staff survey asks if employees feel they can balance their work and personal lives effectively and whether colleagues are considerate of their lives outside work. From these responses we can identify areas for action.
• We encourage our people to focus on outputs not inputs. For instance, in the guidance and training provided for performance and reward review, there is a clear focus on making sure that the contribution of flexible workers is fairly and accurately assessed.
• We advertise roles on an external flexible working job board and all our job descriptions say we are open to agile ways of working. I
Flexibility: why is it important? Flexibility is a strategic priority for us and central to or transformation agenda, positioning flexible working within the wider context of the need for greater agility, which impacts our resourcing, people and business strategies.
Being open-minded to different ways of working can help us operate more effectively across time zones and be more responsive to client needs. It will also help our people stay resilient, engaged and performing at their best.
What is our policy? Formal flexible working• All our people, whatever their role or grade, can
apply to work flexibly. Typical options include part time and jobshare, and we also have people working other arrangements such as term time only.
• People may apply to work flexibly for many differentreasons such as childcare, caring, study, hobbies, sport, voluntary work, transition into retirement – all are valid and accepted under our policy.
• Applications may be made for short term, as well aspermanent, flexible working arrangements.
• Each application is assessed on its own merit, basedon current business and resourcing circumstances.
Informal flexible workingWe know that the nature of our work affords our people a good amount of informal flexibility in how, where and when they work. All our internal research tells us that informal flexibility in their everyday working is what the vast majority of our people want. So we have a key focus on increasing informal flexibility – a little more ‘give and take’ in everyday working practices.
For some, it’s being able to leave the office early to see their child participate in a school activity,
Flexibility at PwC
Sarah Churchman, Human Capital Director, Head of Diversity & Inclusion and Employee Wellbeing at PwC explains how it is responding to the challenge of the growing and rather broad concept of flexible working through the implementation of key policies and programmes
For us, flexibility is not a ‘one size fits all’ concept, and we encourageteams and individuals work together to define it for themselves
2014 KEy FIGURES
OUTLOOK 2015: LAUNCH OF A WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK 2015 will see the launch of a new club: the Women’s Business Network. It will be distinctive for being the very first business networking platform for female executives within the Franco-British business community.
Membership will be restricted to CEOs, CFOs and women with global positions in blue chip companies based in the UK.
Annual Chairs’ Lunch For three years running, the Chamber has organised an annual lunch bringing together all the Chairs and Deputy Chairs. It is an opportunity to share best practice and further develop synergies between the different Forums and Clubs.
Climate Change
Cross-Cultural Relations
Finance
Luxury
SME & Entrepreneurs
Our Forums
Human Resources
Legal
Economic Updates
‘WeregularlyreceiveextremelypositivefeedbackaboutthehighqualitycontentofourForums&Clubs.Withmorethanhalfofourmembersinvolved,theyprovideuniqueopportunitiesforsharingandlearningfromeachotherthatarenottobemissed.Comeandseeforyourself!’Florence Gomez, Managing Director of the FrencH cHamber
New in 2014 > Publication of The HR Guide. Members of the HR Forum wrote a very comprehensive and practical guide on Human Resources practices in the UK. > The SME & Entrepreneurs Club hosted the inaugural ‘From Scratch to Success: Business Stories’ event, which drew more than 120 participants.
Thanks We would like to thank all the chairs for their time and commitment, and bid farewell to Rose Gledhill and Jennifer Westen, as well as Sébastien Delecour and Sophie Mirman as chairs of the HR Forum and SME & Entrepreneurs Club, respectively. We are pleased to welcome Ken Morrison, Legal Director, Eurotunnel, as Deputy Chair of the Legal Forum, Mark Pautz, Human Resources Director, International SOS as Chair of the HR Forum and Arnaud de Montille, Co-Founder of Merci Maman Personalised Gifts as Chair of the SME and Entrepreneurs Club. A special thanks to all the speakers and members for the quality of the discussions, their involvement and their contributions.
Our Clubs
Chaired by Richard Brown CBEFormer CEO and Chairman of Eurostar
The main and ambitious objective of the forum is to become the very first Franco-British think tank on this critical issue by being recognised as a legitimate, credible and leading voice. To achieve this goal, it brings together decision makers and key actors of the business community who are particularly proactive in terms of climate change commitments.
4 February: Building Green Cities Speakers:Michel Mossessian, Design Principal and Founder of Mossessian & Partners, and Aleksandra Njagulj, Sustainability Manager, Bouygues UK
29 April: The European Climate Change Agenda Speaker:Alastair Harper, Head of Politics, Green Alliance
17 June: Visit to PwC ‘7 More London’ and Veolia, Southwark Material Recovery Facility Introduction by Marc Thompson, Director, Sustainability & Climate Change Team, PwC; Presentations by Trevor Rollings, Senior Facilities Manager, PwC, David Adair, Head of Community Affairs, PwC and Fabrice Bouchon, General Manager at Veolia’s Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility
9 September: The green economy – how to finance sustainability Speakers:James Cameron, Chairman of Climate Change Capital and Josué Tanaka, Managing Director, Operational Strategy and Planning, Energy Efficiency and Climate Change, EBRD
21 October: Tidal Energy Speaker:Rob Stevenson, Vice-President, Ocean Energy, Alstom Power
2 November: The Juncker €300 billion plan and the bio energy megatrend – business and investment opportunities in Europe Speaker:Jean-Michel Sylvestre, Chairman & CEO of Charmont Investments
5 sessions and 2 site visits
The Forum had a very productive year, with meetings ranging from the European sustainability agenda and financing green investments to building green cities and the ins and outs of tidal power. We had two fascinating visits, one to Veolia’s Southwark Material Recovery Facility, the other to PwC’s new state-of-the-art low carbon office at 7 More London. We now have over 20 regularly attending member companies, all of which are actively developing low carbon products and services and/or working to reduce their carbon footprints and who value the opportunity to share experience and develop knowledge across sectors.
MISSION STATEMENT
FOR
UM
S & C
LUB
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CLIMATE CHANGE FORUMLaunched in April 2011
‘ClimateChange isundoubtedlyoneof thebiggest long termthreats tobusinessand theglobaleconomy.FortunatelyweareseeingtherateofinvestmentandthepaceofinnovationinlowcarbontechnologiesacceleratewithmanyChambermembersbeingleadersinthefield.’ Richard Brown CBE
OUTLOOK 2015: PREPARATION FOR COP21The Forum will be starting 2015 with a joint conference on Climate Change and the Business View, organised with the French Embassy and the European Commission Representation in the UK. It will also be repeating its 2013 survey of member companies’ attitudes to climate change, which highlighted strong business concern about climate change and a desire to see clearer and stronger taxation policies and regulation to tackle it. Further sessions will include new battery technology, climate change adaptation
and a briefing on preparations for COP21 in Paris in December.
Visit to PwC ‘7 More London’
ACHIEVEMENTS
17
‘The French Chamber ClimateChangeForum isagreatnetworkingopportunity with interesting sharingof best practices on carbon reducingactivitieswithotherFrenchcompaniespresent in the UK. As part of
our involvement in 2014, we organised a trip to Veolia’sSouthwark IntegratedWaste Management Facility to sharewithmembershowthisfacilityiscontributingtoareductionincarbonemissionsthroughtherecoveryofrecycledmaterials.’
Charlotte Kyle, Senior Environmental Officer, Veolia
The Forum’s aim is to be a hub for best practice and open dialogue in order to foster a better understanding of business culture and to disseminate cross-cultural know-how to Chamber members and a wider audience.
Sales of our highly acclaimed publication Light at theEnd oftheTunnel continued apace. The Intercultural Debate between Nicolas Petrovic, CEO of Eurostar, and Sir Ian Cheshire, CEO of Kingfisher, at the French Ambassador’s Residence was a huge success.
13 February: Roundtable session 6 March: Cross-Cultural Relations debate at the Résidence de France with Nicolas Petrovic, CEO of Eurostar and Sir Ian Cheshire, former CEO of Kingfisher 3 June: Brainstorming session16 September: Working session 20 November: Mini master class on cross-cultural skills
4 sessions & 1 Cross-Cultural Relations debate
Chaired by Peter AlfandaryHead of French Team, Reed Smith LLP
CROSS-CULTURAL RELATIONS FORUMLaunched in May 2009
‘Cross-cultural relationsneverseemtogooutof fashion,which isgoodnewsas there isalwaysmoreworktodo.Ourmissionremainsunchanged–toenhancerelationshipsbetweenFrenchandBritishbusinessesandtohighlightbestpracticeforthebenefitofmembersandthewiderbusinesscommunity.’ Peter Alfandary
MISSION STATEMENT
18
croSS-cUltUral debate - 6 marcH 2014 with Nicolas Petrovic, CEO of Eurostar and Sir Ian Chesh-ire, former CEO of Kingfisher moderated by Peter Alfandary (more information on page 29)
OUTLOOK 2015: LAUNCH OF A CROSS-CULTURAL QUIZ EVENINGThe first Cross-Cultural Quiz Evening, which took place in February 2015, was extremely successful. We hope it will become a regular annual event given its popularity. In addition, there are plans to hold a series of half-day skills workshops for members on effective cross-cultural communication, as well as a joint session with the HR Forum.
Cross-Cultural Relations booklet
1,200 copies sold in 2014: 23 a week!
More than 5,000 copies sold since first publication!
ACHIEVEMENTS
‘Thefascinatingbilingualguide[...]
isfullofshrewdinsightsintobothsides’codes.’Simon Kuper, tHe Financial timeS
OUTLOOK 2015: A NEW CO-CHAIRWe will be looking to appoint a new Co-Chair, the CFO of a blue chip company. Our key objectives will be to broaden audience participation and continue to enrich the debate. A number of the challenges that we mentioned in 2014 still remain to be addressed in 2015. Given this backdrop we will continue to identify topical issues and invite expert panels to participate in these debates.
The Finance Forum aims to be one of the leading voices of the financial community by bringing together key players from blue-chip, successful companies and representatives from major financial institutions. It also aims to provide a trusted space for open dialogue, to produce engaging recommendations, share best practices across the sector and also provide great networking opportunities.
7 March: Financing a sustainable digital economy
Presentation and remarks given by Patrick Gougeon,
former Director of ESCP Europe UK Campus
19 June: ‘Challenges & opportunities in Latam: focus on Brazil and Mexico’ Speakers:Clive Grethe, Digital Sales Director, Atos UK;
Eric Striegler, formerly Head of Trade and International at HSBC
Brazil, Regional Head of Business Development Europe in HSBC
London; and Carolina Arriagada Peters, Head of EMEA & Latin
America, London & Partners
23 October: How France and the UK managed through the crisis and perspectives for years to come Joint session with the Economic Update forum
Speakers:Patrick Artus, Chief Economist, Natixis and
Rain Newton-Smith, Director of Economics, CBI.
In 2014 we purposely chose varied topics with the aim of attracting a broader audience from the Chamber. The Digital Economy is one of those topics on which everyone seems to have an opinion – it is rapidly evolving and has an impact on our day-to-day lives. Patrick’s perspective was to look at how we value these massive global companies that are driving the digital economy.We also looked again at the importance and influence of emerging economies and our focus was on Latam, specifically Brazil and Mexico. With the next Olympic Games being hosted in Brazil we thought it was an opportune time to examine this diverse economy. We had a panel of experts that were able to provide an overview of both the opportunities and challenges in these markets.The final session was jointly hosted with the Economic Update and held at the French Lycee’s impressive library in Kensington. It was an extremely lively debate and we are very grateful to the two speakers Patrick Artus and Rain Newton-Smith for participating in this session.
FOR
UM
S & C
LUB
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‘Iwouldliketothankalltheguestspeakerswhojoineduslastyear.Withouttheircontributionswewouldnothavehadsuchlivelyandinformativedebates.InadditionIwouldliketothankmyCo-ChairPatrickGougeonwhosteppeddownattheendof2014.PatrickmadeaconsiderablecontributiontohelpestablishtheFinanceForumoverthelastthreeyears.BothhisenthusiasmandhisdriveensuredthesuccessoftheForum.IamkeenthatwecontinuetofostergreaterconnectivityacrosstheChamber.’ John Peachey
Chaired by John PeacheyChief Financial Officer, Global Markets,
HSBC Bank Plc
FINANCE FORUMLaunched in May 2012
MISSION STATEMENT ACHIEVEMENTS
3 sessions
Joint SeSSion - 23 october 2014Patrick Artus, Chief Economist, Natixis and
Rain Newton-Smith, Director of Economics, CBI
19
This forum offers HR Directors and HR professionals an opportunity to share best practice and experiences to benefit their teams and, ultimately, their organisation and employees. It hosts regular sessions inviting speakers and experts, encouraging open discussion and the exchange of experiences from a wide range of industries on people-related subjects such as flexibility, social media or fostering innovation.
‘WiththeUKrecentlyrecordingarateof0%inflation–thelowestsincerecordswerefirstproperlykept–wehavemovedintounfamiliar,andchallenging,territory.TheimplicationsofthisdevelopmentarefarreachingandtheHRForumwillcontinuetoevolveinordertoadaptandrespondtobothinternalpressuresandthedemandsofthe“newnormal”.Iwouldliketoexpressmygratitudetomypredecessor,JenniferWesten,andcommittocontinuingthelivelydebate!’ Mark Pautz
OUTLOOK 2015The HR Forum will host a series of six sessions focusing on international mobility, the implications of cultural differences for HR
managers, flexible working, the role of HR in promoting CSR, diversity in the workplace and creating a culture on values.
The Forum will continue to work towards its ultimate goal of reviewing the impact of employer legislation and (in the long term)
influencing future decisions in this area. A French version of TheHRGuide will be published in 2015 and members of the Forum
will also produce new material with a view to keeping it current and relevant.
15 January: Stress management and well-being at work Speakers: Emmanuelle Ries, Managing Partner, ebl Miller Rosenfalck and Claire Sallis, Occupational Health and Wellbeing Manager, Alstom UK
5 March: Learning and training methods Speaker:Simon Parker, Communications, Learning and Development Manager at Danone Ltd
30 April: Social media Speaker:Kevin Poulter, Senior Associate at BDB and Social Media Specialist
25 June: How to manage flexibility Speaker:Caroline yarrow, Employment Lawyer, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP
24 September: How to foster a culture of innovation Speakers: Abi Marchant, HR Director, Danone Dairy UK & Danone Waters UK & Ireland and Andy Powell, European Marketing Director, Hudson
12 November: Apprenticeship Speakers:Kevin Wilkinson, Senior VP, Human Resources at Atos UK & Ireland and Gary Griffiths, Head of Early Careers Programmes, Airbus UK
In the fifth year of its existence, the HR Forum achieved a significant milestone with the publication of the first edition of TheHRGuide–APracticalApproach toHumanResources inGreatBritain. The guide will serve as a useful reference tool for UK subsidiaries of French companies to help them clarify the differences between UK and French practices. It also provides French companies intending to set up business in the UK with the information and tools they would need to plan and implement their human resources strategy.
Chaired by Mark PautzHuman Resources Director,
International SOS
HR FORUM Launched in February 2009
20
MISSION STATEMENT ACHIEVEMENTS
6 sessions
‘Wehope that this guidewill helpcompanies to prepare for thechallenges they face when workingwith employees in the UK. I hopealso that it will provide an initialinsight into the work of the HR
ForumoftheFrenchChamber.’ Jennifer Westen, former Chair of the HR Forum, Group Director HR at international SoS
Publication of TheHRGuide
An overview of HR practices in the UK, full of valuable testimonials, tips and advice.
26 contributors 7 testimonials9 ‘Extra info’ boxes
31 January: Directors’ Duties Session chaired by Olivier Morel and Michael Butcher
20 March: Litigation Session chaired by Olivier Morel
5 June: Trade secret harmony in the EU – a recipe for cross-border collaboration? Speaker: Serena Tierney, Head of Intellectual Property at Bircham Dyson Bell
25 June: Annual Legal Lunch with Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE, former Lord Mayor of the City of London
1 October: Brainstorming session Session co-chaired by Olivier Morel and Ken Morrison
9 November: Setting the agenda for 2015
After a first very successful year in 2013, 2014 continued in the same vein. Aside from the very good work of all the members of the Forum on the comparative legal issues on directors duties and litigation, two events really marked 2014:
The first highlight was our second Annual Legal Lunch when we had the privilege of welcoming Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE, then Lord Mayor of the City of London, and only the second woman ever to hold the position in over 800 years; she is also a solicitor with a worldwide reputation and as such was a fitting successor to Lord Phillips, our guest speaker last year.. Then, Ken Morrison, Legal Director at Eurotunnel, joined us as Deputy Chairman. Ken’s long experience as an in-house lawyer in the quintessentially Anglo-French business that is Eurotunnel has already proved to be a huge asset to the work of the Forum. Now our challenge is to continue with guests of a similar calibre!
•
•
OUTLOOK 2015: PUBLICATION OF 2 BOOKLETSOur work needs to match the needs and expectations of our members, in particular those of general counsels. To this end, each
session deals with a management topic that is relevant to in-house legal departments, in addition to handling a legal ‘technical’
topic. We would like the Forum to be a place where general counsels can share views and ideas on best practice in running an
in-house legal department in an Anglo-French group. We will also publish the long-awaited Anglo-French comparative booklets
on Directors’ Duties and Litigation.
The Legal Forum aims to foster exchange and cooperation between General Counsels/Heads of Legal Departments and senior representatives of law firms, to encourage debate on current legal issues and to deliver a programme of activities that mobilise and attract Chamber members as well as key players of the legal community.
‘2015isthe800thanniversaryofthesigningoftheMagnaCarta,soourworkattheLegalForumismorerelevantthaneveraswecontinuetocomparethelegalsystemsofourtwocountries.Indoingso,IamstruckmorethaneverbythefactthatFranceandBritainhavegivenrisetothetwodominantsystemsoflawintheworld:thecivilcodehasbeenadoptedbysome100countries;commonlawispracticedinalmostalltheothercountries.’ Olivier Morel
FOR
UM
S & C
LUB
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Chaired by Olivier Morel, Partner, Cripps
and Deputy Chaired byKen Morrison, Legal Director, Eurotunnel
LEGAL FORUMLaunched in January 2013
MISSION STATEMENT ACHIEVEMENTS
5 sessions and the Annual Legal Lunch
annUal leGal lUncH - 25 JUne 2014 with Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE, former Lord Mayor of the City of London interviewed by Olivier Morel (more information on page 29)
21
This Forum invites key personalities to present their views and analysis on current and forthcoming economic issues impacting our Franco-British business community. The aim of this Forum is to give access to relevant information, as well as insights and mid- to long-term perspectives on topical issues to all members.
OUTLOOK 2015: PARTNERSHIP WITH HEC & FOCUS ON THE EU The Forum has entered into a special partnership with top French business school HEC, which will help it reach out to even
more decision makers and business leaders within the Franco-British community. Following the UK General Election in May 2015, the Forum will also pay close attention to the 2016 referendum on whether the UK should remain within the European Union.
‘HOW FRANCE AND THE UK MANAGED THROUGH THE CRISIS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR yEARS TO COME’ 23 october 2014 with Patrick Artus, Chief Economist, Natixis and Rain Newton-Smith, Director of Economics, CBI
The Forum has set up two exclusive sessions held by leading figures in British and French economic policies: Stephen King (HSBC) provided us with food for thought on the way Britain went from gloom to boom, whilst Rain Newton-Smith (CBI) and Patrick Artus (Natixis) helped us comprehend how the UK and France managed through the crisis and would fare in the years to come. At the moment, it is fair to say that the British and French economies remain quite asymmetrical. We are proud that each of our 2014 sessions attracted between 50 and 80 participants.
‘In2014,theUK’seconomygrewby2.8%,itsfastestpacesince2006andtheunemploymentrateisexpectedtofallbelow5.5%bythe
endof2015.Buoyedbysome700,000jobscreatedoverthelast12months,theBritisheconomyisbackontrack.’ Philippe Chalon
Chaired by Philippe ChalonDirector of External Affairs at International SOS
& Managing Director of the Cercle d’outre-Manche
ECONOMIC UPDATESLaunched in June 2011
MISSION STATEMENT
2 Economic Updates
ACHIEVEMENTS
THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE UK ‘From Gloom to boom’ 29 September 2014 with Stephen King, Group Chief Economist, HSBC Bank Plc
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‘TheEconomicUpdateisamust-attendeventforbothprofessionalandcasualobserversoftheBritisheconomy.ThechancetoheartheviewsofleadingUKeconomistsisinvaluable,andthedebatewiththeaudienceisalwaysinformedandpassionate.Ontopofthat,thelibraryoftheInstitutfrançaisisabrilliantplacetonetwork.’Alain de Cointet, Minister Councellor for Economic and Financial Affairs, FrencH embaSSy
The SMEs & Entrepreneurs Club is the meeting place for successful SMEs and ambitious entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses and share their experiences. It also provides a platform to work on case studies and transversal issues identified by the members of the Club such as social media, pitching techniques, marketing strategy, how to fund and manage growth, etc.
16 January: Brainstorming session to discuss 2014 agenda
30 January: From Scratch to Success: Business Stories Speakers: Arnaud Vaissié, Co-founder, Chairman & CEO of International SOS and Nathalie Gaveau, Founder & CEO of Shopcade & Co-founder of Price Minister
10 March: How to define and implement a successful marketing strategy for your business Speakers: Anthony Barry, Director, Commune Works and Laurent François, Founder and Executive Creative Strategist, RE-UP
23 April: Friends & family: are they the best business partners? Speakers:Julien Planté, Producer, Minky Productions, James Byrne, Director, Ecclestone Square Hotel and Laurence Parry, Director, French Resources
10 June: The essential HR Dos and Don’ts for SMEs Speaker: Emmanuelle Ries, Partner, Miller Rosenfalck LLP
10 September: How to fund and manage growth Speakers: Christian Mouysset, co-owner of Hummus Bros and Grégoire Schöller, CEO & Co-founder, NextBanquers Ltd
18 November: From London to the rest of the world – how to unlock export opportunities Speakers: Arnaud de Montille; Maria Corts, Head of Southern Europe and LATAM, London & Partners; and Graham Nicholas, International Trade Adviser, UKTI
2014 was a successful year for the SME Club! With an average of 30 members attending each meeting, all from different backgrounds, the club fulfilled its mission of sharing knowledge and experience to help entrepreneurs grow and market their business.
We had great guest speakers discussing key business topics such as social media, HR, investment, crowd funding, sales and marketing. The new format has developed a strong networking platform. Numerous members are now working together and helping each other by exchanging tips and best practices.
FROM SCRATCH TO SUCCESS: BUSINESS STORIES - 30 JanUary 2014With Arnaud Vaissié, Co-founder, Chairman & CEO of International SOS and Nathalie Gaveau, Founder & CEO of Shopcade, Co-founder of Price Minister, moderated by Marc Roche, former London Bureau Chief for Le Monde at the Cine Lumière of the French Institute
FOR
UM
S & C
LUB
S
‘SMEsarethebackboneofoureconomies.TheClubenablesEntrepreneursandSMEmanagerstonetwork,createpartnerships
anddevelop.Agreatplacetoshareideaswithotherbusinessleadersandgetenergy!’ Arnaud de Montille
Chaired by Arnaud de MontilleCo-founder of Merci Maman Personalised Gifts
SME & ENTREPRENEURS CLUBLaunched in April 2009
MISSION STATEMENT ACHIEVEMENTS
6 sessions, 3 ‘Club @ the Pub’, 1 annual event
OUTLOOK 2015The Club organised the second edition of ‘From Scratch to Success: Business Stories’ in June 2015.
The Club will continue to run a series of workshops on subjects as diverse as ‘Cross-cultural communication in business’, ‘How to
attract capital’, ‘The use of social media for SMEs’ and ‘Changes in the labour laws’.
Finally, we will introduce an innovative pitch competition at the end of the year.
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The Club’s objective is to bring together companies operating within the luxury industry including iconic brands, high-end hospitality services and cultural institutions. The Club aims to encourage the exchange of best practice, share experiences as well as celebrate savoir-faire and excellence.
The Luxury Club hosts regular Dîners des Chefs to celebrate a certain ‘art de vivre’ and put the spotlight on iconic Chefs who have been awarded Michelin stars and have remarkable journeys as entrepreneurs and ambassadors of gastronomic excellence. (more information on page 30)
Chaired by Bertrand MichaudManaging Director of Hermès GB
LUxURy CLUBLaunched in April 2010
‘Neverforgetthatatrueluxuryinlifeisbeingabletotakejoyingoingtotheofficeeveryday.’ Bertrand Michaud
MISSION STATEMENT
‘GLOBAL TRENDS AND TOPICAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE LUxURy SECTOR’ - 11 december 2014With Richard Dickinson, Chief Executive, New West End Company, and Barratt West, Managing Director, Tiffany & Co, at Bulgari Hotel
‘THE PROCESS OF CREATION – HOW TO ACHIEVE PERFECTION’ - 16 october 2014With Wayne McGregor CBE, Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet and Faye Toogood, furniture designer and founder of Studio Toogood, at The Royal Opera House
OUTLOOK 2015: CELEBRATING FRENCH & BRITISH LUxURyThe Club will host a series of breakfasts on themes such as ‘The internet of luxury things’ as well as its much-anticipated Dîners
des Chefs. In partnership with Walpole and the Financial Times, the Club will host a cocktail reception celebrating British and
French luxury at The Connaught on 9 September. The Club is also planning to organise a visit of Faye Toogood’s studio.
24 March: L’Atelier de Jöel Robuchon with newly appointed Chef Xavier Boyer
17 September: Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester with Chef Jocelyn Herland
12 November: The Connaught with Chef Hélène Darroze
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2 Breakfasts
3 Dîners des Chefs Launch of our Luxury Dinner
LUxURy DINNER - 15 april 2014With Nicholas Coleridge CBE, President of Condé Nast International & Managing Director of Condé Nast Britain (more information on page 27)
WewouldliketothankboththeRoyalOperaHouseandTheBulgariHotel&Residencesforhostingsuchbeautifulbreakfasts
We offer our members networking platforms within the context of a wide range of events, from informal to prestigious events with high-profile guest speakers. In order to attract more SMEs, we offer a number of ‘affordable’ events, with almost half our events costing less than £40 including refreshments.In 2014, 4 new events were launched: The Luxury Dinner, The Franco-British Business Forum, ‘Business Stories: From Scratch to Success’ and ‘Women, Inspiration & Leadership’.
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EVENTSTO EXPAND YOUR NETWORK AND DEVELOP YOUR BUSINESS
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A LINE UP OF hIgh PROFILE SPEAKERS
HE Ms Sylvie BermannFrench Ambassador to the UK
Dame Helen Alexanderformer President of CBI
Lionel BarberEditor of the Financial Times
Fabrice Brégier President and CEO of Airbus
Victor Chavez Chief Executive of Thales UK
Nicholas Coleridge CBE President of Condé Nast International
and MD of Condé Nast Britain
Sir Peter Hendy CBECommissioner of Transport
for London
Sir Ian Cheshire then group Chief Executive
of Kingfisher
The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MPSecretary of State for Transport
Marc Pontet CEO of Asendia (La Poste)
Xavier Rolet Chief Executive, The London
Stock Exchange group
Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE then Lord Mayor of London
Arnaud VaissiéCo-founder, Chairman and CEO
of International SOS
Nicolas PetrovicCEO of Eurostar International
Laurence Parisot former President
of MEDEF
Roland Ries Mayor of Strasbourg Chairman of gART
We only work with members, and occasionally we host events in venues introduced by fellow members.L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Barbican hall, Beefeater gin Distillery, Claridge’s, Emirates Stadium, Four Seasons hotel, French Institute, grand Connaught Rooms, hSBC St James offices, IOD, Landmark hotel, Moët hennessey UK, One great george Street, Pullman London St Pancras, Reed Smith offices, Royal Albert hall, Royal Automobile Club, Royal Opera house, Tate Modern, The Connaught, The Dorchester, The May Fair hotel.
ICONIC VENUES
> 57 events including 12 Patron events
> 3,200 participants
> 35 speakers
> 72 partners and sponsors
2014 KEY FIgURES
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Jean-Baptiste Richardier, Director General of Handicap International
ANNUAL GALA DINNER 28 MAy At thE LANDMARk LoNDoN Gold sponsors: EY and HSBC Silver sponsors: Accor, Colas Rail, EDF Energy and Safran
400 participants gathered for the Chamber’s premier black tie event with Lionel Barber, Editor of the Financial Times, as guest of honour. He gave an entertaining speech on ‘l’entente fructueuse’ and guests took part in a silent auction for lots generously donated by 24 companies, raising £21,500 for Handicap International. Special thanks go to Chanel for giving a bottle of perfume to every guest for the 10th consecutive year.
Lionel Barber, Editor of the Financial Times
72 SponSorS & parTnErS oF our EvEnTS In 2014
All these venues, partners and sponsors contributed immensely to the success of our events and we would like to thank them for their support.
air France, andaz Liverpool Street Hotel, Dior, Caudalie, Chanel, Chivas Brothers, The Conran Shop, Evidens de Beauté, Guerlain, Hermès, The Landmark Hotel, L’atelier de Joël robuchon, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, L’occitane, London&partners, Longchamp, Louis vuitton, Lotus F1, La Maison Maille, Lucien Barrière Hôtels & Casinos, La Cave à Fromage, LvMH Watch & Jewellery uK Ltd, Melia Hotels International, nuxe, porsche Design, pullman London St pancras, royal albert Hall, royal opera House, The Four Seasons Hotel, reed Smith, royal park Hotel, Wine story
partners in kind and lot donors Wine and Champagne partners
Le Conseil des vins de Saint-Emilion, Les vins du Médoc, Les vins de pessac-Léognan, Crus Classés de Graves, Laurent-perrier, Moët Hennessy, perrier-Jouët, pernod ricard, vranken pommery
MoST-aTTEnDED EvEnT In 2014
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FRANCo-BRItISh BUSINESS FoRUM 28 NovEMBER At thE PULLMAN LoNDoN St PANCRAS Sponsors: DHL, Eurostar, HSBC, Mazars Supporting sponsors: Boulle International, Bryan Cave, Business France, UK Trade & Investment
The very first FBBF, organised under the high patronage of the French Ambassador to the UK and the British Ambassador to France attracted 170 delegates. Over the course of the day, representatives from French and British companies met for topical roundtable discussions, B-to-B meetings with potential clients, partners or suppliers. They also networked around the expert village, where sponsors and partners offered advice on taxation, employment law, logistics, transport, real estate and banking.
FRoM SCRAtCh to SUCCESS: BUSINESS StoRIES 30 JANUARy At CINé LUMIèRE, FRENCh INStItUtE Sponsored by HSBC Commercial Banking
A captive audience of 150 members listened to the business stories of Nathalie Gaveau, Founder & CEO of Shopcade & Co-founder of PriceMinister and Arnaud Vaissié, Co-founder, Chairman & CEO of International SOS and their engaging debate moderated by Marc Roche, former London Bureau Chief for Le Monde. Special thanks to the French Institute for hosting the evening.
WoMEN, INSPIRAtIoN & LEADERShIP 18 MARCh At thE INStItUtE oF DIRECtoRS (IoD) Sponsored by Chanel
For the first edition of ‘Women, Inspiration & Leadership’, over 120 participants gathered to hear from Dame Helen Alexander, former President of CBI, and Laurence Parisot, former President of MEDEF. In a debate facilitated by Simon Walker, Director general of the IoD, they both spoke from the heart of their own experiences and different takes on the prevailing issues in achieving gender parity in business. Special thanks to Chanel for sponsoring the event and offering every guest a bottle of perfume.
Arnaud Vaissié, Nathalie Gaveau and Marc Roche
Dame Helen Alexander, Simon Walker and Laurence Parisot
Arnaud Bamberger, former President of the Chamber with Nicholas Coleridge CBE
LUXURy DINNER 15 APRIL At CLARIDGE’S Sponsored by Société Générale Private Banking Hambros
An event of elegance and sophistication, the Luxury Dinner was attended by over 130 guests from the most prominent luxury houses. For this first edition sponsored by Société générale Private Banking hambros, we heard from Nicholas Coleridge CBE, President of Condé Nast International & Managing Director of Condé Nast Britain, as guest speaker. Special thanks to hermès for offering every guest a bottle of perfume.
One of the 160 tailored B-to-B meetings
EVENTS LAUNChED IN 2014
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Bringing the conference to a close, the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport, encouraged France and Britain to work together and find shared answers to common problems.
FRANCo-BRItISh tRANSPoRt CoNFERENCE 14 oCtoBER At oNE GREAt GEoRGE StREEt Partners: French Embassy and Franco-British Council Main sponsors: Alstom, Bouygues Energies & Services, HSBC, Keolis, Renault, TomTom Supporting sponsors: Altran, Bolloré
Fabrice Brégier, President & CEO of Airbus
DINER DE LA RENtREE 23 SEPtEMBER At FoUR SEASoNS hotEL Sponsored by Airbus
A record audience of over 300 guests gathered to hear from Fabrice Brégier, President & CEO of Airbus. In a brilliant speech, he discussed the ways in which high technology industry can boost the European economy and the challenges it faces. Using the example of Airbus and aerospace, he showed the many ways in which France and the UK are united in this process.
FRANCo-BRItISh BUSINESS AWARDS 27 NovEMBER At thE MAy FAIR hotEL Sponsored by Eurostar, HSBC and Mazars Partners: Business France and UKTI
The 15th edition of the Franco-British Business Awards brought together 175 guests at The May Fair hotel. The Awards celebrate the expertise, enterprise and knowledge of successful French and British companies.
L to R: Eric Lalardie (ARM), Kevin Crawley (Saint-gobain), Béatrice and Arnaud de Montille (Merci Maman), Philippe Henry (hSBC), Bruno Gils (Caviar Petrossian)
2014 Winners Innovation award: ARM Large Corporate Award: Saint-Gobain SME Entrepreneur Award: Merci Maman Jury Award: HSBC Coup de Coeur: Caviar Petrossian
‘Airbus were delighted to be the sole sponsors of the Dîner de la Rentrée 2014, which was an excellent opportunity to meet and engage with key people and organisations from the French and UK business communities. We were very satisfied with the organisation of the event, which included a roundtable for journalists to meet our CEO & President, Fabrice Bregier, and the evening itself was a great success.’Jason Impey, head of Communications, AIRBUS Uk
The Franco-British Transport Conference, which gathered more than 150 participants, provided a platform for debate and discussion on the challenges of moving around and between our growing cities, and how to meet them. Panellists from the UK and France provided different perspectives on financing urban transport and innovative solutions for the digital age in debates moderated by Christian Wolmar, a specialist transport journalist.
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L to R: Xavier Rolet, HE Ms Sylvie Bermann, Ian Fisher, Chief Country Officer and head of Coverage & Investment Banking UK, Société générale; Richard Brown CBE, former President of the French Chamber.
Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive of London Stock Exchange group, spoke about the challenges faced by European governments to revive growth.
ANNUAL FINANCIAL LUNCh 7 NovEMBER At thE DoRChEStER Sponsored by Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking
One of the Chamber’s flagship events, the Annual Financial Lunch brought together 150 guests from across the financial and business spectrum to hear from Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange group. Société générale Corporate and Investment Banking reaffirmed its longstanding support to the Chamber by sponsoring the event for the 18th consecutive year.
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Olivier Morel, Chair of the Legal Forum, put questions to Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE, who was at the time Lord Mayor of the City of London and only the second woman ever to hold the office that was inaugurated in 1189.
ANNUAL LEGAL LUNCh 25 JUNE At thE CoNNAUGht
guests at the second Annual Legal Lunch had the privilege of listening to Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE speaking about her role as Lord Mayor and how her skills as a lawyer have been a crucial help in this position. On her objectives for her year as Lord Mayor she explained her 686 Plan, which includes fundraising for community-based charities.
CRoSS-CULtURAL RELAtIoNS DEBAtE 6 MARCh At LA RéSIDENCE DE FRANCE
A lively discussion between two French and British business leaders revealed there is much to learn and take away from each other’s cultures. As cultural intelligence has become more important than ever before as a business requirement, both speakers shared their experiences and gave extremely valuable advice to face cultural differences in a business environment.
Nicolas Petrovic, CEO of Eurostar International, Sir Ian Cheshire, then group Chief Executive of Kingfisher in a debate moderated by Peter Alfandary, Chair of the Cross-Cultural Relations Forum.
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21 November – marc PoNtet, ceo of aseNdia (La Poste)In a fascinating presentation, Marc Pontet showed how a company founded under the reign of Louis XI can still be a leader six centuries later. In an industry deeply affected by the rise of the Internet, he pointed to reinvention as the key to success and explained how La Poste & Swiss Post have formed an equal joint venture, Asendia, to meet the new needs of customers and operate within the new distribution landscape.
23 aPriL - victor chavez, ceo of thaLes UK‘I could give you fantastic insights into the technology of autonomous air systems,’ Victor Chavez quipped, but instead he spoke about the impact of globalisation on strategic sectors – which he knows well, with Thales working in Defence, Space, Security, Aerospace and Transportation – and the role of national governments in controlling such markets.
13 JUNe – JeaN-JacqUes LebeL, theN chairmaN of L’oréaL UK & ireLaNd
On L’Oréal’s constant renewal, Jean-Jacques Lebel said ‘Big organisations have to adapt and change if they want to survive’. The beauty group may have been around for over a century but it has never looked more towards the future, with increasing investments in research, innovation and digital. By 2020, all L’Oréal products will have a social or environmental benefit.
12 sePtember – NicoLas beytoUt, PresideNt & foUNder of L’oPiNioN
‘Is France the sick man of Europe?’ That is the question Nicolas Beytout sought to answer in his talk on the current economic and political situation in France. In an impromptu response, the Minister Councillor for Economic and Financial Affairs asserted that the government is sticking with its ambitious public spending cuts and is ‘highly committed’ to structural reforms.
breaKfasts WIth... Sponsored by PAUL UK
DINERS DES ChEFS Partner: Pernod Ricard
The Luxury Club hosts regular Dîners des Chefs to celebrate ‘l’art de vivre’ and put the spotlight on iconic Chefs who have been awarded Michelin stars and have had remarkable journeys as ambassadors of gastronomic excellence. We would like to thank Pernod Ricard for its longstanding and most generous support, which was very innovative in 2014, creating and providing cocktail pairings for each dinner.
L’ATELIER DE JOEL ROBUChON 24 MARCh - With Chef Xavier Boyer
ALAIN DUCASSE AT ThE DORChESTER 17 SEPtEMBER - Chef Jocelyn Herland with HE Sylvie Bermann and Arnaud Bamberger
thE CoNNAUGht 12 NovEMBER - Chef Hélène Darroze with Chef Raymond Blanc OBE
BUSINESS CLUB COCKTAIL3 APRIL At hSBC St JAMES’S StREEt oFFICES
Sponsored by HSBCOver 80 participants heard from Peter Dockar, head of Mortgages at hSBC, Martijn Van der heijden, global head of Mortgages at hSBC and Alexandre Terrasse, Partner at Jeffrey green Russell. Theme: ‘A short guide to a successful purchase: UK vs France’.
SUMMER ChAMPAgNE RECEPTION8 JULy At thE RoyAL AUtoMoBILE CLUB
Sponsored by Accuracy - Partner: Vranken Pommery More than 100 participants enjoyed Champagne and networking in beautiful surroundings.
INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRIT TASTINg16 SEPtEMBER At thE GRAND CoNNAUGht RooMS
In partnership with 11 other foreign Chambers in the UK: Argentina, Austria, Canada, georgia, hungarian, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
RENDEz-VOUS ChEz…Regular events hosted by Chamber members at their business premises, providing the chance for fellow members to network informally and sample their host’s products and services.
Aubaine on 16 January
Léon de Bruxelles on 4 March
L’Occitane on 13 May
La Maison Maille on 17 June
The Royal Park Hotel on 7 August
Caudalie on 19 November
SAY ‘ChEESE’…AND WINE 11 February & 29 October in partnership with La Cave à Fromage and Wine Story.
PA EVENINgSThis unique type of event specially for Personal Assistants took place at Aubaine in January, February and September, and Chaumet in June.
MEMBER to MEMBER CoCktAIL AND EXhIBItIoN 13 MARCh At thE PULLMAN LoNDoN St PANCRAS Partners: Powervote and Service Point
More than 250 participants and 21 exhibitors enjoyed extensive networking and the chance to find out about each other’s businesses in a very convivial environment. The M2M Offers booklet was launched and distributed during the evening. Connections were improved thanks to a dedicated mobile app developed by Powervote, which was given to participants on arrival with information on how to use it.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEEtING 24 JUNE hoStED By REED SMIth
2013’s achievements and the outlook for 2014 were presented to over 120 members attending the AgM. As always, it was followed by a networking reception with a finger buffet generously provided by Reed Smith.
2014 exhibitors: Artelia, Asendia, Bourner Bullock, CEI, Citroën, Emmaus, Four Seasons, handicap International, Institut Français, Interactifs, La Maison Médicale, Le Pain Quotidien, Lloyds International Private Banking, Merci Maman, Miller Rosenfalck, NewTownVision, Pullman, Solocal, The Medical Chambers Kensington, TheWesley
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PATRON EVENTS
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A record of 12 exclusive events were organised for Patron member main representatives. These free events, ranging from tastings and trips to cultural and sporting events, combine business and pleasure in an informal atmosphere with opportunities to network. Only main representatives are invited to attend these events, often with their spouses, and as the invitations are non-transferable, members can build close connections at the highest level.Patron members are welcome to contact us if they wish to sponsor an event for their fellow Patron members.
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RoMEo & JULIEt DRESS REhEARSAL (4)10 JUNE At thE royaL aLbert haLL
A very exclusive behind-the-scenes evening showcasing the final adjustments of the ballet Romeo & Juliet by British choreographer Derek Deane, with Carlos Acosta (Romeo) and Tamara Rojo (Juliet) whose performance was the last of her amazing career.
BUSINESS IN SoCIEty 19 MARCh At thE tAtE MoDERN
Sponsored by MazarsMazars organised a discussion around the role of business in society. The evening addressed the role and influence of boards in implementing a society-oriented approach to business in order to create a mutually beneficial relationship that promotes sustainable growth and a thriving society.
DISCovER LotUS F1 tEAM (1) 24 APRIL At LotUS F1 tEAM SItE
Sponsored by AltranPatron members had the unique opportunity to visit the Lotus F1 Team site in Oxfordshire, where they were welcomed by CEO Matthew Carter and the Formula One driver, Romain grosjean. Fun, good humour and friendly rivalry ruled the day!
thE CoNRAN ShoP LAUNCh PARty oF ‘A SEASoN IN FRANCE’ (2)1 MAy At thE coNraN shoP
Designer Jasper Conran OBE invited a few VIPs to view the new collection ‘A Season in France’ as well as other vintage and contemporary designs and collections in his Fulham Road shop.
LUNCh At CARtIER (3)16 MAy At thE LoNDoN hEADqUARtERS oF MAISoN cartier
Arnaud Bamberger, former Chairman of Cartier, hosted guests for an exquisite meal in the first Cartier boutique in the UK, opened in 1902. A presentation about the history of the brand and its legacy was led by Clyde Tabiner, Training Manager at Cartier.
toUR & tAStING At BEEFEAtER GIN DIStILLERy (5)19 JUNE At beefeater GiN distiLLery
Patron & Corporate members visited the refurbished Beefeater Distillery and took part in a gin-tasting session with Master Distiller Desmond Payne, the world’s most experienced gin industry expert. Thanks to Pernod Ricard, all participants learnt more about this iconic London spirit.
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oPENING CEREMoNy oF thE GLASGoW CoMMoNWEALth GAMES 2014 (6) 23 & 24 APRIL IN GLASGoW
Sponsored by AtosIn partnership with easyJet10 Patron members flew to glasgow for a two-day trip to watch the ceremony that launched the 2014 Commonwealth games.
EMIRAtES CUP 2014 (9) 23 & 24 JULy
During this two-day competition, sponsored by Arsenal, Patron members had the opportunity to experience the Emirates Cup Tournament from an Executive Box.
DISCovER RUINARt (8) 11 SEPtEMBER At moët heNNessy
40 Patron members were welcomed by Jo Thornton, Managing Director of Moët hennessy, in their elegant offices in Belgravia for a formal tasting of Ruinart Champagnes and an induction into the history of the oldest Champagne house.
A NIGht At thE RoyAL oPERA hoUSE (7) - 3 NovEMBER At RohSponsored by the Royal Opera HouseIn the presence of Sally O’Neill, Chief Operating Officer of the ROh, Patron members enjoyed an Opera Masterclass in the Clore Studio, followed by a Champagne reception.
RAMEAU AND LES ARtS FLoRISSANtS (11) 18 NovEMBER At thE BARBICAN hALL
Sponsored by AlstomAlstom invited fellow Patron members to an exceptional production of Jean-Philippe Rameau at the Barbican, Europe’s largest multi-art venue.
toUR DE FRANCE (10)27 JULy At MANSIoN hoUSE
Thanks to London & Partners, Patron members were invited for lunch at Mansion house, the official residence of the Lord Mayor, to celebrate the arrival of the Tour de France in London and later watched the race finish on The Mall.
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I N V I T A T I O N
Les Arts FlorissantsRameau, maître à danser
Barbican London
© Philippe Delval
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> 267 clients in 2014 including
> 170 new clients
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We aim to support French businesses at all stages of their development in the UK, through long-term strategies and solutions.Our Incubator, Business Consultancy, Company Set-up and Recruitment departments work in synergy to offer a wide range of services with a dedicated and experienced team of 11. We take great pride in having met and advised 969 businesses in 2014 and worked with 267. We also organised the first Franco-British Business Forum which provided a new platform for decision makers of 87 French and British companies to meet potential clients, partners or suppliers.
BUSIneSS SUppORt SeRvICeS tHe One-StOp SHOp FOR FRenCH Sme & StaRt-Up develOpment In gReat BRItaIn
Occupancy rate in 2014: 73%23 tenants
InCUBatOR
source of new clients
Others (27)
Chambers of Commerce in France (54)
Direct (89)
52%
52%
32%32%
16%
16%
Others (27)
Chambers of Commerce in France (54)
Direct (89)
52%
52%
32%32%
16%
16%
2014 saw the launch of our central london Incubator’s ‘all inclusive package’ - see below. Whether for a day, a week or a month, our flexible desk rental service is aimed at start-ups, entrepreneurs or Smes who are developing their businesses in the UK.
FlexIBle and all-InClUSIve OFFeR
• dedicated desk and phone line• access to printers and scanners• 24/7 secure access and free WiFi• Unlimited, free access to meeting rooms• Use of the Chamber’s address• Free active membership of the Chamber for contracts of 12 months minimum
veRy COmpetItIve pRICeS
• versatile meeting rooms with video-conferencing facilties, audio-visual equipment, plasma screens
• professional reception and technical support
meetIng ROOm Rental
‘Renting a desk at the Chamber gave movingdesign the opportunity to be close to all the exchanges going on at the French Chamber. It is a real asset to be at the Chamber, especially in terms of networking opportunities and access to the Business Support Services. Ultimately we acquired great visibility with other premium members of the French Chamber.’Lilian Rabin, UK Country manager, movingdesign, digital design studio
‘I regularly use the Chamber’s meeting rooms and they are very good value for money! They are bright, modern and well located in central London. The team is very welcoming.’Henry Schmidt, managing director, ici londres
the UK’s encouraging growth rate boosted the Business Consultancy department activity as more and more companies looked to do business in the British market. this translated into a 25% increase in revenue compared to 2013. In 2014, 62 export missions were carried out in a variety of sectors such as design, Retail, Creative Industries, ICt and manufacturing with a total of 278 B-to-B meetings.
Lists of prospects
Commercial representation
Market research
Seminars
Collective export missions
Individual export missions 36%
36%28%
28%
15%15%
10%
10%
8%
8%
3%
3%
BU
SIneSS SU
ppOR
t SeR
vIC
eS
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BUSIneSS COnSUltanCy
• Bespoke market research• lists of prospects and potential clients• Organisation of B-to-B meetings with prospects• trade visits for groups of companies in the same sector• Commercial representation and virtual office• Seminar organisation
Our services
2014 Key FIgUReS> 95 clients
> 278 B-to-B meetings organised
> 18 roadshows on which 166 companies were met
> 62 export missions
> 3 trade delegations for French regions
> 2 seminars organised including the second edition of the edHeC mBa Finance Seminar
> 89% satisfaction rate for services
OUtlOOK 2015: FURtHeR develOp COmmeRCIal RepReSentatIOnOur department will further develop its sales outsourcing service, aimed at companies wanting to drive sales but unable to afford the risk of additional fixed overheads. trained up, sales and administrative staff can be contracted to a business a few days per month, for as long as they are needed.
FIRSt edItIOn OF tHe FRanco-bRitiSH buSineSS FoRum
> 170 participants
> 160 B-to-B meetings
> 87 companies involved
2014 saw the launch of the Franco-British Business Forum under the high patronage of the French ambassador to the UK and the British ambassador to France. 87 French and British companies met for topical roundtable discussions, B-to-B meetings with potential clients, partners or suppliers, and networked around the expert village where participants were able to get advice on taxation, employment law, logistics, transport, real estate and banking from sponsors and partners.
turnover by service
‘We have been very satisfied with the support provided by the Chamber in our UK partner search. Its team is very professional and dynamic, impressing even our British contacts. We particularly appreciated the fact that we were put in contact with high-level decision makers such as CEOs and Managing Directors.’ Jean Préau, CeO, blo, direct marketing company
‘Thank you to the French Chamber team for organising this forum and congratulations for its professionalism. This platform was very inspiring and provided a lot of information; it helped us to determine our mode of representation in the UK. Furthermore, we met two companies that would be very interested in working with us.’ Daniela d’aloïa, Commercial director, dyna shock system sas
lists of prospects
Commercial representation
market research
10%
8%
3%Seminars 15% Collective export missions Individual export missions 36%
28%
Implantation Day
VAT Management
Domiciliation
Salary
Accountancy
53%
53%
34%
34% 6%
6%
6%6%
1%
turnover by service
Implantation Day
VAT Management
Domiciliation
Salary
Accountancy
53%
53%
34%
34% 6%
6%
6%6%
1%
0 20 40 60 80 100
Quality: 96%
Timeliness: 98%
Process: 96%
Team: 99%
satisfied or very satisfied by our services*
* Survey of 113 companies – 69% responded
2014 was a year of development for our department as we took on 40 new clients. Our team of bilingual professionals worked hand-in-hand with every client, adapting our services to their needs to give their businesses a strong start and enable them to grow successfully in the UK. Our clients endorsed us with a 97% satisfaction rate.
aCCOUntIng, payROll & COmpany Set-Up SeRvICeS
• ‘Implantation day’: all-in-one-day package of tailored meetings with Franco-British experts • accountancy: bookkeeping, management accounts, sales processing and credit control, purchase and payment processing, bank reconciliation and group reporting• payroll: processing, payment and HR support• Registered address service and phone line• vat management services
Our Services
2014 Key FIgUReS
> 177 services provided to128 clients 50 accountancy, 81 payroll management 17 virtual office, 29 vat management
> 7 ‘Implantation days’ organised
> 3,548 payslips generated
OUtlOOK 2015: BUIld On SeCtORal expeRtISe With the knowledge and expertise that we have built up, we are aiming to prospect for new clients in specific industries: F&B,
retail, digital and technology, while we will continue to provide outsourcing services in a wide range of sectors. In 2015, our department will also assist construction businesses with their registration and monthly report obligations under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), created by Hm Revenue & Customs for tax deduction from contractors and subcontractors.
‘We felt as if we were explorers in unknown territory but luckily we encountered the French Chamber as a guide! When we struggled to find information or a local supplier, the Chamber provided us with quality
advice and helped us to source the right lawyer, bank and architect/contractor among other things. The Chamber Business Support department provides us today with full accountancy services.’ mathieu Durand, Country manager, big fernand
36
‘The outsourcing of our accounting and payroll services allowed us to fully concentrate on our business development within the UK. The Chamber reacts very quickly to our needs and provides us with
constant support and timely advice. For more efficiency, one of the Chamber’s accountants comes regularly to our offices, allowing us to save time and maintain close links with the Chamber.’ Jean-christophe Samyn, UK director, caudalie
‘In 2014, SOFYNE were looking to hire bilingual highly skilled IT technical staff to join them in London. The French Chamber met us and took great time and consideration to understand and support our growth plans. We were
not inundated with unnecessary CVs; in fact, the opposite! Two CVs and one hire, which was very cost effective. SOFYNE will continue to work with the French Chamber and looks forward to continued success in 2015 and beyond! ’ Rick tolfrey, managing director, sofyne
turnover by service
Start-Up Package
Flexible Part-time Package
Classic Recruitment
86%
86%
8%
6%
8%6%
candidates by discipline
Business Support
HR/Law
Teacher/Translation
Engineer
Finance/Accountancy
Project Management
Com/Events/Design
Marketing/Sales
36%
36%
12%
12%
11%
7%
7%
6%
6%
5%
5%
11%
11%
11%
12%12%
‘We have been very pleased by the quality of the candidates that we were offered, which matched our requirements very closely. On top of being very efficient and professional, the team is also very
pleasant to work with. We would have no hesitation in recommending the French Chamber service to other companies seeking to recruit new employees.’ Jean-noël mermet, managing director, frenger international
OUtlOOK 2015: JOBlInK We will send out JobLink on a more regular basis. this newsletter, which is aimed at HR managers and managing directors of
smaller companies, features a selection of the best candidate profiles in a wide range of disciplines, and up-to-date information on
our HR Forum activities.
Our Recruitment Service is dedicated to all companies with recruitment needs in the UK, whether looking to set up or already established. Our very competitive rates allow members to recoup their membership fee in one to three recruitments at most. In 2014, 11 companies joined the Chamber especially for our services, we met 475 candidates and signed four new partnerships with top Business Schools (edHeC, eSSeC, InSeeC and em normandie). We also coordinated the production of The HR Guide.
ReCRUItment SeRvICe
2014 Key FIgUReS
> 44 clients in 2014, 75% new clients
> 35% of clients recruited more than one position
> 30 placements
> 3,440 candidates on the database since 2012
> a total of 11 partnerships with school and universities
37
Our Services
• Highly competitive fees• privileged access to bilingual and high profile candidates across a wide range of disciplines• Innovative recruitment options for companies of all sizes - ‘Classic’ recruitment - discounted fees for start-ups - a special package for temporary contracts and part- time positions
86%
8%
6%
Classic Recruitment
Flexible part-time package
Start-Up package
30
The hR Guide, A practical approach to human Resources in Great BritainWritten by members of our HR Forum, the booklet provides an overview of HR topics, reflecting the strong legal basis of the UK employment landscape, and is full of valuable testimonials, tips and advice. It is aimed at French businesses that have or are intending to set up in the UK. Available at www.frenchchamber.co.uk for £12
THe 2015 FRanco-BRITIsH TRade dIRecToRyPublished annually, The Franco-British Trade directory is a compilation of French chamber members with names, addresses and contact details, as well as key contacts within the Franco-British community. This edition of over 300 pages lists more than 1,650 representatives of 600 companies from blue chip firms to sMes and entrepreneurs. Distributed to all member representatives free of charge.An online version is available to all members on www.frenchchamber.co.uk
THe MeMBeR-2-MeMBeR oFFeRs BooKleT The 2014 booklet featured a record of 106 offers, giving members discounted rates on products and services such as hospitality, transportation and retail, amongst others. It also allows members to promote their products or services to fellow members, and entitles members to benefit from exclusive offers not only in the UK but also in more than 82 countries around the world thanks to the ccI France international network. Find out more on www.ccifrance-international.org/privilegesDistributed to all members free of charge. Online version available on www.frenchchamber.co.uk
LiGhT AT The end oF The TunneL, Practical reflections on the French and British in businessWritten by members of our cross-cultural Relations Forum under the guidance of Peter alfandary1,200 copies sold in 2014, bringing the total number sold to 5,000. Available at www.frenchchamber.co.uk for £6
38
The role of the Publications and communications department is to keep members of the Chamber informed of relevant news and chamber activities, provide business-focused publications on concrete and topical matters and offer visibility for members through editorial contributions and advertising opportunities in all our print and digital media.
PUBlIcaTIons and coMMUnIcaTIonsTo PRovIde yoU WITH InFoRMaTIon and exPosURe
BooKleTs and GUIdes
oUTlooK 2015: TWo neW PUBlIcaTIons
The legal Forum will publish anglo-French comparative booklets on directors’ duties and litigation
‘The Cross-Cultural Relations booklet, Light at the end of the Tunnel, has been very useful in spreading awareness of and avoiding the potential misunderstandings which can occur through interactions between the French and the British’ Richard Fostier, ceo, Colas Rail
‘The hR Guide presents clearly the diverse aspects of the uK’s hR attributes, with helpful case studies and different companies sharing viewpoints and expertise. As a uK branch of a French company, the booklet presents a great tool to help us to liaise with our head office as it conveys concise details on hR in the uK’ David Harper, Brand Manager, PRoman ReCRuitment uK
biling
ual
31
our bimonthly magazine inFo, which is published in print and online, continued to improve in terms of content and scope, gaining a reputation for its quality and calibre of information in the Franco-British business world. In 2014, inFo marked its 35th anniversary, looking back at the very first issue in 1979. inFo magazine has always been a tool for the development of strong relationships between the French chamber and its members, and also serves to broaden collaboration on both sides of the channel.
inFo: sTay InFoRMed and GaIn vIsIBIlTy our magazine offers members multiple and varied opportunities to be featured, whether through regular feature articles and interviews, company news, Forum & club and events reports, or contributions from experts in areas relevant to each Focus. The ‘5 minutes with…’ interviews allow heads of Patron member companies to talk about their companies, achievements and strategies, while for members in the financial sector there is a chance to be profiled in ‘News in the City’. We also feature articles on interesting SMEs and start-ups and tell the ‘success stories’ of the most outstanding. In ‘Eat, Drink, Stay’ we put the spotlight on the activities of our food, drink and hospitality members with mini articles and features, while the newly launched ‘Travelogue’ gives our travel industry members the chance to shine. We invite all members – large and small – to send us their news, which we selectively feature in our various news sections.
For each issue, an editorial committee is convened to which we invite representatives from member companies as well as other experts and academics with particular knowledge or expertise on the Focus topic, to discuss the content framework and ultimately contribute articles. editorial committees serve as a useful platform for us to hear directly from our members and provide networking opportunities for members operating within the same sector of activity.
INFO focus themes for 2015 luxury & craftsmanship (Jan/Feb)Women in leadership (Mar/april)The new Workplace (May/June)Real estate: london or Paris? (July/aug)The Business of climate change (sept/oct)digital (nov/dec)
Editorial Committees for Focus themes
PUB
lIca
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inFo MaGaZIne2014 Key FIGURes
> 5,000 printed copies per issue
> overall readership: 20,000 per issue
> online readership: 12,000 per issue
> 330 member companies featured
> 9 advertisers renewed annual contracts
dIsTRIBUTIonsent to 1,650 members’ representatives and more than 1,000 decision makers and opinion leaders distributed in the business lounges ofAir France, Eurostar and Eurotunnel
oUTlooK 2015: neW looK FoR INFO
We will undertake a reader survey about design and content, and our Graphic designer will be redesigning inFo to give it a fresh and modern look.
MonTHly neWsleTTeR: ChAnneL distributed to 3,000 member contacts, highlighting:
Forthcoming events and Forum & club sessions Recent newsMember company newsnew members and chamber news
••••
BIMonTHly InFo neWs distributed prior to the printed version of InFo to 4,000 member contacts, highlighting a selection of key articles from the latest issue
BIMonTHly PaTRon neWsleTTeRdistributed to1,000 Patron member representatives, highlighting:
Forthcoming Patron events and Forum & club sessionsPatron members’ newsnew Patron members
•••
QUaRTeRly FRance-UK exPRess edited in French and distributed to 5,000 French SMes and French Chambers of Commerce in France as well as abroad, highlighting:
Facts and figures on the bilateral environmentUK market opportunitiessectoral and regional focuseslegal and fiscal adviceUpcoming trade fairs
•••••
Written in French and edited by our Business consultancy department, these sectoral reports are used to inform French companies interested in developing their business in the UK.
neWsleTTeRs
secToRal RePoRTs
New in 2014> Retail Pharmacy> cosmetics> alcoholic Beverages
Updates> life sciences> logistics and Transport> e-commerce> automotive Industry> Renewable energies> IcT
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oUTlooK 2015: RevaMPed PaTRon neWsleTTeR
In 2015 we will further improve the content and design of our Patron newsletter, and introduce a new section featuring exclusive offers for Patron members.
our newsletters help us to keep in touch with our members and partners, providing bilateral news, member news, information about chamber activities, highlights from inFo magazine, advice for businesses wishing to invest in the UK, etc. all can boast strong opening rates and readerships of up to 5,000 per newsletter. sent throughout the year with monthly, bimonthly and quarterly editions, as well as to different target audiences (from all our members to Patron members specifically or French sMes wishing to expand to the UK), our newsletters are an essential source of information for the Franco-British business community. In 2014, we introduced a ‘Recent news’ section in our monthly newsletter, featuring significant economic and market news on both sides of the channel. That is the reason why we recently revamped this monthly update and renamed it ‘channel’, to convey the connections and communication between members that this newsletter facilitates.
Tuesday 14 October 2014, 8.30 - 17.00At One George Street, London SW1P 3AA
THE FRANCO-BRITISH TRANSPORT CONFERENCEMeeting the challengesfor the city of tomorrow
FIRST PANEL:Financing urban transport: bringing public and private investors together
SECOND PANEL:The city of the future: innovative solutions for the digital age
FOR MORE INFORMATIONWWW.THEFRANCOBRITISHTRANSPORTCONFERENCE2014.CO.UK
QUOTE ‘FT READER’ FOR AN EXCLUSIVE RATE – PLEASE CONTACT:
SONIA OLSEN 0207 092 6644 – EMAIL: [email protected]
Main Sponsors
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Friday 28 November 2014
At the Pullman London St Pancras, NW1 2AJ
THE FRANCO-BRITISH
BUSINESS FORUM
BTOB MEETINGS WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS AND PARTNERS
SECTORAL ROUNDTABLES LED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
REGISTER NOW
Meet your future French and British partners during pre-organised BtoB meetings
Get informed during roundtables led by industry experts on:
- 4 top sectors of activity including: ICT / Silver Economy / Creative Industries / Energy
- how to build a distribution network in France and Great-Britain
Put your questions to our experts in employment law, taxation, real estate,
logistics and recruitment at the Expert Village
WWW.FBBF.CO.UK
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ALICIA CHURCHWARD
020 7092 6629 – EMAIL: [email protected]
#FBBF
MAIN SPONSORSSUPPORTING SPONSORS
PARTNERS
FBBF_FT_advert_v2.indd 1
9/4/2014 10:53:27 AM
Main Sponsors
Announcing...The winners of the
SME / Entrepreneur Award
Merci MamanInnovation Award
ARM
Large Corporate Award
Saint-Gobain
Partners
Jury Award
HSBC
Organised by:
Coup de Coeur
Caviar Petrossian
French Chamber of Commerce in Great BritainFind out more about the winners...www.frenchchamber.co.uk
co
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Un
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coMMUnIcaTIon Tools
oUTlooK 2015: a neW WeBsITe and coRPoRaTe vIdeo
In 2015, we will design and implement a new, more business-oriented website that better corresponds to the needs and
expectations of our members and clients with practical information, additional functionality and a more modern look and feel. We
will also produce a corporate video featuring our services and member/client testimonials.
+ 119% followers
+ 62 % suscribers
+ 154% fans
WeBsITeattracting more than 6,000 unique visitors per month, our website is the ideal platform for our members to stay up to date on chamber activities. It is also a unique opportunity for sponsors and partners to gain publicity. In 2014, we introduced a new dedicated page featuring all our corporate member logos.
socIal MedIa PlaTFoRMs our social media channels allow members to exchange with one another, ask questions and share information. These platforms also keep our members informed about chamber activities and fellow members’ news on a daily basis. In 2014, we reinforced our presence on social media and developed new content such as member-to-member offers and new member features. The highlight of 2014 was a screen at our Franco-British Transport conference, showing a live feed of tweets which allowed participants to share their opinions and interact, generating more than 240 hashtags!
adveRTIsInG
Thanks to our various partnerships, we were able to feature advertisements in our media partners’ promotional tools. our four advertisements in the Financial Times, for example, allowed us to communicate on our flagship events, including visibility for the sponsors’ logos.
In 2014, the Franco-British Business award winners were notably featured on a dedicated quarter page in the Financial Times issue distributed at the Franco-British Business Forum the following day.
PRess RelaTIons as we continue to build strong relationships with media representatives, more journalists are spontaneously contacting us to gather information for their reports or collect testimonies from our member companies on specific issues or sectors. In 2014, we introduced Merci Maman to France 2’s envoyé spécial team, which lead to great television coverage of their story. For airbus, we organised a successful press roundtable prior to the dîner de la Rentrée with Fabrice Brégier, ceo and President of airbus. This exchange lead to many press reports including pieces in the Financial Times and aFP.
Evolution Year vs 2013 2014
number of visitors +3,6% 109,000 absolute unique visitors +10.9% 73,000 Pages views +3.4% 412,000
41
We strive to provide our members with many opportunities to gain exposure and communicate with fellow members. all our communication tools and platforms therefore benefit our members and help them to create awareness of their activities amongst our member base and across the Franco-British community at large.
French Radio london interviewing Boulle International at the Franco British Business Forum
We continue to offer competitive prices for different forms of advertising to suit all types and sizes of organisation, helping our members to develop their visibility, brand recognition and client base. Furthermore, the support of our advertisers helps us to sustain the high quality of our publications for the benefit of all members. In 2014, the celebration of the 35th anniversary of inFo magazine sparked interest amongst our original advertisers. The popularity of our business guides and website has also increased and allows advertisers to target specific audiences.
adveRTIsInG oPPoRTUnITIes
�
our publications and digital tools
Discover the wide variety of our publications and digital tools, and our competitive
advertising rates.*
inFo MagaZinE
thE Franco british tradE dirEctorY
thE MEMbEr to MEMbEr oFFErs booKlEt
EvEnt prograMMEs and calEndars
businEss guidEs
nEWslEttErs
WEbsitE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
french chamber of great britain
www.frenchchamber.co.uk
MARCH/ APRIL 2015I N F Ot h e m a g a z i n e f o r a n g l o - f r e n c h b u s i n e s s
spEcial discounts
new members:
Benefit from �0% discount on all advertisements for the first � months
all members:
Special rates apply when booking multiple advertising spaces
SPECIAL
DISCOUNTS
AT MARKETING
AND COMMUNICATION
AGENCIES
REDUCED
RATES AT TOP
HOTELS AND
RESTAURANTS
IN STORE
AND ONLINE
DISCOUNTS
FREE LEGAL
AND FINANCIAL
ADVICE
MEMBER 2 MEMBEROffers 2015
www.frenchchamber.co.uk
*all advertising rates listed are exclusive of vat
15
our WEbsitEsiZE spEciFications & ratEs
DurationMEMbEr ratE (pEr Month) non-MEMbEr ratE (pEr
Month) hoME pagE
bannEr - 3 Months
£600
£800
bannEr - 6 Months
£530
£730
bannEr - 12 Months
£470
£670
sEctions: hoME pagE, EvEnts, rEcruitMEnt, MEMbErship or about us
button - 3 Months
£324
£475
button - 6 Months
£288
£440
button - 12 Months £250
£400
sEctions: ForuMs & clubs, publications, businEss support sErvicEs, nEWs
or shop
button - 3 Months
£180
£330
button - 6 Months
£160
£310
button - 12 Months
£140
£290
Menu button on internal pagesUp to 155 x 155 pixels
Media Packour media pack has evolved as our advertising opportunities have expanded, and is now a detailed publication in its own right. With distribution figures, advertising rates, publication descriptions, artwork deadlines, etc., it presents a comprehensive overview of the chamber’s promotional offers which can be adapted to individual member’s needs.
French chamber Publications
media pack 2015the most efficient way to target anglo-French business and political leaders
www.frenchchamber.co.uk
Top 10 advertisers in 2014:
air France
Boulle International
cartier
chanel
chivas Brothers
edF energy
International sos
Renault
société Générale
vIncI constructions Grands Projets
42
‘The Light at the end of the Tunnel, to which i originally contributed along with other members of the Cross-Cultural Relations Forum, has stood the test of time since its first publication in 2011. our advertisements are perfectly placed to reach the Franco-British segment of our target audience.’Marie-Cécile Boulle, Managing director, Boulle inteRnational
‘VinCi Construction Grands Projets British isles is happy to have participated with advertisements in inFo magazine and the Franco-British Trade directory for a number of years. Both publications offer a great way to build and maintain our presence throughout the Chamber’s member base and the Franco-British business community at large.’Clarence Michel, senior Marketing & communication Manager, VinCi ConstRuCtion GRands PRojets BRitish isles
We WoUld lIKe To THanK oUR 56 adveRTIseRs In 2014 FoR THeIR cRUcIal sUPPoRT and TRUsT
38 renewed contractsair Francealliance FrançaiseasendiaaxaBanque Transatlantique Boulle InternationalBouyguesBrowne Jacobsoncartier ceI/centre charles Péguychanel chivas Brothers citroëncrédit agricole
delahaye MovingedF energy escP europe Financial TimesFrance 24 France in londonFrench Radio londonHermèsHsBc Ici londres Institut FrançaisInternational sos Invest northern Irelandlepetitjournal.comRadisson Blu Portman
Relais et châteauxRenault UKsafransociété GénéraleThales The connaughtTheWesleyvIncI construction Grands Projetsvranken Pommery
18 new advertisersalstomaltranBearingPoint
Bolloré Bulgari HotelcPI colouremmaus UKesscaGroupe InseecHec ParisImperial college Business schoolJeux d’ImagesKeolis MyInternshipabroadsimplement londressPIesystraTomTom
inFo magazine (print and online)
Franco-British Trade directory
conference programmes
and its bookmark
newsletter banners
Home page banner on our website
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info - march / april - 31
r e g i o n s & c i t i e s
You know Northern Ireland has a spectacular landscape, but did you know our workforce is behind some of the world’s most sophisticated banking system?
Belfast beats cities like Dublin, Glasgow and Beijing, and even major IT centres such as Bangalore and Singapore, which speaks volumes about the quality of our software specialists.
Northern Ireland offers competitive operating costs,
an advanced business infrastructure, and generous
fi nancial assistance and support.To learn more about what makes Northern Ireland the smart choice, visit www.investni.com/investE: [email protected]: 0207 2220599
Belfast is the world’s top destination city for fi nancial technology investment.
www.investni.com/invest
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Northern Ireland
beauty & brains
30 - info - march / april
r e g i o n s & c i t i e s
Northern Ireland’s knowledge economy is growing nearly
three times faster than the UK average and the city
that launched Titanic is again an innovation hotspot. Belfast
has been named Europe’s leading destination for software
development and technical support investment and is also
top-ranked internationally for financial services technologies
investments. That’s some achievement for a region with
a population of under two million. Among the many global
investors that have already opened operations are SAP, NYSE
Euronext, Citi, Intel and Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Queen’s Island in Belfast Harbour was once home to a
vibrant and innovative ship-building industry employing 25,000
people. Now with a £7 billion investment plan underway
– one of the world’s largest urban waterfront regenerations
– the area known as Titanic Quarter is home to the landmark
Titanic Belfast tourist centre, a large further education
college, a science park and more than 100 companies that are
revitalising the area’s reputation for ingenuity.
Northern Ireland: Titanic for technology
Aerospace and defence
Close by is one of Northern Ireland’s key investors and
cornerstone of the region’s long-established aerospace
industry, Bombardier Aerospace. The company came to the
region in 1989 when it took over Short Brothers, the world’s
oldest aircraft manufacturer. Since then Bombardier has
invested more than £2.1 billion in its plants there. In Northern
Ireland the company specialises in major aircraft structures
including fuselages, wings, engine nacelles and flight control
surfaces in metal and advanced composites.
French-owned Thales acquired Northern Ireland-based
Short Missile Systems in 2001 and it designs, develops and
manufactures short-range, precision defence systems.
Late last year European Space Propulsion (ESP) opened in
Northern Ireland where it will be working in partnership with
Thales. ESP is a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne, a world-
recognised aerospace and defence leader, and ESP has been
formed to service the needs of its European customers.
Abundance of talent
Firms attracted to Northern Ireland can benefit from the
resources of established knowledge hubs and can quickly
recruit talent. The region’s two universities are not only
providing skilled graduates, but are also commercialising
academic research output. The universities have fostered
scores of successful spin-out technology companies and
assisted businesses to secure venture capital investments.
Testament to the strength of the start-up scene in Northern
Ireland is the acquisition of local tech companies by blue-chip
firms including Intel and HP.
Across Northern Ireland, research centres of excellence
and technology incubators nurture clusters in telecoms,
cybersecurity, financial services, aerospace, data analytics,
cloud computing, mobile, healthcare technology and
nanotechnology.
A complete package
Northern Ireland offers a great package to inward investors.
It has all the advantages of being part of the United Kingdom
with the same fiscal and regulatory system; investors have
access to excellent R&D tax incentives and a superb quality
of life. Above all it offers a workforce that is a product of
the region’s outstanding education system – well educated,
skilled and loyal. Its other advantages include: competitive
costs, advanced telecommunications, ready access to
government, support packages and a vibrant pro-business
attitude. Taken together, Northern Ireland offers a
compelling package for investors and is an ideal location to
support London operations. I
Fast FactsNorthern Ireland is an integral part of the
UK with its own devolved administration
The region has the same fiscal and regulatory
structure as the rest of the UK
French-owned companies with operations in
Northern Ireland include: Michelin, Thales,
Teleperformance, Axa, Sopra Group and Montupet.
»
»
»
Clockwise from top left: Londonderry, the second largest city; thriving
Belfast; the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction
New members discount new members can benefit from a 30% discount on all advertisements during the first three months of membership. This allows newcomers to the UK market to advertise at a special rate to create awareness of their company or brand, for example.
Packages special rates apply when booking multiple advertising spaces, which allow members to communicate through different platforms according to their requirements and marketing plans. Members can thus promote the launch of a new product, the opening of a new store, an event, etc.
Furthermore, combined packages involving both sponsorship of an event and an advertisement in the associated programme and inFo magazine were successfully launched for our Franco-British Transport conference and Franco-British Business Forum.
Special fees for yearly contracts in INFO To thank our loyal and committed advertisers we offer negotiated fees for yearly contracts in inFo magazine.
This combination of text, visuals and an advertisement to convey a promotional message enhances brand recognition and attracts potential investors and tourists.
sPecIal oFFeRs ReGIonal FeaTURe FoR FRencH & BRITIsH ReGIons To PRoMoTe THeIR aTTRacTIveness
CO2 while driving: 0. MPG: N/A.*Equivalent to 2p per mile based on (i) overnight electricity costs (British Gas Clear & Simple Economy 7 unit rates for a customer paying by direct debit as at 1 April 2014, assuming 7 hours of charging at the night rate and 1 hour on the day rate), and (ii) a range of up to 126 miles per full charge (based on 95% efficiency and 17˝ wheels). 26p per day standing charge applies. Actual consumption and range may vary: Renault ZOE can travel up to 130 miles on a single charge, based on the new European driving Cycle (NEdC). Renault also publish real life ranges of 63 miles (winter) to 94 miles (temperate conditions), reflecting range variations from driving style, road conditions, heating and other external factors.
**Price shown is manufacturer’s recommended retail price, and includes delivery to dealer, number plates, 20% VAT, first registration fee and the UK Government’s plug-in car grant (PiCG), and is correct at time of going to press. A mandatory monthly battery hire of £70 is payable on the Renault ZOE, based on 36 months, 7,500 miles per annum excess mileage 30 pence per mile including VAT. Terms and conditions apply. Prices correct at time of going to print.
ReNAult ZOe. 100% eleCtRIC.
renault.co.uk
LESS THAN 2P PER MILE FUEL COST*
TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGY WITH INTEGRATED NAVIGATIONAUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
FROM JuSt £13,995**
Meet ZOe,tHe FReNCHSuPeRMODel.
11904_REN_Zoe_Buzz_FrenchChamberofCommerce_297x210_1.0.indd 1 15/09/2014 12:00
Job No: 49177-2 Publication: INFO Mag Size: 279x394 Ins Date: TBC Proof no: 1 Tel: 020 7291 4700
“PLUME DE CHANEL”RING AND JEWELLED HEADPIECE WHITE GOLD AND DIAMONDS
26 OLD BOND STREET - LONDON W1
SELFRIDGES WONDER ROOM - LONDON W1 HARRODS FINE JEWELLERY & WATCH ROOM - LONDON SW1
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r e g i o n s & c i t i e sEnvironmentally friendly business parks
With 132 business parks, both large and small, either directly linked to the motorway
network or serving some of the more rural areas, the Artois offers a wide choice
of available locations and greenfield sites. Some of them are ISO 14001 accredited.
The importance given by our local business stakeholders to the need to develop
ecological business parks or industrial buildings is shown in many ways. Here are
some examples illustrating their commitment:Located in the village of Tinques, in the heart of the Artois countryside, the
Ecopolis business park has been labelled a Rural Centre of Excellence for its ‘smart
and sustainable buildings’. This business park aims to favour the development of
local businesses in new markets related to eco-construction, energy efficiency
and the intelligent management of buildings. Its 13 hectares are mainly directed
at industries or businesses working in eco-construction (or developing into
these new markets). The buildings already erected on this site all meet High
Environmental Quality standards. With its twin slag heaps, an iconic symbol of the Lens area and the former mining
basin, the 11/19 base in Loos-en-Gohelle is a perfect example of how an industrial
wasteland has been reclaimed for other purposes. Still used for the mining industry
as recently as 1986, it is now a reference site for sustainable development and the
dissemination of culture in the region. The 1,800 square metres of buildings have been
rehabilitated according to high environmental quality standards (ground-coupled
heat exchanger, photovoltaic sensors, systems for managing the water supply, natural
lighting, etc.) for use as business premises and already house some organisations dedicated to green industries.The REGAIN building, in the Artois-Flandres industrial zone in Douvrin (one of the largest industrial areas in the Pas-de-Calais, totalling 460 hectares) is one of the first low energy buildings north of Paris to provide premises for businesses. It was designed according to high environmental standards for energy efficiency and
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use of eco-friendly resources (bio-climatic design, use of eco-materials, optimised use of storm water, hygrothermal and visual comfort for its occupants, indoor air quality, etc.) It was built as part of the European program Interreg IVB REGAIN (for reducing the greenhouse effect through alternative industrial estate management in north western Europe).
A great place to liveContrary to the clichés commonly associated with the Nord-Pas de Calais region, the Artois has many assets which make it a great place to live. Just ask one of the many foreign investors who have
chosen to locate their businesses here! In addition to its stunning architecture (the belfry and citadelle of Arras are UNESCO-listed heritage buildings), the region boasts some major sports venues such as the Bollaert stadium in Lens and the covered stadium in Liévin, enviable golf courses in Anzin-St-Aubin and Olhain, the Canadian memorial in Vimy and the Notre Dame de Lorette necropolis, Arras Fine-Arts Museum, the wonderful Louvre-Lens or the Michelin-starred restaurant of the Château de Beaulieu in Busnes. There is no end to the delights the Artois has to offer!Its massive appeal is illustrated by the many French and foreign tourists that flock there all year round. They include many British, Belgian, Dutch, German, Australian and New Zealand visitors seeking to follow one of the four ‘trails in memory of the Great War in the Nord-Pas de Calais’.
Business parks
The REGAIN building
info - november / december - 53
r e g i o n s & c i t i e sBEAMBITIOUS,
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a WIde RanGe oF oPPoRTUnITIes
The financial highlights below are derived from the financial statements for the year ended 31 december 2014 that have been approved by the directors and audited by Byrne Palmer & co.
RevIeW oF BUsIness
2014 was a good year for the French chamber. The overall turnover of the chamber increased by over 6% as compared to 2013 and the chamber’s surplus after tax in 2014 amounted to £11.8K.
TURnoveR 2014: +6.4% £2,082K vs £1,956K In 2013
Turnover from membership subscriptions increased by 6.6% as compared to 2013.The events and Publications departments increased their turnover by 25.9% and 2.1%, respectively.The turnover of Business support services increased slightly in 2014 (+0.3%). Within Business support services, the total of increases in turnover of Business consultancy, Implantation/domiciliation and Recruitment services has compensated for the disappointing turnover of the Incubator, which has since taken off.
TURnoveR IncRease+6.4%
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
020142013
£k
Business Support Services782
Publications131
Events 336
Member subscriptions833781
267129
780
833
336
782
131
TURnoveR By caTeGoRy
Publications
Events
Business Support Services
Members subscriptions
40%
40%
37.5%
37.5%
16.2%
6.3%
6.3%
16.2%
Cost of sales: 11.9% of turnovercost of sales has increased from 10.5% of turnover in 2013 to 11.9% in 2014.
Expenditures: +5.5% (£1,842K vs £1,747K In 2013)expenditures have increased by +5.5% (+£96K) as compared to 2013, with the main increase being wages that have increased by +£82K - including two new permanent positions.
RESERVES: £801K as oF 31 deceMBeR 2014, eQUIvalenT To neaRly 5 MonTHs’ oF TURnoveR
By Nicolas RibolletTreasurer of the chamber
FInancIal ResUlTs
ReseRves as aT 31 deceMBeR 2014+£801K
neT sURPlUs+£11.8K
These financial results are the outcome of the continuous support of members, partners and sponsors of the chamber in 2015.
They are also the reflection of the continued hard work and commitment of the chamber’s staff and managers.
Publications
Events
Business Support Services
Members subscriptions
40%
40%
37.5%
37.5%
16.2%
6.3%
6.3%
16.2%
LONDON BRANCH
Patron Members of the French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain
44
PaTRon MeMBeRs
LONDON BRANCH
Patron Members of the French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain
45
Ne w l o g o f o r t h e fr e N c h ch a m b e r o f gr e at br i ta i N
French chamber of Great Britain lincoln House, 300 High Holborn, london, Wc1v 7JH
t: +44 (0) 207 092 6600 - [email protected]