Monthly Newsletter
June 2020
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Dear Friends of the BABC,
This time last month we were hopeful that the shelter-in-place restrictions would gradually start to ease and that we could slowly start to return to a new normal. In many parts of the Bay Area we have seen things start to ease with curbside pickup, childcare and personal services opening up and next week in San Francisco we will see most indoor retail, outdoor dining, summer camps etc. start to open too. The hope of a return to normal is certainly very much alive.
However, since last month a different and more significant hope has emerged; the hope that society can recognize the racial inequality that exists in this world and that we can come together to fight racism. The horrific death of George Floyd at the hands of police brutality just weeks ago has prompted increased social pressure against racism. Black Lives Matter. George Floyd’s life mattered.
Our commitment here at the BABC is that we will do our part to support the fight against racism and inequality by continuing to collaborate, respect, understand and learn from other’s insights and experiences to contribute to the betterment of society. We will continue to partner with our members and our community to promote these values. We believe that race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socio-demographic background, health, well-being and disability should not affect how people are treated.
Thank you to all of you who have renewed your memberships, many of you have done this months in advance of your renewal date. We really appreciate your support and could not get through this without you. Thank you also to all of you who attended our virtual events over the past month. Here’s a quick review:
- We hosted our first ever member only happy hour, which was such a success we are hosting another one this evening. We will be joined this evening by Alan Mackay, CEO of Premier Member Werqwise (who normally hosts our in-person happy hour!), for a lightning speech on the future of the workplace.
- We joined forces with AACC and held our annual Brits (& Aussies) in the Bay event discussing all things Immigration, International Tax, UK Pensions/Superannuation and more from an esteemed panel. Having received such overwhelmingly positive feedback we are making the recorded event available to our network here.
- We held what was an extremely unique event, A Virtual Wine Tasting Experience with Penfolds led by Penfolds Fine Wine Ambassador Charlotte Rawa. Attendees were guided through a tasting kit and even “zoomed in” with one of Penfolds’ wineries down under!! We are delighted to share a recording of this event also!
Moving forward our calendar is still as vibrant with not only our own events but those of our members and we look forward to sharing details of such like as our Annual YP Great British American Pub Trivia going virtual! Those of you who attended the BABC Christmas Party in December 2019 will remember the
Jane Blonde and the Goldfingers Band
who played at the After-Party. They kindly invited me and Jo Healey to guest on their recording of Livin’ on a Prayer. You can see the video here
Livin' on a Prayer
They subsequently asked me to play on a couple of other videos including
Just What I Needed
which I hope you enjoy watching as much as we enjoyed making them. There will be a few more to follow too!
Returning to the matter of COVID-19 we have been provided with guidance about UK COVID resources, FTA negotiations and UK Global Tariffs by the Department for International Trade. This information will be permanently housed in the BABC News & Policy Updates. You will find this on our homepage and under the News> BABC News menu on our website where it will remain as
a featured article
.
Finally, we had to say an early farewell to our BABC Intern Abbie Lowery as a result of the uncertainty COVID brought in early March. In the 7 months that Abbie was with us she made many friends and contributed significantly to the BABC office and broader community. We were sorry that we were not able to give her a proper send-off but would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her valuable time at the BABC and wish her the very best in her future.
We hope you and your loved ones are all safe and well, and continue to be
Very best regards,
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Stephen Wares, CGMA,
BABC President &
VP Business Development,
CCW Business Solutions
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From The Consul's General's Desk
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Dear BABC Members,
As we head in to June, we face an incredible mix of issues, none of which I would have ever predicted. Let me start with the most immediate: the killing of George Floyd was appalling, and the underlying issues it exposes are deeply saddening. The issue of racial inequality is one we all need to tackle and peaceful protests are a very important part of a free society. Racial injustice is not confined to just one country. We can help as individuals – including by talking about concerns, and by speaking up when we see or hear things that aren’t right, among other actions.
Beyond the protests, we still face the challenges surrounding coronavirus. While we are seeing numbers of cases reducing, governments locally, nationally, and internationally are doing their best to reopen economies safely.
In the UK that means easing of stay-at-home orders, while reopening businesses and encouraging people to get back to work. It also means new rules for travellers to the UK. Our advice remains to avoid all nonessential travel, but if you do need to travel be aware that residents and visitors will be required to
self-isolate for the first 14 days upon return
.
These updates are short-term changes, and I want to assure you our work continues to find a long-term solution to Covid-19, which includes supporting vulnerable countries. On 4 June, the UK hosted the first Global Vaccine Summit to raise funds for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The virtual event successfully raised $8.8 billion to fund immunisations that could affect 300 million children in the world’s poorest countries. The UK pledged $2.03 billion over the next 5 years.
More so, Gavi is repurposing its health systems grants and made $200 million available to help countries strengthen their health systems in response to Covid-19, which includes virus surveillance, and purchasing protective equipment for health workers. To find out more about how you can help visit
https://www.gavi.org/
And as always I encourage you to look after yourselves and your loved ones.
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Andrew Whittaker,
HM Consul General
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ON-DEMAND WEBINAR
Brits and Aussies in the Bay! - on Immigration, International Tax, Pensions /Superannuation and More
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This event was held last Thursday for the BABC & AACC communtiy. The event included 15 minutes of networking among attendees after a panel-only in view discussion on Navigating the US immigration laws (especially these days!), understanding the taxation system, establishing your credit history, and oh, what to do with those UK Pensions and Australian Superannuation funds that you left behind?
Relive the event through our recording.
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ON-DEMAND EVENT
Virtual Wine Tasting Hosted by Penfolds
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The British American Business Council Northern California, in partnership with the Australian American Chamber of Commerce, held this Virtual Wine Tasting hosted by Australia's iconic Penfolds wine on Wednesday, May 20th, 2020.
Led by Charlotte Rawa, Penfolds' US Fine Wine Ambassador, the Penfolds Experience was a rare opportunity to taste and interact during this live-streaming event. Guests were also joined by a Penfolds winemaker, live from Down-Under!
This was a truly unique event that we are delighted to now share with the BABC
Community.Penfolds is offering a discount on their wines.
Clic
k here
to learn more and use
BABCAACC
code to receive a discount on Penfolds wine
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BABC Member Happy Hour & Virtual Networking
BABC MEMBERS ONLY EVENT - REGISTRATION CLOSES AT 1PM TODAY!
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Date: Wednesday, 10th June, 2020
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The best thing about the BABC is its members, and we can't wait to "see" you all soon! Join us for this fun and engaging virtual networking session for our BABC Northern California members.
Feel free to come as you are, bring a beverage of your choice, and be ready to meet new people and connect with old friends!
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BABC Young Professionals
The Great British-American Virtual Pub Quiz 2020
in Partnership with BBS
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Date: Thursday, 25th June, 2020 Time: 6.30PM - 8PM
In partnership with our friends at the British Benevolent Society (Link), the BABC Young Professionals are delighted to bring you our annual Pub Quiz virtually!
Register to join us on June 25th at 6.30pm for what is sure to be a fun evening with members of both organizations. If you are not a member or our organizations, consider joining to support us ! 😊
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Virtual Community Partner Events
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Scottish Online Variety Show
Monday, June 15, 2020 7.30 PM - 9.30 PM
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A special night of music, entertainment and a teeny bit of business. They miss you all and to help gather everyone together online, they are hosting a great night of music, including a fun sing-a-long, some amazing fiddle music by our local and incredibly talented musicians from the Peninsula Scottish Fiddlers, and a fabulous performance of Scottish songs by the acclaimed Sara LeMesh (soprano).
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FREE Webinar Events hosted by our Members
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London Tech Week's #LTWConnects
9th-12th June, 2020
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On 9-12 June, London Tech Week is delivering #LTWConnects, a series of virtual sessions championing the power of tech through conversation, knowledge sharing, and connections in areas including the future of HealthTech, the investment landscape and resilience in leadership.
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Virtual Events from our fellow Chapters
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2020 Global Trade Conference
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Wednesday, 24th June, 2020
12:30pm – 5:00pm BST
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The Great Birmingham Chambers of Commerce invites you to the online Global Trade Conference taking place on Wednesday 24th June, 12:30pm – 5:00pm BST.
This exciting conference will concentrate on resuming international trade post Covid-19 with keynote speakers, international discussions and online networking. The conference is taking place as part of a whole week of international events that are all free of charge to attend.
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2020 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Hosted by Corporate Member 2020 PGA Championship
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2020 PGA Championship Rescheduled for August 3-9, 2020
The PGA Championship at Harding Park in August of 2020 will be the first PGA Championship to be staged in San Francisco.
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CHARITY PARTNERS IN NEED OF YOUR SUPPORT
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British Benevolent Society
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All About That Bass(ist) – The Quarantine Sessions
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We’re looking forward to the day we might eventually come out of lock-down, but we still have some Quarantine Sessions videos left. This one was a lot of fun playing and “getting into character” for.
1 bass player. 4 bass guitars. Many disguises.
#7 All About That Bass(ist)
If you missed our earlier 6 videos
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DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS? SEND THEM TO US!
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During this difficult time, the British Benevolent Society continues to drive our mission of providing support and practical information to our community. We are hosting a question and answer session with a California based British doctor who is working closely on the Covid19 pandemic. Please submit any healthcare questions about the Coronavirus that you would like answered. We will share the full interview in the coming weeks as a BBS podcast.
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Venture Capital Future Fund for Innovative Companies
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May 20, 2020
The government’s £500m Future Fund opened for applications on Wednesday 20 May to help innovative and high-growth British businesses to secure investment during the coronavirus. Information as of Wednesday 20 May 2020 at 12pm UK.
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Phase II: Revise in Order to Thrive
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In our three-phase series, Survive to Thrive, we outline specific steps you can take to prepare, re-position and take advantage of emerging opportunities to accelerate your business through the current economic downturn.
Our
Phase I: Survive
article, we laid the foundation with a 7-Step crises management process to help you weather the initial storm. In upcoming articles, we will introduce you to Phase II: Revise (in two parts).
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A message from Corporate Member Intercontinental San Francisco
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The InterContinental Hotels of San Francisco are prepared to assist you and your clients when they’re ready to book there next meeting. Click on any of the Mindful Meetings Guide buttons below to see what each of our hotels are doing. We have updated Standard Operating Procedures, Virtual Tours set with physical distancing, Complete F&B Packages with individually prepared menu items and new Virtual or Hybrid event capabilities. Most importantly, we are offering Zero Attrition and Zero Cancellation fees through March 31, 2021. We can’t wait to welcome you back!
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Dan Lyle | Rugby: How Global Cooperation is Needed to Bring Our Sports Back
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In this week’s Erickson Immigration Group
Immigration Nerds
podcast, we talked to Dan Lyle, an American former rugby union player and current director of AEG Rugby. We talk about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on international sports, and what a win would look like for teams and their fans in the future.
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Now Live: Capital Thinking – Our Blog Providing Global Public Policy Insights
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Dear friends and colleagues,
We are excited to introduce you to the new
Capital Thinking
blog – developed by our multidisciplinary global Public Policy Practice to provide you with an indispensable source of information to support your business and policy priorities.
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BAB NETWORK NEWS
The latest news from the BAB Network
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BAB COIVD STATEMENT: COVID-19/Coronavirus Updates and Resources
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The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented moment for the transatlantic business community that we are proud to represent. This is a crisis that is impacting almost every aspect of our live, a time for decisive and impactful action.
Both the United Kingdom and United States Governments have made resources available to businesses and households during this time to enable them to keep operating.
On our website you will find more information on these resources and how you or your business can access them.
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Thanks to our Renewing BABC Members
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ACCA is the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body.
We believe that accountancy is vital for economies to grow and prosper, which is why we work all over the world to build the profession and make society fairer and more transparent. We have more than 198,000 fully qualified members and 486,000 students worldwide. They’re among the world’s best-qualified and most highly sought-after accountants – and they work in every sector you can imagine.
Organizations know and trust our designation. We’re out there every day, connecting with businesses large and small, governments, educational establishments and opinion formers. We’re on top of emerging trends, legislation and legal requirements, helping to shape them.
Because of all this, we’re able to create the innovative, strategic-thinking finance and accounting professionals our fast-changing world needs.
We’ve built partnerships throughout our history – they’re central to our ability to deliver our qualifications and services internationally. Through our global network, students can study for the ACCA Qualification all over the world.
Here in the USA, we maintain personnel in four cities to provide services to our membership; partner with top ranked local universities to develop the next generation of finance leaders; and further the profession focusing on issues related to Talent, Trade and Technology.
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Cooley is widely recognized as one of the premier firms counseling public and private technology companies. High-growth companies choose Cooley. From upstarts armed with little more than a disruptive business model to well-established multi-billion dollar public companies, we guide clients through uncharted waters and the most complex and unique legal and business issues. We represent more than 5,000 private company clients and serve as primary corporate counsel to over 140 public companies. Our clients include some of the most established names in technology today, including eBay, NVIDIA Corporation, Snapchat, Tableau Software, Uber and Yelp, to the leading technology names of tomorrow.
The Billion-Dollar Startup Club: Cooley is legal counsel to 35% of the US companies listed on the Wall Street Journal Billion Dollar Startup Club.
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For more than 30 years, SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ: SIVB) and its subsidiaries have helped innovative companies and their investors move bold ideas forward, fast. SVB Financial Group’s businesses, including Silicon Valley Bank, offer commercial and private banking, asset management, private wealth management, brokerage and investment services, funds management and business valuation services to companies in the technology, life science and healthcare, private equity and venture capital, and premium wine industries.
Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, SVB Financial Group operates in centers of innovation around the world.
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If you pay tax in the US and the UK, we are the smart, tax-effective way to achieve greater impact with your charitable giving.
CAF American Donor Fund Benefits are –
- Claim eligible UK and US tax relief on all your giving worldwide, including 25% through Gift Aid where applicable
- We’re the leaders in offering philanthropy services for dual UK and US taxpayers.
- You’ll be supported by our teams of specialists in the UK and US, as well as a network of nine offices across six continents.
- Established over 90 years ago, we support over 250,000 individual donors and 73,000 charities in 100 countries.
- Potential to grow your social impact by investing your fund.
- Online access allows you to stay in touch whilst on the move; view balances, transactions, request donations and check investments.
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Florin Pensions LLC is a US based investment advisory firm specialising in providing UK pension transfer and investment advice to people in the US with UK pensions. With only British expatriate advisers working at Florin, we are well placed to help our clients make sense of their UK pensions and provide local advice on how to manage them before and during retirement. As part of our service, Florin provides a complimentary review of a person’s existing UK pension(s) to provide a better understanding of it and determine whether a pension transfer could be of benefit. Florin is headquartered in San Francisco, but has advisers also located in New York and Florida. For further information on Florin’s services, please contact Charles Cockerton, Director.
ccockerton@florinpensions.com
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At Inspire Business Law Group, PC we pride ourselves on developing a unique relationship with each client, we take the time to thoroughly understand our clients’ industry and its drivers, and proactively develop a legal approach to meet their business and legal objectives.
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Since its launch in 1998, OFX (previously US Forex) has grown to be one of the world’s largest online foreign exchange companies. As one of the world’s leading online foreign exchange services, OFX offers seamless 24-hour access to corporate and private client dealers for all our customers. OFX employs a blend of cutting edge technology and superb customer service to bring a better deal to corporate and private customer alike.
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INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
Wallace Poulter
Nichola Barber
Stacey Archbell
Peter Woodhouse
Preston Gordon
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YP MEMBERS
Meredith Sellers
Sean Anderson
Jessica Clancy
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WITH THANKS TO OUR SUSTAINING
PATRON & PREMIER MEMBERS
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MEMBER TO MEMBER OFFERS
See the perks of being a member
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One of the benefits of memberfship in the BABC Northern California is the opportunity to access Member to Member Only special offers and hot deals. To learn how to access codes and instructions, log in to your BABC Account and click on the Offers and Deals button.
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Discounted Short-Term Housing
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Safe, clean, comfortable places to stay at reduced rates.
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Off Best Available rate on hotel reservations
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Off
food and beverage when event booking
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SAVE $60 on Print/Digital 1 Year Subscription & $35 on Digital Only Subscription
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Receive a 20% discount on all WowDolce Catering orders
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Free trial offer to BABC Members
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Try
DocuSign
eSignature FREE for 30 days
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British American Business Council | (415) 296-8645 | info@babcsf.org | www.babcsf.org
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