here - British Polish Chamber of Commerce

Britain in PolandBPCC – Looking Forward, Looking Back – 20 years of bilateral cooperationwww.bpcc.org.plTable of ContentsAmbassador InterviewBritain never left, but Britain is back ...........4Chairman InterviewChairman with a global perspectivesees major opportunitiesfor UK firms in Poland .................................................620 Years – An OverviewBPCC builds future on past foundationsand powerful alliances .....................................8–20UK–Poland tradeUK now Poland’s 2nd largest exportmarket........................................................................................ 24UK IndustriesTech City, Silicon Roundabout,and British fashion ......................................................28Recent Events......................................................................32Policy GroupsBPCC policy groups address concerns ofmembers...................................................................................19CEO InterviewsCEO: We have retraced our steps andgone back to the things that we are good atdoing .............................................................................................21Polish Entrepreneurs in UKScottish salmon farms bought by Polishentrepreneur ...................................................................... 34Henryk Strzelecki, founder of HenriLloyd, awarded title Honoris Causa .......... 36Major UK Investors in Poland .........................38Cartography of cooperation – a map....22–23BPCC Members .......................................................40–41Events Calendar for 2012 .......................................32BPCC Board .......................................................................... 43BPCC Staff .............................................................................. 43BPCC Patrons20th Anniversary Partners

Ambassador InterviewBritain never left,but Britain is backAmbassador Barnett talks about the EU’s missinggrowth agenda, Poland’s need for deregulation, and hisrole to bring British businesses closer to Poland.the EU’s growth agenda. Britain and Polandessentially agree on the way forward: withgrowth, and an economically-liberal, deregulatedand digital single market”, Barnett said,with a clear emphasis on the word growth.“And the EU must improve its internal competitiveness”,he said, with additional emphasison internal.In the position of Ambassador of the UnitedKingdom to Poland since July 2011, RobinBarnett is on a mission to put Poland firmly onthe map in the minds of British businesses.“Poland is still a country under development andoffers great opportunities for UK businesses”,said Ambassador Barnett. “I intend to spend acertain amount of time in England, but also inthe regions – Scotland and Wales – talking to thegreat SMEs about the potential in Poland”. Hesaid Britain “needs to be doing better” in Poland,and that the combination of the reinvigoratedUK Trade and Investment and close, constructivepartnership with the BPCC will yield results.The UK has a large trade deficit with Poland –and Barnett plans to change that. “I would likethe trade deficit to be zero”, adding that concertedactivities in the UK to promote exportsto Poland should have the desired effect.Despite less than 12 months in the post,Ambassador Barnett has longer ties withPoland, starting with his first assignment toPoland in 1982 in the midst of martial lawas Second Secretary. Another three-yearstint followed starting in 1998, as DeputyHead of Mission. Prior to his July returnas Ambassador, he served four years asAmbassador in Romania. His focus on the regionis broader than just Poland. He is directorof a region stretching from Poland to Bulgaria,including Austria and Croatia. “I’m not only interestedin bilateral ties, but also in the broader“emerging Europe”, with its obvious differences,with potential for UK businesses”, he said.“We want to build on the close strategic partnershipthat we have with Poland – we havesimilar views on a wide range of subjects, andwe need to be working closely with Poland onBarnett said that he wants to support Britishbusinesses that are already here, and to encouragethose that are not yet here to see the potentialin Poland, as well as its role as a steppingstone into markets further east such as Russiaand Ukraine. “My focus is get people to comeand take a look at Poland. And not just Poland –but look at the whole emerging Europe region.”Conceding that some British businesses hadbad experiences in the early 1990s, he wants toencourage UK business to give Poland a freshlook – and says the clear pattern of growingUK exports in this region is a clear sign of thepotential.He said that barriers to business need to beidentified and addressed. “We have no problemworking with other countries to help improvethe overall business environment. It’s nota zero-sum game – we will all benefit as Polandgrows and improves its business environment.”4 Britain in Poland

Ambassador Interview“We also are keen to encourage more Polishinvestment in the UK”, adding that the UK’sTechCity initiative (cultivating an IT sector inLondon’s East End) is an “exciting opportunity,and we see small companies from Polandthat realize it’s a big opportunity”. He saidthat Polish firms could benefit by having R&Doperations the UK – “we are Europe’s R&Dleader.”Concerning Polish exporters to the UK, hesaid “a few names from the Polish food sectorsee opportunities in the UK. Some wouldgo down a storm in Harrod’s”. The UK isindeed the second largest export market forPoland, moving up from fourth position in2010. Poland has even greater potential inworld markets, says Barnett. “I see no reasonPoland can’t join us in places like India, withhuge opportunities”.“UKTI has undergonea radical re-shaping –I helped write the newUKTI strategy – andwe know that exportingis key to drivinggrowth. We knowfrom research thatcompanies that are exportare more innovative, more profitable,and more efficient”,Barnett said.While the EU struggles with future funding issues,which means “fewer EU-funded projects”for Poland, Barnett believes that there can bemore scope for PPP (public-private partnerships)projects. “Poland’s need for PPP willgrow”. He cited an example of a hospital project,with the participation of a UK company, inthe town of Zywiec.The Ambassador clearly laid out the prioritiesof his office and the potential for British businessesin the following fields:Services. UK services are already well-representedin Poland, and will continue to have opportunitiesto grow, including professional serviceproviders like law firms, consultants, estateagents and accounting firms.Energy sector. “We are interested acrossthe board. Two particularly exciting opportunitiesare in the Poland’s civil nuclear programmeand shale gas. The UK has a fantasticPoland and the UK need to beworking closely on the EU’sgrowth agendatrack record in the nuclear industry – you doknow that British regulators led the team intoJapan”. And regarding shale gas, Barnett saidthat while American companies get most of theattention related to shale gas, “BP and Shell aretwo of the biggest shale gas companies in theworld. And UK-based 3Legs Resources was thefirst company to flare gas in Poland.” He added,in a delicate reference to his cross-Channelrivals, that the UK has no objection to the techniqueof shale fracking.Retail. “It’s clearly a very important sectorin Poland, with huge demand for quality products.Fashion, too, as consumers purchasingpower grows. And there are tremendous opportunitiesin the food and drinks sector –there’s been big growth in demand for Scotchwhisky.Health care and Pharmaceuticals.AstraZeneca and GSK have been investing substantiallyand see the potential in the market.Defence and security. “In the short-term,I would highlight security – Poland needs allkinds of security, including logistics. The UKremains very competitive in the defence sector”.Barnett said that efforts to draw British businessesto Poland, and Polish business toBritain, are boosted by their work with “enablers”– bankers, lawyers, accountants, etc.“We are pairing up with banks, building societiesand accounting firms to expand our reach.Yet we face a terrible problem balancing interests– some more innovative businesses say wemust boost our presence on social networkslike . But there are others who want to discussthings over a cup of tea and talk directly abouttheir issues.”Barnett applauded the Embassy’s working relationshipwith the BPCC: “We have a powerfulpartnership with the BPCC, and we have a veryconstructive relationship here in Poland”Britain in Poland 5

Chairman InterviewChairman with a global perspective seesmajor opportunities for UK firms in PolandUnlike previous Chairmen of the British PolishChamber of Commerce, Alan Jarman, who tookthe reins in January 2010, doesn’t have decades ofexperience working in Poland. And this just may bethe key factor in driving the BPCC to its next level ofdevelopment in today’s international, interconnectedglobal business environment.Jarman joined the Board in June 2009, andbrings a wealth of experience working in arguablythe world’s most international bank HSBC.Prior to his appointment as Chief ExecutiveOfficer of HSBC Bank Polska SA in June 2009,he served as Chief Executive Officer for HSBCWales, UK. His career at HSBC spans 24 yearsand includes direct experience in 10 countries.issue that needs to be addressed”, said Jarman,adding that “the UK has a long way to go to improvethe trade balances with Poland. “I am keento consolidate and unify the British communityin Poland in a wider sense to sell Britain, and tohighlight the potential of Poland in the UK. Thosebusinesses that are here now know its potential,but outside it is still not known so well.”He is also intent on building powerful alliances.“We are working extremely well with the Embassyand UKTI, and I hope that British companies willrecognize and appreciate our efforts. We wantthe goals of the BPCC to be aligned with those ofthe UK – building stronger bilateral trade.The BPCC’s various Policy Groups, now numbering11, also have a role to influence governmentpolicy, said Jarman.“I see Poland and the UK being natural allies inEurope. Together we are the two largest economiesin Europe outside the Eurozone.”His perspective is clearly global, and he believesPoland faces critical decisions – and opportunities– based on the country’s very-successfuldevelopment to date.“Poland’s economic success has bought it a“ticket to the game”, said Jarman, “and thechallenge now for Poland is what will Polanddo from this position – there are tremendousopportunities in Asia, there’s work to be doneto improve Poland’s World Bank ranking, andinternationalisation of business is gatheringspeed”.“The progress of the Polish economy has beenextraordinary over the last 20 years, and all ofthose players involved along the way should beproud of its development”, he said.He intends to have the BPCC play a pivotal rolein Poland’s development over the next 20 years.And is focused on improving the bilateral tiesbetween Poland and the United Kingdom, aswell as raising the profile of Poland amongbusinesses in the UK.“Poland has a trade surplus with Britain that islarger than with any other country, and it’s an“Poland’s economic successhas bought it a “ticket to the game”With his goal “to make the BPCC Poland’s leadingbusiness organisation, and represent membersneeds”, he said that British concerns needto be addressed to the Polish government.“Trade flows are going in the right direction,but Britain’s presence in Poland isn’t growingas fast as in other countries, because Britishbusinesses are typically focused on biggermarkets, such as the BRICS, Asia and theUnited States – often for understandable culturalreasons.”He and the BPCC have talked to the governmentabout Poland’s poor showing in the recentWorld Bank “Ease of Doing Business” ranking(Poland ranked 62, worse than Panama andArmenia). Poland scored particularly badly onresults concerning building permits and the taxsystem. “So far we’re pleased with the government’sreception to our suggestions.”6 Britain in Poland

Chairman InterviewAlan Jarman wasappointed Chief ExecutiveOfficer of HSBC Bank PolskaSA in June 2009 after havingserved as Chief ExecutiveOfficer for HSBC Wales,UK. With a career at HSBCspanning 24 years, Alanhas direct experience in 10countries/markets, as wellas indirect experience of afurther 25 countries/markets.At HSBC Bank Polska S.A.Alan Jarman holds fullbusiness responsibility forGlobal Banking & Marketsand Commercial Banking.He also oversees supportfunctions: Operations,Finance, HR, Marketing,Strategy & Planning.An Associate of the CharteredInstitute of Bankers, Alan waseducated at LoughboroughUniversity in the UK. Heis interested in currenteconomic and political affairs.He is dedicated sports fan,particularly golf, football,rugby and cricket. He ismarried and has a son.When prodded for additional suggestions of whatPoland could do to develop faster, he said: “A simplething would be to make English the second languageof the country, to encourage a much strongeruse of English in all parts of the economy”, referringto the examples of Sweden and Holland, whichhave strong English-language skills and competeand trade competitively in global markets.In terms of the Chamber, it too faces competitionand must constantly adjust. He said therole of the Chamber is changing – “you can’tjust connect members, then otherwise we arecompeting with social media.” He sees a needto modernise the Chamber and update itsmeans of communication.One of the direct results is the introduction of“British Week”, a week-long celebration of allthings-British,including a vintage car rally andBritish Motor Show, featuring iconic Britishbrands such as Rolls-Royce and Bentley. The weekcomes just ahead of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee,the Euro 2012 Football Championships and theLondon Olympics. British Week also includesevents such as “Food of the Isles Business Blender”,a Trade & Investment Conference, and a BusinessBreakfast meeting with Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, aswell as an invitation-only VIP event for CEOs.In addition to the existing offices in Krakowand Wroclaw; Jarman said there is growingI see Polandand the UKbeingnatural alliesin Europe.demand for representation in the TriCity area.He also plans to lead road shows around theUK, including in Manchester and Leeds, with afocus on manufacturing opportunities.The BPCC recently held an event in Scotland,and plans include Wales, where Jarman spentyears as CEO of HSBC Wales. “Last year, wehosted Jan Rostowski in London, and we willrepeat a similar event in 2012, an event whichis being organised by UKTI.He said that approximately 80% of major UKbusinesses in Poland are members of BPCC,and he wants to improve the number.Referring to plans for the next three to fouryears for the BPCC’s development, he commentedsoberly on the challenges ahead forheavily-indebted economies. “One needs tolook at the context of the crisis that we arein. We are only half-way through. Economieshave to address the debt situation. We recognisethat the BPCC’s members need assistanceand help addressing their problems.”“Poland is a good story: it’s a strong and stableeconomy and strong, stable democracy. We arefocusing on development in areas in which theUK has an advantage, such as services, agrifoodsector, clean technology and energy, as well asdefence and security.”Britain in Poland 7

20 Years – An OverviewBPCC builds future on pastfoundations and powerful alliancesFew at that time would havepredicted that just 20 yearslater Poland is selling morethan £ 7 billion of productsto the United Kingdom, inthe process generating anettlesome trade deficit of £ 3billion in Poland’s favour.The story of the development of the BritishChamber of Commerce, which is the subject ofthis magazine, is intertwined with the story ofPoland’s extraordinary development from doghouseto top of the European Union’s growthleague tables.“We used to spend Thursday evenings at thePink Club,”, said Nicholas Fielding, one of thefounders of the British Chamber of Commercein Poland. “And those of us involved agreedwe should have a Chamber. Mike Corbett, theBritish Attache at the time, took the initiative toinvite British companies to the “British CountryClub”, which was a house in Praga with its mainattractions being a bar and squash courts.”Tom Brass, head of KPMG at that time, agreedto become Treasurer and Frank Jackson becamethe Chamber’s first Chairman. Fieldingtook on the role of honorary secretary (and remainedsecretary for 20 years). He said that“the three of us sat down and worked out a planof action. The first task was the creation of alegal structure. I contacted the Association ofBritish Chambers of Commerce, and got theirapproval to use the name.” The original namewas “The British Chamber of Commerce inPoland”.During the last months, we have had the pleasure and the privilegeof entertaining Baroness Thatcher, His Royal Highness PrinceCharles, Lord Lawson and the Lord Mayor of London. These visitsto Poland are indicative of the growing awareness of the importanceof this country in European business and politics. The changesthat are being made here are traumatic to almost all concerned,fraught with uncertainty… and they are throwing up countlesscommercial opportunities for those with the capital and fortitude tograsp them.It is therefore encouraging to see the membership of this chambergrowing, an indication that the British are here, investing in thisnew economy. The spirit that created the Empire in the last centuryis not altogether lost!Yet the economy is in a shambles, and will remain so for manyyears to come. The politics are not much better. Both however areunder treatment and the prognosis is good. The shout of chaos wasmade in 1990, but fortunately, no one let slip the dogs of war, norwill they.The Chamber has striven to provide a network of self-help betweenits members, the British companies active in Poland… Our paid-upmembership is currently 67 companies… The Chamber is here toserve and advance the cause of our members…“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers… Gentlemen inEngland now a-bed, Shall think themselves accus’d they were nothere” – (Henry V).– An excerpt from the first letter of Frank Jackson, Chairman of the newly-formedBritish Chamber of Commerce in Poland, published in the first edition of Contactmagazine, July 1993.Continued on page 98 Britain in Poland

20 Years – An OverviewThe next step was to attract British companiesto join as members, and many decided to join,said Fielding. Brass was succeeded early onby the next head of KPMG, William Drysdale.And Frank Jackson was succeeded as Chairmanby Jan Kluk, then head of ICL. “Jackson andFielding invited me to join”, said Kluk, whosubsequently served two additional terms, fora total of six years.Kluk’s first job was to recruit BarbaraStachowiak, who took on the role of BusinessDevelopment Director – and de facto executivedirector. These were the first steps in convertingfrom a “club” into an organization.“Both Jan and Barbara were very committedand loyal and they made a great team. Jan hada tremendous impact in his five to six years atthe helm”, said Fielding.From the beginning, the Chamber set out todeliver services to British businesses comingto Poland. Under the direction of Jan Kluk andBarbara Stachowiak, the goal shifted subtly towardssupporting trade and investment activitiesgoing in both directions – essentially initiatingthe strategy that the Chamber continuesto this day. The name change – to the “BritishPolish Chamber of Commerce” – was meant toreflect the now-bilateral nature of the Chamber.Frank Jackson – Chairman, 1992-1993I visited Poland in 1986, identifying aninvestment opportunity in 1987. Myvisits became increasingly frequentas I negotiated with GovernmentMinistries to develop a JV with agovernment agency. This was anextraordinary time in Poland’s history– many in Government werekeen to form new relationships withWesterners, but few knew how to doit. I was in a similar position. It was adifficult time, requiring extreme patienceand insight on both sides.Michael Corbett, British Embassy Commercial Attaché was mystrength and mentor, without whom I would never have succeeded.I moved to Warsaw in 1989. It was difficult to establish a business,the British Embassy was very supportive. I was their first privatesector investor and they trotted me out to meet visitors. Many ofthese functions were held at Mike’s home, where he had a parrot. Onoccasions when visitors overstayed their welcome, the parrot wouldbe released to fly in, perch on a chair, shouting “here’s yr hat, wotsyr hurry?”HM the Ambassador eventually approached me to work withMike to initiate the Chamber. The first meeting was held in theBritish Country Club. The rest as they say, is history!“This was another of many unsung moves thathave boosted the influence of the Chamber inboth directions”, said Fielding, adding that “thesuccess of the Chamber has been that it deliversgenuine value to its constituency. It has alsoalways been self-sustaining financially. And allthe staff and board recognize the importance ofboth goals.”Fielding: “And we have always had a veryloyal group of patrons.. One must hand it toContinued on page 10Britain in Poland 9

20 Years – An OverviewStachowiak-Kowalska, “and it all seems veryidealistic, but it’s also true. That’s why I wasable to work round the clock.”The Chamber’s first office was in the same buildingas Nick Fielding’s office – and was a 1½room flat on ul. Krolewska. “Our first mobiletelephone – we were one of the first companiesin Poland to get a mobile phone – was about thesize of your laptop”, said Stachowiak-Kowalska.“I never imagined that I’d be at BPCC for solong. I came to Poland for just a year; but it wassuch a privilege and I definitely felt the value ofwhat we were doing – it was a great feeling connectingpeople. The other thing that kept meso long at the BPCC was the freedom to developservices as and when needed by our members”,she said.She added that “because we received no governmentfunding, we had to run it as a smallWorld Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business” IndexContinued on page 12Continued from page 9these large companies that have supported theChamber – their financial contributions haveresulted in a strong organization.”Stachowiak had come to Poland in 1992, andjoined the chamber in 1993. She met Klukvia ICL, where she was teaching English lessons.“One reason I was invited to help runthe Chamber was that I had already formed anAnglo-Polish business club in the UK, and we invitedJan Kluk to come to the UK to speak. Theclub had grown from 18 to 200 people within justone year – before I came to Poland – with thefirst meeting in my one-bedroom maisonnette.”“Barbara was instrumental all the way”, saidone early member.“Frank left as Chairman soon after I joined,but we had our first event at the Bristol – itwas dinner; there was no room for a dance.And we started the magazine in 1993”, saidStachowiak-Kowalska.“It was a real privilege to have contributed ina small way to Poland’s development, throughmaximizing all these British links”, saidEconomyEase of DoingBusiness RankStarting a BusinessDealing withConstruction PermitsGetting ElectricityRegistering PropertyGetting CreditProtecting InvestorsPaying TaxesTrading AcrossBordersSingapore 1 4 3 5 14 8 2 4 1 12 2Hong Kong SAR,China2 5 1 4 57 4 3 3 2 5 16New Zealand 3 1 2 31 3 4 1 36 27 10 18United States 4 13 17 17 16 4 5 72 20 7 15Denmark 5 31 10 13 11 24 29 14 7 32 9Norway 6 41 60 12 8 48 24 27 9 4 4United Kingdom 7 19 22 60 68 1 10 24 13 21 6Korea, Rep. 8 24 26 11 71 8 79 38 4 2 13Iceland 9 37 34 1 11 40 46 35 81 3 11Ireland 10 13 27 90 81 8 5 5 21 62 10Australia 15 2 42 37 38 8 65 53 30 17 17Germany 19 98 15 2 77 24 97 89 12 8 36Japan 20 107 63 26 58 24 17 120 16 34 1Taiwan, China 25 16 87 3 33 67 79 71 23 88 14Lithuania 27 101 47 81 7 48 65 62 28 15 40Portugal 30 26 97 34 31 126 46 78 26 22 22Israel 34 43 137 93 147 8 5 59 10 94 45Cyprus 40 33 78 96 123 78 29 37 19 105 23Spain 44 133 38 69 56 48 97 48 55 54 20Slovak Republic 48 76 50 102 10 24 111 130 95 71 35Luxembourg 50 81 33 63 134 150 122 17 31 1 49Hungary 51 39 55 103 43 48 122 117 74 19 66Poland 62 126 160 64 89 8 46 128 46 68 87Czech Republic 64 138 68 148 34 48 97 119 70 78 33Italy 87 77 96 109 84 98 65 134 63 158 30Enforcing ContractsResolving Insolvencyhttp://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings10 Britain in Poland

AtkinsAtkins started business in Poland in 1992 originallyto support the pre-accession funded national motorwayand road building improvement programme. Atthat time the eventual direction of the business developmentwas unclear given the uncertainties aroundhow the infrastructure would be developed as Polandprepared to join the EU. However, it was clear, eventhen, that there were considerable opportunities forbusiness growth and we had the foresight at that earlystage to join the newly formed BPCC.In those early days one of the key objectives was tobenefit from the shared experiences of others trading inthe new Polish market economy and Atkins were activesupporters of the Chamber. Indeed, a former ManagingDirector of Atkins Polska, Aleksander Granowski, was aBoard Member (between 2005 and 2008) and led theBPCC PPP & Infrastructure Group at its foundation.Atkins has remained supporters of the BPCC throughoutand has seen the Chamber increase in influenceable to actively promote the interests of British companiesthrough events and conferences creating contactswith public sector bodies and Ministries.Over the years Atkins has responded to theevolving market, being particularly active in thetransportation and energy markets and in supportinginward investment particularly in the retail andpetrochemical sectors, developing an engineeringdesign, contract administration and environmentalconsultancy capability. BPCC activities have beenimportant to this growth through the many eventsAnniversary Partner Profilethat have exposed market opportunities and the contactscreated through forum and conferences all ofwhich we have benefited from.Strategy going forward: Looking forward Atkinssees considerable opportunities coming in the transportationand energy sectors. The need to improvethese areas of the national infrastructure is obvious– the issues revolve around timing. However, wefully anticipate that major projects in those areas willemerge during the next 5–10 years.BPCC’s ongoing role: Of course the trading environmenthas changed markedly over the last 20years with more sophisticated buyers and moremature contracts. There is still a need, however forBritish companies entering Poland to be cognizantof the particularly requirements to be met in respectto Polish Procurement Law and here the Chamber isable to provide valuable support in imparting adviceto support the success of new British entrants.Steve Novis, Managing DirectorAtkins has been operatingin Poland since 1992, andhas been a Member of theBritish Polish Chamberof Commerce since 1993.We have over 150 fulltime professional staffand a multi- disciplineengineering capabilitydelivering high qualitytechnical and managementservices to clientson complex projects.Atkins Polska is backedup by the Atkins Group,an international engineeringconsultingcompany with 17,000staff worldwide operatingacross all areas of thebuilt environment.Atkins Polska is focusedon the transportation,energy, commercial &retail and environmentalsectors.Tel. + 48 22 246 07 00Managing Director:Steve Novisemail:atkins@atkinsglobal.plwww.atkinsglobal.plBritain in Poland 11

20 Years – An OverviewContinued from page 10business.. We were 100% focused on givingvalue for money, and providing services to ourmembers. And ensuring that the business wasviable. But as a nonprofit, we didn’t need togenerate profit but we had to cover our costs.”According to the Chairmen and members andstaff with whom we spoke, part of the BPCC’s continuedsuccess has been its focus on maintainingclose cooperation with the British Embassy. “TheChamber has always maintained excellent relationswith the British Embassy in Warsaw and thePolish Embassy in London, and both Embassieshave extended good will and very real support tothe Chamber”, said Fielding.Yet occasionally, different opinions of theBPCC’s strategy surfaced, as in any organization.The BPCC has becomefinancially strong and isappreciated by both Polishand British businesses,who believe in the needfor a strong support ofthe bilateral businessrelationship.Direct lobbying has not been part of theChamber’s agenda, unlike the AmericanChamber, which clearly embraces the initiative.“The Chamber has never been about lobbying– as a core part of its being – and rightly so. Idon’t think it’s the role of a foreign-led institutionto lobby the Polish government. But deliveringadvice is fine”, said Fielding. “There hasContinued on page 12Jan Kluk – Chairman, 1993-2000Jan Kluk was brought up in the UK, and movedto Poland in 1979. One of his first ideas was relatedto Invicta Plastics, maker of “Mastermind”.“I wanted to make the electronic version ofMastermind in Poland. A bit later, I discovered aBritish company called International Computers(ICL), and became country manager in 1980.“There were not a lot of fun things going on inPoland at that time. One day I was listening tothe radio, and then it was interrupted by GeneralJaruzelski announcing martial law. I looked outof the windows and saw tanks and barriers andsoldiers – so I tried to call the British Embassy,but the telephone didn’t work, so I started to walk to the Embassy. I was frisked andchecked along the way but got through.”“Since “everyone else” was leaving, I decided to stay, thinking I’d have a uniquedifferentiation. I started trading spare parts, and later sold my first computer – toGUS around 1989. It was a ME-29 mid-range computer, and that was when it allstarted.I created the first big manufacturing JV between Poland and Britain. At thetime, Poland had “compensation trading”, sort of a barter-like system. We startedexporting Polish furniture, then buying computers to import. I wanted to createa money-machine; and we sold 23 medium-sized computers in one year, as Icould sell in zloties because of the compensation-trading system. But it all endedwhen Leszek Balcerowicz made the currency convertible. (The furniture companyFurnel was later sold to Forte.)Kluk was also involved with Softbank’s establishment – ICL owned 51% of it,and Aleksander Lesz 49% – and the company was later sold.On the BPCC: “BPCC created a sort of credibility for what we were doing andbecame a point of reference for British trade. At the same time, we were havinglots of meetings in the UK to bring businesses to Poland. The whole objective ofthe BPCC was to help British companies come in. We hired Barbara Stachowiczto run the operations. She was at the time teaching English at ICL. We started tobuild the foundations of the BPCC.“I was always optimistic about Poland. I was always interested in the transfer oftechnology into multi-cultural environments and management training. At thetime, we helped train managers in how to privatise companies. We were doing alot of things – also helped Kozminski start his school, which has now become auniversity.The significance is that closer countries, like Germany, were natural partners,but we wanted the UK to have a major trade relationship.“My function was entertaining and giving “fatherly” advice about doing businessin Poland. I met thousands of people, and I’m proud of developing 350 membersby the year 2000. The Chamber should be funded by membership, and eventswere “cherry on the cake”. We were considered the best chamber in Poland at thetime.Since then, the Chamber has become much more sophisticated. We were operatingon a shoestring, but we started annual events like the Annual Ball.OBE: Most of the Royal Family has visited Poland, and the Duke of Edinburghcame with the Queen – her first visit to Poland. The Queen personally awardedme the medal of Order of the British Empire, which was a milestone in my career.Prime Minister Thatcher visited in the early days.Next 20 years?: “The British tradition is about autonomy. I’d like to see localoffices in all majors cities in Poland, that would be self-supporting and supportindustry and the needs of the membership. The BPCC will continue to developservices that the members want – as we are all required to change and adapt as theenvironment changes.12 Britain in Poland

BPQ : Please tell us about your earliest involvementwith the BPCC, as well as some details on how andwhen your firm originally started in Poland.A: First of all let me congratulate you on this impressiveanniversary which almost mirrors our own historyin Poland, where BP started its business in 1991.We have been very proud to develop our business overthe last 20 years from a small sales office to one of thelargest companies in the country. At the very beginningonly lubricants office existed here. First petrol stationopened in Gliwice in 1995. Poland has been a verypromising market for BP Group – we believed in investmentsuccess in Poland and were not disappointed. Weare the leader among foreign oil companies with over430 stations at the end of April 2012, have leading positionin lubricants business under Castrol brand anda number of market leading B2B businesses, includingfuel cards and wholesale.Q : What were your earliest impressions of theBPCC, and its role in uniting British firms operatingin Poland?A: Poland has changed dramatically during the last 20years or so. The appearance of such a chamber as theBritish Polish Chamber of Commerce has been somethingnatural and essential for the Polish economy. Itcreates a platform to exchange experience and knowhowbetween companies with British capital in Poland.I appreciate very much presence the role of the BPCC–we have together influenced the positive developmentof the economic environment in Poland. We broughtBritish roots and experience – and tailored it togetherwith Polish partners and clients.Q : Tell us about the development of BP since that time.A: It has been a very rapid development, and drivenby the growth of the Polish economy during the lasttwo decades. BP has developed its offer, introducedglobal solutions and innovative projects. We as BP haveAnniversary Partner Profilemarked our presence in the Polish economy as beingamong the largest top 15 companies with investmentof almost $1 billion and 12% market share, being alsothe biggest foreign oil company in the market. BP hasalways been an innovative leader in the market, alwaysamong those who can see the potential for new technologiesand solutions – as examples, introducing BPUltimate, constantly broadening BP’s fleet card offer,introducing holograms on BP Gas bottles, compositeLPG bottles, introducing innovative food concepts underthe brand of Wild Bean Café, and leading the introductionof touch less car washes. We have also beenone of the first companies with a loyalty scheme – theBP Partnerclub in 2000 which in 2009 became multipartnerprogramme PAYBACK. BP is also the leader insocial investment – in terms of numbers of partneringorganizations we worked with as well as innovative solutionsbetween NGO’s and business.Q : What are your expectations for BP over the next5-10 years.A: The Polish market continues to offer enoughroom for growth and great investment opportunities.Poland is successfully strengthening its economy andties with the European Union through internationalcooperation, domestic growth and infrastructure investment.As BP we are continuing our growth strategyand are investing in Poland by building new petrolstations and strengthening our existing offer. Weintend to increase our market share and remain theleader amongst foreign oil companies.Bogdan Kucharski, Managing DirectorBP launched its Polishactivities on 17 September1991. Initially, there wasjust a sales office for vehicleand industrial oils. Thefirst service station openedon 5 August 1995 puttingthe company on the roadto becoming the largestforeign service stationoperator in Poland.With an investment ofalmost one billion dollarsand more than threethousand employees, BPin Poland is among thetop 15 companies in thecountry. The head officeis located in Krakówfrom where the companyconducts its multiplesectoroperations acrossPoland.BP Europa SE, Oddział wPolsce – Krakówul. Jasnogórska 131-358 Krakówtel. (012) 619 1200www.bp.comBritain in Poland 13

20 Years – An OverviewDavid Glasgow – Chairman,2000– 2003David Glasgow servedas Chairman for twoyears, taking on therole in a difficultperiod in 2000 asthe Internet and ITbubbles imploded.Glasgow brought inmuch-needed financialmanagement tothe BPCC but membership continued to decline,as companies cut costs and cut back onambitious expansion plans both in Poland andworld-wide. During his tenure, a “Blue Sky”committee was convened as a way to come upwith ideas to improve the situation. It was atthis time that the BPCC concluded that theChamber needed a new strategy “beyond hostingbusiness breakfasts and business mixers”.Continued from page 12always been internal discussions about the lobbyingrole of the Chamber – and I have alwaysbeen clear that political lobbying should be leftto professionals in the field.”Services of the Chamber in the late 1990s primarilyrevolved around events. Stachowiak-Kowalska said: “In the early days, the need fornetworking was that much greater. We wereinternational, which reflected Britain as a multinationalcountry, but we were always associatedwith the “Best of British. In those days, wehad an easier task, because we were connectingpeople in a new foreign environment – puttingforeigners in contact with enthusiastic Poles.”Martyn O’Reilly was the first social secretary ofthe Chamber; and came to Poland in 1997/1998.“We were having meetings and thinking aboutContinued on page 1614 Britain in Poland

Anniversary Partner ProfileBritish Standards Institution Group PolskaStandards impact the lives of everyone.They help businesses to mitigate risk andgrow in a sustainable way, while givingcustomers the assurance that they are receivingproducts and services of the highestquality. BSI is an expert body in the worldof standards and, since its formation in1901, has been working hard to help organizationsachieve excellence in everythingthey do.The Polish branch of BSI was established in January1999, but its activities in Poland started in the early1980s and were related mainly to training courses.We became a corporate member of BPCC in 2006.BSI Group Polska, after 13 years, has over 1,300certified locations and we have trained over 25,000people. The company is still expanding and now has26 staff with nine full-time Client Managers, and cooperateswith over 60 external auditors and dozensof trainers.Q : Tell us about the development of your firm.A: What brought us together were definitely sharedvalues of BPCC and BSI, as BPCC stands for whatis good in British business and culture. Its activitiesalways seek to reflect the Chamber’s British/Polishcharacter in a progressive and lively way whilst upholdingthe highest standards of integrity and qualityin an international environment. BPCC is very successfulin helping BSI in promoting and facilitatingbusiness, building trade and sociocultural relations inand between Poland and the UK through the provisionof top-quality information, know-how, services andevents. We are in close cooperation regarding promotionof best-practices and knowledge through variousBSI training courses. BPCC supports us in many ways,for example as a partner when we were celebratingour 10th anniversary of operations in Poland or whenwe were launching new British Energy ManagementSystem BS EN 16001 (actually ISO 50001).Q : Comparing global, British and Polish markets,what is the future for BSI’s activities in Poland?A: There is of course a wonderful affinity betweenBritain and Poland which has only been strengthenedin recent years. We look forwarding to expanding ourteam here and increasing the range of products andservices that we offer. To do this we need our clients’input on key issues that they are facing, to make surewe deliver more value in future to the Polish market.Knowing as I do how competitive the market is herein Poland, progressive companies can increasinglybenefit from these tools to help them not only survivebut also thrive – now and over the longer-term.Q : How can standards and certified managementsystems help organizations?A: One of the keys to success in the current environmentis for companies and organisations to continue toimprove performance and mitigate risk in a sustainablemanner. It’s not always easy when short-term pressuresare often so severe. Yet excellent companies and organisationsdo this using the standards-based approachpromoted by BSI through the adoption of certified processessupported by training for their employees. In myview this should always be seen as an investment to bemade, not a cost to be saved. Based on business or policypriorities the current situation forces all of us to focuson what we need to do consistently well to satisfy ourcustomers, comply with rules and regulations, and demonstrateour value to society. Whether it is managementof quality, environmental impact, security or continuity,we can all benefit from the adoption of rigorous standardsdeveloped and proven in an international arena.Some say it removes a competitive disadvantage; I saythe opposite. Properly embedded into a business, standardscan be incredibly powerful and be a source of realcompetitive advantage.Joanna BańkowskaManaging DirectorBritish StandardsInstitution Group is anindependent certificationbody, providingindependent third-partycertification of managementsystems. BSI alsoprovides product andservice certification. As atraining provider, offersa wide range of coursesregarding standards,management systems,business improvementand regulatory approval.www.bsigroup.plBRINGING OUT THEBEST IN YOURORGANIZATIONBRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTIONWe are a global provider of management services, with more than 120,000 locations and clients in over 150 countries.Working in partnership with us, our mission is to help you bring out the best in your business by enabling you to: create competitive advantage through improved performance create value with sustainable business practices minimize disruption through effective risk management.For more information on how we can help visit: www.bsigroup.plraising standards worldwideT: +48 22 330 61 80 F: +48 22 390 40 70 E: infopoland@bsigroup.comBritain in Poland 15

20 Years – An OverviewContinued from page 14what we could do to make things more interesting,so we started a miniature “Scottish Night”.I got roped into doing cultural things, mostlybecause I’d wear my kilt and talk about WestHighlands whisky. We introduced BPCC businessmixers – a direct result of going to theEmbassy and getting just two drinks. It startedin the Pink Club”, he said. O’Reilly said hecame to Poland for “just six months, but Warsawgrows on you. There are very high-calibre peoplehere. That being said, there seem to be 75%fewer expats in Poland than 10 years ago.”“The BPCC as a forum for meeting people hasbeen very useful indeed, and it’s a useful way toswap ideas and discuss how to do things. Butit’s still disappointing the low numbers of investorsfrom the UK”, said O’Reilly.After Kluk’s seven-year stint, David Glasgowwas elected as Chairman in 2000. Glasgowhad come to Poland earlier with Kleinwort andthe UK Government- funded Know How Fund,and had advised Leszek Balcerowicz directly.“David Glasgow had a steady hand; he was aformer helicopter pilot”, said O’Reilly.BPCC 20thAnnual BallOctober 13th, 2012WarsawDavid Thomas – Chairman, 2003– 2010David Thomas served as Chairmanfor seven years, having become theVice Chairman under David Glasgow,who served for two years.The BPCC soon introduced newclasses of memberships. To that time,there was just one type of corporatemembership. The new membershipclasses included a new more-expensive“Premium Corporate” membership.Fees for the larger firms wereeffectively doubled, yet fees for smallermembers were cut in half. “Wedoubled membership in just one year with the new pricing strategy”,said David Thomas.During Thomas’s tenure, the BPCC also moved into new premiseson ul. Fabryczna, moving from a “pokey little apartment with eightpeople working in three rooms”, said Thomas.Membership “continued to boom”, said Thomas, increasing to over500 members in 2009.Martin Oxley joined BPCC during this time as the Chamber’s firstformal CEO, in a push to “run it on a more commercial philosophy”.The BPCC also won back-to-back awards – from the Council ofBritish Chambers in Europe – as the European Chamber of the Year.Thomas has also been awarded an MB for his contributions.Under Glasgow, the BPCC began earnest developmentof its website portal, which hasbeen a frequently-referenced and valuable toolfor British businesses looking at expansion toPoland.At about the same time, the Internet and ITbubble burst, followed shortly thereafter by the9/11 terrorist attacks, presenting new financialchallenges to the Chamber as membershipnumbers declined.Continued on page 1816 Britain in Poland

ProvidentLike BPCC, Provident also celebrates its anniversarythis year, as the Polish part of the business has started itsoperations 15 years ago. It must have been challenging,but also rewarding time here in mid-90s. Back then, Ithink, British investors strongly needed support from anorganisation like BPCC, which played an important rolein integrating British and Polish business environments.I also assume that for some investors the presence of theChamber in the relatively newly-established democracy,as Poland was then, was sufficient reason to get interestedwith this market. For Provident, the challenge waseven greater since Poland was the very first overseasmarket for the company. Today, I can say that we passedthis exam better than one could have ever expected asProvident is now an established business, serving over834 customers, employing 2,400 people and cooperatingwith almost 9,000 agents across the country.I think that for my colleague, Stephen Ford, who wasProvident’s first CEO, responsible for developing thebusiness from scratch, BPCC must have been a very“uplifting” place. A place not only for exchanging informationand setting business contacts, but also recharginghis own batteries. I can easily imagine thathaving been responsible for setting up a new businessin a new market, was not only a great honour, but alsoan enormous and stressful project. Thanks to BPCC,it all could be easier for Stephen and his colleagues.That’s why Provident has been investing in cooperationwith BPCC almost from the very beginning. Oneof our CEOs, Mark Bardsley, was Vice President of theChamber for several years. Tradition continued andnow I’m Board Member of BPCC.Before Provident, the concept of home credit didn’texist in Poland. Over 15 years we have served 3.5 millionindividuals and developed a business model that ishighly valued by our customers. 90% of the current customerssay they are “very satisfied” with our offer.Anniversary Partner ProfileProvident’s greatest asset is the relationship with customersthrough network of company’s representatives.We are a community-based lender, because agents area part of an environment in which they work. That’swhy we understand customers needs and expectations.We believe in sustainable growth for years to come. Inmid-term perspective we are going to have one millioncustomers in Poland. Most of all, we will concentrate onoffering even better service to our customers. Thanksto our good insight of customers needs and flexibilityto adapt to market, technological and social changes Ibelieve in bright future for our business also in a longtime perspective.Today, no one doubts that Poland with its stabledemocracy, robust economy which belongs to 50world’s largest economies, solid legal background,talented and very well educated population offersnumerous opportunities for business and is a greatplace for foreign investors. During the last global crisis,Poland proved that it could get by with challengeseven better than some more mature economies.That’s why I am an optimist and assume thatProvident will go on to develop in a sustainable way,which will result in achieving one million customerswithin a couple of years.David Parkinson, President of the Management BoardProvident Polska S.A.is a part of an internationalfinancial group– International PersonalFinance quoted on theLondon Stock Exchange.The company providesits services to customersin six countries: Poland,Czech Republic, Slovakia,Hungary, Mexico andRomania.In Poland Provident hasbeen operating since1997 and it is the biggestdivision of InternationalPersonal Finance group.The company specialises inissuing fast loans with thehome service option.Provident Polska is afounding member of theConference of FinancialCompanies and Employersof Poland, member of PolishConfederation of PrivateEmployers Lewiatan, amember of the ResponsibleBusiness Forum, a memberof the Volunteerism Centreand a member of the BPCC.The company is involved inmany social initiatives andit undertakes such activitiesas the national volunteeringprogramme “Tak!Pomagam” (Yes! I do help)and „Akademia RodzinnychFinansów” (Academy ofFamily Finance)www.provident.plwww.csr-provident.plBritain in Poland 17

20 Years – An OverviewContinued from page 16Glasgow was succeeded as Chairman in 2002 byDavid Thomas, who went on to serve till 2009.Martin Oxley became the Chamber’s first formalCEO at this time, as Thomas planned to “run it ona more commercial philosophy”. In an effort toboost membership, new membership categorieswere created, as well as professional trainings, andthe Annual Ball. Membership numbers reversedcourse and started to grow again.According to Fielding, the efforts at building theBPCC organization culminated in “prize afterprize”, when David Thomas and Martin Oxleyreceived accolades, including from COBCOE.On the BPCC’s future: “The globalmacroeconomic situation over thelast four years has not been great,and it looks like the economy willnot get much better in the nextfour years. So survival is not amodest goal – and we’ll continueto go on providing useful servicesfor our members. Five years fromnow, I’d like to see the BPCC doingsubstantially the same – deliveringvalue to its members, with a strong,committed staff. That would beenough for me. – Nicholas Fielding.“We developed a strong membership base withmembers paying a commercial rate to be amember”, said Thomas.But the world continued to change. And memberscontinued to demand more relevant services,and not just events.“Today, the networking side is competitive inWarsaw, and mostly taken care of. Yet BPCCevents always attracted a top-level clienteleContinued on page 2018 Britain in Poland

BPCC policy groups addressconcerns of membersThe BPCC has ten policy groups that meet regularly todiscuss issues of concern to foreign investors present in thePolish market. Meetings are organised in such as way asto ensure open dialogue between members and to involvethe participation of the relevant Polish public sectorrepresentatives. BPCC members may attend the policygroup meetings free of charge.Food policy groupWhatever the economy is doing, people need to eat!Agri-food represents one of the most important sectorsof business when it comes to UK-Polish trade. The newBPCC Food policy group brings together producers andretailers as well as all those who provide services suchas marketing, certification and logistics to the agri-foodsector. The group will also be getting together withministers, regulators and other government officials.Inaugurating the group’s work in Kraków in March2012, the first meeting (about own-brand or privatelabelfood) was attended by over 30 firms from the sector,the voivode of Małopolska Province and the deputypresident of UOKiK, the consumer protection regulator.Forthcoming meetings will look at functional foods andclaim substantiation, regional specialities and labelling.The group’s members favour a self-regulatory approachwhich, if wisely deployed, will forestall legislative interventionssuch as a so-called ‘fat tax’.Telecoms, Media and Technology(TMT)This policy group addresses the many regulatory issuesthat affect many businesses in this sector. Theseinclude the amendments to the law on radio and television,intellectual property, advertising, as well asissues surrounding software systems and legal regulation.Hardware and software, content, telecoms infrastructureand intellectual property are discussedat the meetings and everything that impinges onthese subjects such as public procurement of TMT.Public Private Partnerships (PPP)The PPP policy group was the first such group set upby the BPCC, back in 2004, and was created to engagewith key public sector stakeholders and to ensure deliveryof public infrastructure by the private sector. ThePPP Group serves as a platform for dialogue betweenthe Government, parliament, national/internationalexperts in the field and the private sector. Members includeconstruction companies, consultants and lawyersand project financiers, many of whom have had directexperience of working on PPP projects in Poland orabroad. The BPCC is keen to see PPP take off as a formof financing and managing projects, and has organisedmany meetings with local authorities around Poland topromote UK best practice in this area.Public Procurement policy groupPublic Procurement policy group is aimed at seniormanagers from international businesses that bid forpublic-sector tenders in Poland, and also at lawyers andMichael DembinskiPolicy Groupsconsultants specialising in the field to speak freely aboutproblems encountered with the public procurement processin Poland and to draw up suggestions for improvingprocedures and transparency to Polish policy-makers.Human Resources policy groupThe HR policy group aims to promote active employmentpolicies and standards as well as influencing public policymakers to implement modern solutions in labour legislation,drawing on international best practice. Recent meetingshave focused on ethical employee monitoring in theworkplace and how work with Generation Y as its representativesbegin entering the labour force.Healthcare Policy GroupThe healthcare policy group works to enable thedevelopment of holistic healthcare reform and exchangeknowledge and experience with nationalcounterparts. The group supports the Ministriesof Health, Finance and the Economy as well as theparliamentary health committee. UK best practice isoften called upon at these meetings, attended by representativesof pharmaceutical companies, privatehealthcare providers and advisory firms.Clean Technology policy groupThe CleanTech policy group discusses the developmentand implementation of technologies that will enablebusinesses to contribute profitably to the protectionof the environment and climate. The group’s focus isrenewable energy, environmental protection and sustainabletechnologies; shale gas (in that it is a cleanertechnology than coal!) is also a subject covered by thegroup’s deliberation, despite being a fossil fuel.Transport, Infrastructure& LogisticsThe BPCC’s existing Rail policy group has been expandedto look more broadly at the infrastructure sector toinclude road, sea and air transport. The logistics sectorwill now have a group which will hold regular meetingswith representatives of government agencies, state railwaysand ministries. The latest meeting discussed theEurope-wide projects such as TEN-T as well as structuralfund operational projects and how these mightlook in the EU’s budget perspective for 2014-2020.Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) Policy GroupThe CSR policy group actively promotes best practicein corporate behaviour and its effects on the socialand natural environments. The group offers a learningopportunity for BPCC members and a platformfor voicing ideas to the Government and local authorities.The aim is to create a better understandingof CSR and to ensure that Poland becomes a CSRfriendlyeconomy.Tax and Finance Reform PolicyGroupThe Tax and Finance Reform policy group, the firstpolicy group set up by the BPCC back in 2003, isfocused on deregulation, taxes and social insurancepayments. The group’s aim is to influence and improvethe functioning in the Polish tax system, targetingbarriers to investment, business growth andemployment. Ministry of Finance representativesfrequently participate int he group’s meetings. Atthe most recent one, the issue of online tax returns– and the obstacles wider usage of e-tax forms wasdiscussed in detail.By Michael DembinskiBritain in Poland 19

20 Years – An OverviewContinued from page 18and CEOs. Many of the CEOs in early dayswere foreign, but now many of them are Polish”,said Stachowiak, who was awarded MBE (Memberof the Order of the British Empire) for services toBritish business.Under Thomas, BPCC started thinking of servicesthat the Chamber could provide to members,and many new services were introduced – someof which continue to this day, others which werecancelled. The BPCC started to introduce trainingprograms, in such areas as tax, and employee issues– and these trainings have evolved into the BPCC’scurrent-day Policy Groups.The BPCC also introduced a large AnnualConference, “which brought the BPCC an incrediblyhigh-profile”, said Thomas, adding that the event attractedMinisters from the UK.And most all of the Royal Family has visited Polandthe BPCC, including the Queen, Edward, PrincessAnne, and Prince Charles.The BPCC has been recognised by other foreignchambers as a model of success, and many chambershave often consulted with the BPCC about howto run a better chamber.In 2009, Alan Jarman was elected Chairman, andhas been swift to make his mark.“The BPCC has been very fortunate in attractingvery strong chairmen – each with a strong vision –and the chairmen in turn attracted great and dedicatedstaff. And we have found, over the years, thatthe combination of a strong chairman and greatstaff is the right formula for making it work”, saidFielding. “The overwhelming view of most peoplethat I know who connect with the Chamber is that itis and has always been professionally run by a competentteam.”Jarman brought in Joe Tunney as CEO in August2011. Tunney has a strong background in financeand accounting, and 20 years experience working inPoland. Jarman and Tunney intend to hone theirfocus on CEOs as their primary membership focus.“We want to increase the level of confidence amongCEOs in the BPCC”, said Tunney, who says that reinvigoratingthe Policy groups is one way to do this.And Jarman says he is “keen to consolidate andunify the British community in a wider senseto sell Britain. Poland has a trade surplus withBritain that is larger than any other country,and it’s an issue that needs to be addressed.”20 Britain in Poland

CEO InterviewCEO: We have retraced our steps and goneback to the things that we are good at doingTunney, with deep experience running financialand accounting operations in Poland, is alsocelebrating his 20th year in Poland. The post isTunney’s first in position of CEO. “I’m enjoyingit, it’s a completely different role as CEO, and I amgetting involved in all areas of administration andpersonnel issues – as well as formulating strategyfor the Chamber.”As a former “client” of the BPCC, the shoe isnow on the other foot. “I was always aware ofBPCC but never went to meetings. Being in finance,I didn’t see that the BPCC could addressany issues that we faced. We instead were usingtop tax and legal advisers.”He said there has been a subtle yet steadychange of focus since he joined. “I think the focusof BPCC has changed and it’s testament to AlanJarman and the BPCC Board, and what they havedone over the last 18 months”.That sharpened focus is clearly aimed at CEOsand increasing their confidence in the Chamber.“We are now trying to swing the focus more towardsthe needs of the CEO; we believe that if weget the engagement of the CEOs, then the rest oftheir companies will follow.”“There’s been a refocus: we have retraced outsteps and gone back into the things that we aregood at doing”, Tunney said.Part of that strategy refocus is on reconstitutingand reinvigorating the Policy Groups, as wellas alignment with UKTI. “We’re making somesubtle changes in these areas”, said Tunney. AtUKTI, the BPCC has a strong ally in Martin Oxley,who is now running UKTI from Warsaw. “MartinOxley was the previous CEO and did a great job atBPCC”, said Tunney.“We intend to further align closely with UKTI’sfive key areas of focus”, said Tunney, these areasalready overlap with those of the BPCC. TheIn August 2011,Joe Tunneytook on therole of ChiefExecutiveOfficer,succeedingMartin Oxley,who wenton to runUKTI withinthe BritishEmbassy.Joe, a proudYorkshireman, hasworked in financepositions since 1971 in awide variety of industrysectors, including expresslogistics, automotivecomponents, light industry,toys and softwareconsulting and projectmanagement. In his longcareer, he has worked forcompanies as diverse asFederal Express, Fisher-Price Toys, QuintonHazell, GlaxoSmithKlineand Janssen-Cilag. Since1992, he has lived andworked in Poland, holdingsenior finance andboard positions in theinnovative pharmaceuticalindustry. During thattime, he has been throughmost categories of businesschange – hostileacquisition, takeover,merger and reorganisationsand downsizings.In the little spare timethat he has, Joe cooks,appreciates fine wine andfollows sport, especiallyhis beloved ManchesterUnited.newest policy group of the BPCC is its Food PolicyGroup, which partially aims to get more Britishfood exported to Poland.“Initiatives like the Food Policy Group are intendedto get more exports from UK to Poland,and change the perception in Poland of Britishfood”, said Tunney.“Yet we are a bilateral chamber, so we also wantto see Polish companies expanding to the UK. Wewant to see Polish companies – with support ofUKTI – thrive in the UK.”“By organising focused events, we hope wecan get more UK exports to Poland. For example,we are doing “road shows” to the UK, focusingon the bilateral aspect of trade; and our recenttrip to Scotland was very successful. Theevent was bilateral in nature, and focused onPolish entrepreneurs in the UK, to help themgrow their business.”Yet Tunney emphasised that the BPCC is not agovernmental institution. “We survive from ourmembership. And we’ve changed the types ofmemberships – reflecting the different needs ofour members. The needs of SMEs are differentfrom big corporates. And members benefit fromthe quality of other members.”“But we still must remember that manymembers also want to have fun – it is not ourraison d’etre, but people enjoy it. Our event inOktoberfest in Wroclaw is a great annual event,and the recent screening of the “Iron Lady” waswell-received. The vintage car rally-race shouldalso be popular.Regarding membership and money, Tunneysaid that “since things have changed, with companiestightening their belts, we see less sponsorshiprevenue. So the goal has been to adjust by focusingmore on growing the membership”.“Our aim to get all of these iconic British firmsback in as members, and we think both partieswill benefit, because the more serious players wehave, it has the benefit of helping get more seniorgovernment officials to pay attention to us. Weare taken quite seriously by top officials, and recentpositive comments by Deputy Prime MinisterPawlak reflect that.”Along the same lines, the BPCC is part of an alliance,started a few years ago, IGCC (InternationalGroup of Chambers of Commerce), which aims toattract more senior politicians by joining forceswith other Chambers in Poland.“We have very good crew of people here, andI’m very, very confident with this team”, saidTunney.Britain in Poland 21

Cartography of cooperationScotlandUnited KingdomBelfastNorthernIrelandWalesGlasgowLeedsCardiffBristolLondonEnglandPopulation:62.3 millionGDP per capita:$36,090GDP growth (%)in 2011:0.8%Total GDP:$2.25 trillionExports (2011):from UK to Poland:GBP 4.3 billion22 Britain in Poland

Cartography of cooperationPoland38.1 million$20,3344%$500 billionfrom Poland to UK:GBP 7.1 billionWarsawLublinBritain in Poland 23

UK–Poland tradeUK now Poland’s 2nd largest export marketThe United Kingdom has moved up from fourth placein 2010 to become Poland’s second largest exportmarket at year-end 2011. On the back of strongdemand for Polish food, automotives, and commoditiesfrom UK consumers and industry, Poland now countsthe UK as a more important export market than France.Only Germany is a bigger export market for Poland.Polish food to the UK, the statistics count Tescoexports as Polish exports. “Trade figures arenot black and white”, he said. Nevertheless,Barnett said he would like to see the trade deficit“reduced to zero”.The pace of growth of Polish exports to the UKis clearly visible in the adjacent chart and becameparticularly dynamic after Poland’s accessionto the EU.In 2011, the most important categories ofPolish exports to the UK were food (up 21.5% to£ 819 million), automotive (up 102.5% to £ 565According to official British trade statisticsfor 2011, the value of Poland exports to UKincreased 17%, while bilateral trade exceeded£ 11.4 billion, up 16 percent. Poland exportsto the UK products exceeded £ 7 billion, whilethe value of British exports to Poland exceeded£ 4.3 billion, an increase of 14%.While the numbers point to a large trade deficitin Poland’s favor, closer scrutiny of thetrade suggests a less unbalanced relationship,according to Ambassador Robin Barnett. “Thetrade deficit number is a very crude measure”,said the Ambassador, explaining that while alarge British firm such as Tesco has investedsubstantially in Poland, and now exportsTrade between UK and PolandSource: UK Trade Info, HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics2011 £bn 2005 £bn1 USA 398 1 USA 3092 Germany 325 2 Germany 2303 Netherlands 236 3 France 1994 France 222 4 Ireland 1635 Ireland 178 5 Netherlands 1276 Belgium/Lux 163 6 Belgium/Lux 1147 Italy 100 7 Spain 1078 Spain 97 8 Italy 889 China 93 9 Switzerland 5010 Sweden 63 10 Dubai 4711 India 57 11 Sweden 4612 Switzerland 55 12 Japan 3913 Hong Kong 58 13 Canada 3314 Russia 50 14 Hong Kong 3115 UAE 49 15 China 2816 Canada 47 16 India 2817 Japan 47 17 Australia 2618 Australia 44 18 Denmark 2319 Poland 43 19 Norway 2220 Turkey 39 20 Turkey 2221 Singapore 38 21 Singapore 2122 South Africa 35 22 South Africa 2123 Norway 34 23 Russia 1924 Denmark 30 24 Portugal 1725 Saudi Arabia 37 25 S. Korea 1726 South Korea 27 26 Poland 17«UKexportmarkets-------------UKimportsources-------------2011 £bn 2005 £bn1 Germany 505 1 Germany 3922 China 315 2 France 2223 USA 288 3 USA 2224 Netherlands 285 4 Netherlands 2045 Norway 252 5 Belgium/Lux 1526 France 230 6 China 1307 Belgium/Lux 201 7 Italy 1278 Italy 139 8 Norway 1219 Ireland 130 9 Spain 11510 Spain 115 10 Ireland 10411 Japan 89 11 Japan 8712 Sweden 77 12 Hong Kong 6613 Hong Kong 76 13 Sweden 5514 Switzerland 76 14 Russia 5015 Russia 74 15 Denmark 4416 Poland 71 16 Canada 4217 Canada 62 17 South Africa 3918 India 61 18 Switzerland 3919 Denmark 59 19 Singapore 3820 Turkey 56 20 Turkey 3521 Qatar 50 21 S. Korea 3122 Czech Rep. 43 22 India 2823 Singapore 39 23 Austria 2524 Taiwan 35 24 Finland 2425 Hungary 31 25 Poland 2326 South Africa 30 26 Taiwan 2324 Britain in Poland

UK–Poland trademillion), silver (up 75%), and automotive partsand engines (GBP 632 million).Poland is rapidly becoming a more and moresignificant trading partner for the UK, beingnow the UK’s 16th biggest import source (from25th in 2005) and 19th largest export market(26th largest in 2005). The UK imports nearlyas much from Poland as from Russia, and thePolish market for UK exports looks likely to exceedAustralia in 2012.The bulk of Polish exports to the UK (carsand car parts and car engines, pharmaceuticalsand food) are produced in Poland bylarge multinationals. This shows the importanceto the Polish economy of foreign directinvestment, which is frequently invested inmachinery and equipment that “adds value”to subsequent exports. Both the food and furnitureexport sectors, however, are increasinglypopulated with small and medium sizedPolish firms and entrepreneurs, who see exportopportunities in the UK. Poland exportsmore cosmetics to the UK, for example, thanit imports from the UK.Continued on page 26Poland as export base for UK renewable energygroupTorfte ch is but one example of UK firms who have set up manufacturingoperations in Poland, with a focus on exports. The BPCC awardedTorftech, based in Thatcham, Berkshire, as “Exporter of the Year” in spring2011. Having developed an innovative technology for the clean-burn of biowastethrough a system of gasification, the company settled on Poland asits manufacturing base. Over 100 of the bio-waste combusting boilers havebeen built in Świdnica and exported to countries such as Canada, Germanyand Denmark. In June 2011, the first commercial power plant in Polandusing a Torftech bio-waste gasifier will open for business. Torftech’s systemof gasifying bio-waste such as straw reduces CO2 emissions by 92%compared with the burning of coal. The gasifiers produce between one andfive megawatts of power as well as hot water for local housing.The innovations that won the award were all based on a novel methodof processing solids in gas streams invented by Chris Dodson and marketedunder the trade name TORBEDÒ Energy Technologies. These arepatented techniques for use in energy generation, mineral, chemical,petroleum and environmental process industries. More than 160 plantshave now been installed internationally.Martin Groszek, Group Managing Director said: “As a small team wehave worked hard to anticipate the new emerging biomass and waste toenergy markets and to develop appropriate technologies to meet whatwe anticipated to be rapidly growing demands. Our technologies arenow ideally positioned to gain markets worth in excess of £700m forthe applications that we have listed here.”The firm developed the following innovations:a ‘torrefaction’ process for the conversion of biomass into a ‘biocoal’in minutes (instead of 60 million years!) which gives a 92%reduction in CO2 emissions against conventional pulverised coal asa fuel.a novel modular biomass gasification conversion unit for industrialand commercial scale heat and power plant which in Poland, forexample, can reduce emissions by 22m tonnes CO2 annually with a20% market penetration in their heating stations.a novel process for turning paper ‘sludge’ from paper recyclingmills (1 tonne sludge for every tonne of paper processed) into steamenergy for the paper mill and a valuable mineral feed for the cementindustry.a new combustion process for rice husks to provide energy anda valuable amorphous silica as a cement displacement.UK technology selected for first Polishdistrict heating station retrofitIn 2010, the City Thermal Power Plant (MZEC) in Swidnica signed an agreementwith a consortium of companies, MTS Energy Systems, to install a newtechnology that allows the heating station to generate heat from the gasificationof biomass. The cost of this first plant in Europe was nearly sevenmillionPLN. Although the gasification of biomass to produce heat energy is increasinglywidespread, the ‘multi-fuel’ capability to be supplied and installed by MTShas not yet been used on any other heating stations. The MTS Energy Systemsdesigned and constructed the new biomass gasification facility to handle loosestraw and wood chips. It is the first stage of investment in the generation ofelectricity and heat from biomass.“The main objective of the new technology is heat production based on biomassgasification. We want to replace coal with oilseed rape and wheat straw, or woodand wood waste. Through this use of renewable energy sources we will limitair pollution in the city. It will not only be a benefit for residents in the form ofcleaner air, but also a chance to limit price increases for their heating, thanksto this new technology”, said Ryszard Sobanski, President of MZEC Swidnica.Britain in Poland 25

UK–Poland tradeContinued from page 25According to Poland’s foreign investmentagency PAIZ , British firms have cumulativelyinvested nearly $160 billion in Polandup to the end of 2011, placing the UK as atop source of investment capital in Poland.British firms active on the Polish market havebeen profitable, and many (such as Tesco,GlaxoSmithKline, BP or Aviva), reinvesttheir profits in expanding their operations inPoland.Yet comparing the structure of UK FDI inPoland (mainly very large corporate investment)with that from Germany or Italy, witha preponderance of SME investors, British entrepreneursseem to have not seen Poland as agood place to invest; for the owner-managedfirm, doing business in Poland is overly-complicatedand time consuming. “If Poland wantsto attract more FDI from small and mediumsizedfirms from the English-speaking world,it needs to lower the bureaucratic barriers tostarting and growing businesses here,” saidUKTI’s Martin Oxley.On the other hand, many UK businesses lookat investment opportunities on a global basis.“UK investors tend to make global decisions,pursuing opportunities in the United States orIndia, while many of our European competitorstend to focus on Europe”, said AmbassadorBarnett.The Polish market presents opportunitiesfor niche UK businesses, and the fast growthof whisky sales to Poland is testament to thegrowing consumer market in Poland withincreasingly discriminating tastes. Whilestill small, whisky exports to Poland in 2011reached £ 43 million, an increase of 48 percenton the previous year.British Polish trade – by sectorUK exports to PolandCategory 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Y-o-yPetroleum ▲ 108 88 928 238 581 144.1%Medicines 201 326 378 444 404 -9.0%Cars 206 206 151 207 242 16.9%Food ▲ 71 105 101 122 172 41.0%Cosmetics 82 99 125 133 140 5.3%Plant & Eqmt 118 121 83 113 122 8.0%Textiles 68 82 68 84 96 14.3%Elec. scrap 1 24 52 74 53 -28.4%Whisky ▲ 16 22 24 29 43 48.3%Polish exports to the UKPolish exports to the UKCategory 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Y-o-yFood 388 497 562 674 819 21.5%Cars ▲ 266 351 242 286 565 102.5%Silver ▲ 26 40 207 284 497 75.0%Car parts 220 251 206 346 382 10.4%TV sets 269 305 462 482 347 -28.0%Furniture 206 234 230 280 330 17.9%Computers 7 68 207 392 319 -18.6%Car engines ▲ 178 160 173 162 250 54.3%Cosmetics 96 141 189 211 225 6.6%Medicines 35 53 88 128 117 -8.6%Source: UK Trade Info, HMRC Overseas Trade StatisticsPolish export markets2011 2006Country £ bn %share Country £ bn %share1 Germany 288 261% 1 Germany 174 272%2 UK 71 64% 2 Italy 42 65%3 Czech Rep. 68 62% 3 France 40 62%4 France 68 61% 4 UK 37 57%5 Italy 59 53% 5 Czech Rep. 35 55%6 Russia 50 45% 6 Russia 28 43%7 Netherland 48 44% 7 Netherland 25 38%8 Sweden 31 28% 8 Ukraine 23 36%9 Hungary 28 26% 9 Sweden 21 32%10 Ukraine 27 25% 10 Hungary 19 30%Polish import markets2011 2006Country £ bn %share Country £ bn %share1 Germany 369 223% 1 Germany 238 240%2 Russia 202 122% 2 Russia 96 97%3 China 145 88% 3 Italy 67 68%4 Italy 87 53% 4 China 61 61%5 France 69 42% 5 France 54 55%6 Netherlands 62 37% 6 Czech Rep. 35 35%7 Czech Rep. 62 37% 7 Netherlands 31 31%8 UK 43 26% 8 UK 28 29%9 USA 38 23% 9 Belgium 25 25%10 South Korea 37 22% 10 South Korea 23 23%Source: Polish National Statistical Office – GUS & ONS Monthly Review ofExternal Trade Statistics, own FX appr. calulations26 Britain in Poland

Michael Page growingand adapting as themarket changesMember Profileusually not willing to relocate and prefer to stay close totheir families. The positive feedback I receive, from bothexisting and potential clients there, is definitely encouragingme to accelerate this development phase.How has the recruitment/HR business changedin Poland in the last few years, and whattrends do you see for the next few years? Whatfactors are driving these trends?How and when was your firm originallystarted in Poland, and what adjustments youhave made to your original strategy?Michael Page entered the Polish market in 2005, with oneoffice in Warsaw, focusing on finance/accounting andbanking functions (it is managed by Pawel Wierzbicki),from senior managers to board member positions.The very fast development of our Polish operations(reaching the size of 30 consultants in the first 2½years) was slowed down by the Lehman Brothersbankruptcy which created a crisis of confidence in mostinternational companies who decided to freeze theirrecruitment despite the positive GDP growth in Poland.The strategy, which consists of rolling out our specialisationsand geographical locations according to themarket needs – just like we did in the UK and in morethan 30 countries during last 35 years – remains unchanged.The only adjustment was to anticipate the developmentof our second brand, Page Personnel whichfocuses on specialists and senior-specialist positions,to help our clients more efficiently. Page Personnel hasbeen growing very successfully since 2010 under thecommand of Piotr Dziedzic.Both brands have dedicated teams in finance/accounting,sales/marketing, banking/financial services,procurement/supply chain, plus two teams on PagePersonnel focusing on assistant/office support as well asBPO/shared service centres.Tell us about the development plans of yourfirm for the next 3-5 years in Poland.I have a great team in Warsaw that managed to establisha solid position in our historical core businesses, both inMichael Page and Page Personnel. The focus is now todevelop our local offer in other major cities in Poland,starting with the south, Katowice, Krakow and Wroclaw.Radoslaw Szafranski and his team who are settledin Katowice are already working successfully with anumber of important players (international and Polishcompanies) in those cities. Having local offices is key inour business, especially in Poland where candidates areJerome Lafuite,Managing Director,Michael Page PolskaThe recruitment market is much more quality-driventhan it was six years ago. The crisis has consolidatedthe market and the clients, who where spoiled withvery aggressive offers from opportunistic recruitmentcompanies. More than ever, clients are puttingthe emphasis on quality over price.Serious recruitment companies need committed clients.Clients want to commit to recruitment companiesthat can not only recruit but also advise on the position,the organisational structure and its evolution, the salarylevel and structure to attract and retain the right candidate.In this context, the specialised recruitment approachoffers a very good solution.That being said, the recruitment market in Polandis still under development and the percentage of outsourced recruitments is still much lower than in theUK for example.Has your involvement with BPCC had an impacton your firm’s development? Do you specificallytarget foreign or British firms as clients?The BPCC is a very good platform to share ideas andmake business – I personally like the “speed businessmixer” concept – even if I wished there was a betterbalance between the buyers and the sellers among theattendees!Among the BPCC members, more than 50 areclients of Michael Page and/or Page Personnel,and more than 15 are suppliers. Our internationalpresence and British roots have a logical impact onour portfolio since many clients worked successfullywith us abroad and are happy to find out that we canhelp in Poland and in the region too. Warsaw is alsothe regional HQ for our Eastern Europe Region (fromRussia down to the Balkans) which is led by ThibaultLefebvre. A key priority for our group is clearly tostrengthen our presence in the region.What sectors are most important to your business?And how is Poland developing differentlyfrom other countries in the region?Finance/accounting and banking/financial serviceshave been key to our successful start, but sales/marketingand all engineering, production and technologyrelatedsectors quickly became of equal importance interms of revenue for the Polish entities. They are drivingthe growth of the country and we must address a relevantrecruitment solution to each of those specializations.What is really specific about Poland is the BPO/SSC phenomenon. This is both a great opportunity anda major challenge for Poland: the scope of activities ofBPO is widening (from accounting, customer care andIT to purchasing, executive secretary or HR) as well asthe number of foreign languages in demand (Finnish,Turkish, Flemish,etc.). More than ever cities, universities,real estate agencies, professional associations andrecruitment companies must work together.And on a final note, Poland vs England would bethe perfect final of the Euro 2012 to celebrate this 20thanniversary!Britain in Poland 27

UK IndustriesTech City, Silicon Roundabout,and British fashionAmong the many industries thatthrive in Britain, the “creative”industries often are singled out,perhaps because of their potentialfor explosive growth, or becauseof the media’s fascination with theimagery of creativity.named “Silicon Roundabout” -- defined as “theever-growing community of fun startups inLondon’s Old Street area” (home of London’sugliest traffic roundabout). Evidently somethingbig and unreported was happening to theBritish entrepreneurial spirit.Some of these startups, it turned out, wereattracting real money. One of Biddulph’soriginal list, Last.fm, was bought by CBS for$280 million; his own company, Dopplr, wasWhile the UK has a highly-developed financialservices and professional services sectors,among others, much of the attention – bothfrom government policy and private capital –is focused on the IT/Tech sector. British businessesgenerally think globally and that hasimplications and impacts on the level of UKinvestment in Poland.While many European competitors are pleasedto corner a key regional market in Europe,many British firms’ ambitions include Asia,India and the Americas.Below we profile some of the leading lightsof the UK’s tech scene and drop in for BritishFashion Week, since fashion is one of Britain’sbiggest exports.How significant is SiliconRoundabout?vTech City is home to technology, digitaland creative companies. From the originalSilicon Roundabout, an entrepreneurial clusterhas grown up around Shoreditch and OldStreet in East London, extending to reachthe Olympic Park in Stratford. It offers opportunitiesfor innovative businesses of allsizes, from start-ups to multinationals, fromEurope and beyond.The huge and fast-growing scale of London’stech startup boom has been a surprise. Backin spring 2009, a famous Google map createdby software designer Matt Biddulph gatheredtogether 15 firms in a neighbourhood he wrilyUK Trade & InvestmentUKTI was formed in May 1999 as British Trade International, comprisingtwo parts: Trade Partners UK (for export) and Invest UK (for inwardinvestment). In October 2003, the former department name andtwo inner departments merged and became UK Trade & Investment tosimplify the outward recognition of the organisation, and possibly toreduce confusion with the two departments. UKTI reports jointly to theForeign Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills”Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.AimsUKTI aims to “enhance the competitiveness of companies in Britainthrough overseas trade and investments; and attract a continuinghigh level of quality foreign direct investment”.UK Trade & Investment offers services to British businesses wantingto gain access to global markets through export, and foreign-basedfirms wanting to invest in the UK as a base to expand globally. Underagreements with Trade & Investment organisations for Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively, Scottish DevelopmentInternational, Wales Government, Invest Northern Ireland are ableto access UKTI services and provide support for those companies whoare located in their individual countries.StructureUK Trade & Investment is an international organisation with headquartersin London and Glasgow. Across its network UKTI employs around2,400 staff and advisers, including overseas in Diplomatic missions of theUnited Kingdom” British Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates andtrade offices, and regional offices in the nine English regions.UK Trade & Investment brings together the work of the Foreign& Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for Business,Innovation and Skills (BIS). It draws staff and associated administrationfunding from both parent departments, but has its own streamof programme funding, for which the Chief Executive is directly responsibleas accounting officer. The UK “Special Representative forInternational Trade and Investment” Special Representative forInternational Trade and Investment works as part of UKTI to promoteBritish business and produce.28 Britain in Poland

UK IndustriesGoogle recently announced that it was rentinga seven-storey building near Old Street as“a launchpad for new London-based startupsand developers”. The government has pledged£400 million in funding to the local tech economy,although entrepreneurs say it could bedoing much more to help with tax breaks andvisas for foreign talent.Entrepreneurs prefer BritainThree leading UK tech entrepreneurs outlinedwhat 2012 held for them and how the businessenvironment of the UK affects their business.James Meekings, co-founder of FundingCircle, located in Southwark.acquired by Nokia for what was reported atmore than $20 million (£12.65 million); andearlier this year, near-neighbour TweetDeckwas sold to Twitter for around $40 million.How had such a thriving cluster emerged withno coordinated planning, no local StanfordUniversity, no well-established giant Googlesand HPs to train a generation of talent?It turns out that entrepreneurial booms donot need anyone orchestrating them. Whathas happened in London -- indeed, in dozensof other European cities, from Berlin toBarcelona -- is that a bunch of nimble startupshave taken advantage of relatively cheap rents,a critical mass of available programming talent,and just enough outside investment tocreate a mutually reinforcing spirit of risktaking.The buzzword is “ecosystem”: once anarea is known for a few hot startups, it attractsmore company founders, plus the financiers,lawyers and marketers who sense an opportunity.And it helps that there are places they canmeet each other to power-network, or simplyto drink tea.Still -- Shoreditch is no Palo Alto. “Tech City”does not yet have the scale of available investmentof Valley firms such as Kleiner Perkins,nor the entrepreneurial confidence that createdmulti-billion businesses such as Yahoo andZynga. There are, for sure, a bunch of Londontech firms that may one day be sold or go publicat a billion-pound valuation --fast-growth businessessuch as Wonga, Mind Candy and Badoo.And it certainly attracts the international talentthat favours London as a startup base -- whichis why Skype and Spotify are based in Londonrather than in Scandinavia. The city has a distinctgravitational field, global reach and culturaldepth that most places do not.There’s no doubt thatthe birth of SiliconRoundabout is a goodthing. This sprawlingcluster of emergingbusinesses livingside-by-side has createda tech communitythat is second to none in Europe. SiliconRoundabout may well be relatively new, but Ihave no doubt that over the coming years wewill see a number of globally successful businessesemerge from this eco-system – andwe may well enjoy watching these businessesemerge from across the river in our Southwarkbasedoffice. When we moved here, we wanteda location which made it easy to get to meetingsacross London, and was easily accessiblefor our team – all at a reasonable cost. Not aneasy ask in London but we think Southwarkoffers these things. We’ve been here for ayear now and we’re really enjoying it. We’vealso found there’s a good mix of businessesaround us, including a growing number oftech-based businesses. Zoopla and RateSetterare both here so there is an emerging communityright on our doorstep. The phrase SiliconBankside has even been bandied around by afew enthusiasts!Because we mix internet tech and financialservices, which are traditionally two quite disparateaudiences, we think London’s the bestlocation in the world for us.. We also benefitfrom mixing with like-minded businesses inclose proximity, but that alone isn’t a formulafor success. Businesses will be successfulby hard work and dedication, not by a postcode.Our biggest problem isn’t really wherewe should be located, but where has enoughspace to fit our growing staff! I imagine this isContinued on page 30Britain in Poland 29

UK IndustriesContinued from page 29something you may well see the same happenwith Silicon Roundabout too. Businesses growand their priorities change.Simon Hill, Managing Director &Founder of Wazoku an idea managementB2B SaaS business, located in WestLondonOur business is located in West London. It hasbeen a long standing fascination of mine howmuch time is spent in this city talking aboutwhere a start-up should be located. It reallymakes very little difference as a tech businesswhether you are located in a set of narrowpostcodes or somewhere else in this well connected,opportunity rich city. 2012 promisesto be an exciting year for Wazoku. As a B2Bbusiness our customers are global businesses,typically SME’s. We rarely meet them, but onthe occasions we do it is a great experience,Tech CityTech City, which is a UKTI-funded scheme, boasts that there are a millionnew startups in the area, that the area is making both Silicon Valley andthe City quake in their boots, and that the event Digital Shoreditch willbe as big as Austin’s SxSW in four years. Tech City has been involved infour major policy changes --entrepreneurs visas, lifetime capital gains taxrelief, R&D tax credits and most recently the Seed Enterprise InvestmentScheme. The organisation has also fed into decisions such as makingempty Government office space available to startups. There are still lotsof other areas where changes can be made – making it easier for internationaltalent (not just founders) to get visas, simplifying the EnterpriseInvestment Scheme, and creating closer ties between startups and academicinstitutions. Tech City has an annual budget of around £1.7 million.Old Street roundabout and the surrounding area is sometimes known asSilicon Roundabout owing to the high number of web businesses locatedthere, and as a reference to Silicon Valley in California.]Amongst the first technology companies located in the area wereDopplr, Last.fm, Consolidated Independent, Tinker.it, TweetDeck,Berg, Trampoline Systems, AMEE, Skimbit, Fotango, weartical.com,Songkick, Techlightenment, Poke London, Kizoom, BrightLemon,Redmonk, Moo, LShift and vvLivemusic. In 2010 there were 85 startupcompanies in the area.In addition to web companies, several games development firms arelocated in the area, including Sports Interactive.The Tech City Investment Organisation (TCIO) was established inApril 2011 to support the growth of the tech cluster in East London, helpingto make it Europe’s centre of innovation and the location of choice fortech and digital companies and investors. Part of UK Trade & Investment(UKTI), TCIO helps attract new companies and investors to East London,and provides support to Tech City companies.Venture-backed, high-potential companies like Airbnb and Yammerhave landed in Tech City as a result of the support, and Tech City has securedinvestment from leading international technology firms includingGoogle, Cisco, and Intel.and quite a few are located in or aroundSilicon Roundabout. Speaking purely from myexperiences with Huddle and now Wazoku, Ithink our location in London matters, but itsfar more about being convenient for your teamand close to your customers.Graham Cooke, Managing Director ofQubit, located in Soho.As the founder of a UK tech business basedoutside of the fabled Silicon Roundabout(in Soho to be precise), I can confirm thatthere is indeed life outside of Tech City.Whilst I think the whole Tech City/SiliconRoundabout movement has been a positivefor the UK tech scene I, and many otherGreater London-based start ups, would emphasizewhat a great place London and theUK are to do business, whether in Tech Cityor elsewhere. Some of the drivers of theUK start-up explosion (great tax benefits,vibrant e-commerce marketplace etc) aretrue whether you’re based in Shoreditch orScotland – but being based in England makesa difference. In order to get a better understandingof just how significant the UK’s techscene is becoming, the industry and the governmentneed to be thinking of tech city as astate of mind rather than a place of business.30 Britain in Poland

UK IndustriesBritish Fashion Goes GlobalLondon is known for innovation in the fashionworld and this year’s ‘British Fashion Awards’awards highlight further the extraordinaryfashion talents in the city.Harold Tillman CBE, Chairman of the BritishFashion Council, commented, “This year’snominees demonstrate the breadth and creativityLondon has to offer. The fashion brandsand designers that are based here set the trendsacross the globe.”Hosted by George Lamb and Lauren Lavernethe awards ceremony, held in late 2011, celebratedand recognised excellence achievedin the industry this year. The event was attendedby industry leaders, designers, retailers,models, celebrities and media supportingboth the nominees and winners of theseprestigious awards. Attendees included BFCAmbassador Samantha Cameron, Kate Moss,Victoria Beckham, Kate Hudson, Colin Firth,Olivia Palermo, Josephine de la Baume,Marc Jacobs, Lady Amanda Harlech andAlexa Chung.The New Establishment Award’ was introducedthis year to recognise a particular movementin British fashion that is taking the industryby storm. The inaugural winner is ChristopherKane whose visionary designs for his own labelcontinue to lead trends globally, become musthavesfor any fashion credible shoot and essentialsfor all fashion collectors.The Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator’was won by Sam Gainsbury of Gainsbury andWhiting. Gainsbury is a force to be reckonedwith in the creative world; known in the fashionindustry for translating designers’ visionsinto unparalleled fashion experiences. Thisyear she turned her talents to the ‘SavageBeauty’ exhibition which broke all recordsand has been widely recognised as the mostsuccessful fashion exhibition in the world.The Red Carpet’ award went to many celebritiesfavourite this year, Stella McCartney, recognisingthe quantity and quality of her designs wornon the red carpet, creating global awareness inthe media.Victoria Beckham was the recipient of the‘Designer Brand’ award. Her business has afocused growth strategy with each new productrange receiving media praise and achievinghigh levels of sell through. She is her own customerand this insight has created a label withmany loyal followers across the globe.Stella Tennant collected the ‘Model’ award, hertimeless beauty has seen her feature in numerousshows, covers, editorials and major campaignswhich this year included Zara, ReedKrakoff, Etro, Chanel and Celine.The British Fashion Award for ‘OutstandingAchievement in Fashion’, which recognises onedesigner who throughout their career has madean impact on the industry internationally, wentto the inspirational Paul Smith who is a trueicon in the industry for all that he consistentlybrings to the world of fashion.Decided entirely by public vote, the ‘BritishStyle’ award, recognises an individual whoembodies the spirit of the city and is an internationalambassador for London as a leadingcreative fashion capital. Alexa Chung won thisaward for the 2nd year running. This award receivedmore votes than ever before showing theincreasing engagement from consumer audiencesin fashion.Britain in Poland 31

Recent EventsBPCC brings Polish opportunitiesmessage to GlasgowIn March, the BPCC visited Glasgow to meetScottish firms and explain how they could benefitfrom doing business in Poland. The co-organiserswere Santander Bank and the East RenfrewshireChamber of Commerce. Maciej Regula, chief economistof Bank Zachodni WBK (now wholly-ownedby Santander) described Poland’s macroeconomicsituation; the BPCC’s Michael Dembinski focused onUK-Polish trade, and Robert Windmill of Windmill,Gąsiewski and Roman covered the legal points thatUK companies should be aware of when doing businessin Poland.Substantial cross-borderinvestment coming to CEEIn a May seminar held in London, experts said thatCentral and Eastern Europe remains attractive tothe international business community, accordingto the joint business seminar, hosted by UK Tradeand Investment, the UK government’s trade and investmentpromotion organisation and Jones LangLaSalle, the global real estate services firm.The seminar was designed to share information andknowledge on doing business in the Central and EasternEuropean countries. Over 120 international businessdelegates attended, representing SMEs, throughto companies with £1 billion per annum turnover.Keynote speakers included nine British Ambassadorsto the region, including Simon Smith, HM AmbassadorVienna; Susannah Montgomery, HM AmbassadorBratislava; Martin Harris, HM Ambassador Bucharest;Jonathan Knott, HM Ambassador Budapest; AndrewPage, HM Ambassador, Ljubljana; Sian MacLeod, HMAmbassador Prague; Jonathan Allen, HM AmbassadorSofia; David Slinn, HM Ambassador Zagreb; JessicaGlover, Deputy Head of Mission Warsaw.Attendees listened to how the economic strength,improving transparency, sustained infrastructuredevelopment and political stability of the region werecontinuing to attract new overseas investors andcompanies. They also heard first hand case studiesand testimonials from other companies who havemoved or expanded into the region. A networkingsession after the event also allowed people to buildvaluable new contacts.Paul Taylor, Regional Director-CEE, UK Trade &Investment, said: “The current strength and stabilityof the region means business opportunities exist acrossall sectors, from tourism through to technology, energyand manufacturing. UKTI is committed to helpingBritish companies grow their businesses in the CEE regionand can offer a range of tailored services: from expertadvice on key markets and sectors, to programmearranging, trade missions and trade fair support. JohnDuckworth, Managing Director- CEE, Jones LangLaSalle who has been based in Warsaw since 2008commented: “I have witnessed first-hand the dynamicculture and rapidly growing success in CEE. As a companywe currently have 370 people in ten offices andseven countries across the region, and continue to reapthe benefits of stability, innovation and success broughtto us by a highly skilled, international workforce. Iwould urge those considering opening operations orestablishing links in the region to do so. In our experience,the benefits have strongly outweighed the risks.”CEE is also a strategic marketplace for nearshoringand offshoring activities. In Poland alone, SharedService Centres and Business Process OutsourcingCentres will have given employment to approximately100,000 people by the end of 2012. Key processesexecuted by CEE centres are finance, HR, IT andprocurement and the region is typically selected as ashoring destination for its high quality, multi-lingualtalent, geographic and cultural proximity to WesternEurope, relatively low attrition and European Unioncompliance.Speed Business MeetingPoznan 2012In March in Poznań’s Hotel Andersia, the BPCC in cooperationwith the Belgian, Scandinavian, Swiss andFrench chambers of commerce, organised a SpeedBusiness Meeting followed by a Business Mixer.This Speed Business formula is proving very popular.Each participant took part in the series of face-to-facemeetings, during which they had the opportunity topresent briefly their company, swap business cards,make new contacts, acquire new customers, suppliersor investors. Each participant was assigned to adifferent table and each one met with five to six people.Each session at a table lasted about 15 minutes,and after its completion – at a signal – the participantschanged seats to another previously indicatedtable. Participants came out with 25 new contactsafter one hour.32 Britain in Poland

Recent EventsThe next stage of the event was Business Mixerfor presidents, CEOs, and board members. It was anexcellent opportunity to promote and present one’scompany, its products and services. The aim of theBusiness Mixer is to create the opportunities forchamber members to establish new business contactsand to strengthen existing ones in a less formalatmosphere, in this case also strengthen the new relationshipwith Speed -Business meetings.BPCC Happy BusinesswomennetworkingNearly 50 participants participated in the first suchevent of 2012 – an evening entitled BPCC HappyBusinesswomen Networking series of events.Following a brief ‘speed’ networking session atwhich participants introduced their businesses toone another, the participants had the chance to experiencerelaxing ajurvedic hand massage by ElżbietaŻuk-Widmańska and discuss healthy diet with an expertof HAPPYMORE Institute, as well as participatein integration games.Cheese and wine eventat La FromagerieIn February (by chance and perhaps appropriately– “Fat Thursday”) twenty BPCC members met foran evening of cheese and wine tasting at Warsaw’strendy La Fromagerie cheese shop, located on ulBurakowska. La Fromagerie had prepared greatcheese boards accompanied by chutneys, olives, specialtybread and of course wines.The Iron Lady, BPCC PolandPremiereIn February the BPCC organised Poland’s premiere ofThe Iron Lady, a film starring Meryl Streep as MargaretThatcher and portraying a woman in a man’s world.The event took place at Warsaw’s Kinoteka cinemain the Palace of Culture and Science to an audience ofover 300, including Minister Jan Rostwoski, MinisterKurdycka, the British Ambassador Robin Barnett, theIrish Ambassador Eugene Hutchinson, as well as anumber of other political figures and of course BPCCmembers. Henryka Bochniarz, President of PKPLewiatan opened the event, and reminisced about herown meeting with Lady Thatcher years ago.After the film, all guests were invited for a champagnereception in the cinema foyer and ended the evening instyle over a glass of bubbly and a good discussion aboutthe film. The BPCC is grateful to the evening’s sponsors:Blackstones, British Embassy, CEC GovernmentRelations, Conservatives Abroad, Deloitte, Jones LangLaSalle, Makro, Plus, Radisson Blu Sobieski.Scandinavians and BPCC inWieliczka Salt MineBack in December, BPCC Kraków and theScandinavian Chamber of Commerce invited theirmembers to a joint Christmas carol evening heldat the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The historic salt mine,which is a member of BPCC Kraków and listed onUNESCO’s global list of cultural and natural heritage,is the only mining site in the world functioningcontinuously since the middle ages.Its original excavations (including chambers,lakes, corridors and shafts) extend for over 300 kilometres.Reaching a maximum depth of 327 metres,they illustrate all the stages of mining technologydevelopment over time. Exceptional acoustic, beautifulsubterranean salt chambers and excavations werethe location for the BPCC meeting – at 125 metresunder the ground.Wroclaw: International ChristmasMixerAs has become tradition, The International ChristmasEvening was organised for the ninth time in Wrocław.This year six international chambers of Commerce fromGreat Britain, USA, Germany, France, Scandinavia, andIreland were the event co-organisers.The guests who represented the international businesslocated in Lower Silesia were entertained in the historicinteriors of the XVIth century Town Hall. Amongstmany attractions prepared by the organisers it is worthmentioning renown singer Bożena Krzyżanowska performingEdith Piaf repertoire, excuisite cuisine servinginternational Christmas specialties, fortune-teller predictingthe future for the 2012 for visitors. Due to theenormous commitment of the Chambers, as well as theinvolvement of many sponsors, guests enjoyed a trulyinternational evening in one of largest business eventsof this kind in Wrocław.Special thanks to Platinum sponsors: KPMG andCrédit Agricole; Golden Sponsors: Akcja Job and NelsonLamartine Executive Search; Silver Sponsor: Campanileand Premiere Classe Hotels; Bronze Sponsors: Avis,Baker Tilly Poland, Contact Center, Cukier Królewski,Legnicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna S.A., Randstad;Start People, Product Sponsors: Kraft Foods, Starbucks,PM Group and Xpress; and last but not least LotterySponsors: IBB Andersia Hotel, Avis, Clarena, Baker TillyPoland, Curver, Crédit Agricole, Deloitte, Hertz, HotelZamkowy, Leroy Merlin, MeetingsPoland.pl, MennicaWrocławska, Grupa Trinity, PM Group, ScandicWrocław, Siemens, and Xpress.Britain in Poland 33

Polish Entrepreneurs in UKScottish salmon farmsbought by PolishentrepreneurThe little Baltic seaside village of Ustka is an unlikelylocation for the largest salmon processing plant in theworld. Known mostly for its picturesque beaches andhordes of tourists in the summer months, Ustka is alsohome to Morpol, led by a trained engineer, Jerzy Malek.Armed with a war chest of capital, Morpol hasbeen on an acquisition spree to make upstreamacquisitions of salmon farming operations. Fourfarming activities were purchased in Scotland in2010, as well as the purchase of a UK smokedsalmon processor that doubled their market sharein the UK. In combination, the breeding, hatchery,freshwater activities, sea sites and smoker inthe UK make Morpol a fully integrated supplier ofScottish smoked salmon.While some of the world’s best salmon is grownin Scotland and Norway, much of it is shipped toPoland to be processed and packaged, before beingsent west again to leading salmon consumermarkets like France, Germany and England.From a modest start in the fish canning business,Malek’s Morpol has emerged as “the” power toreckon with in the European salmon business.After raising 160 million euro in June 2010 viaan IPO on the Oslo Stock Exchange, Morpol hasused its financial firepower and operational excellenceto become “fully integrated, from farm tofork”. The firm exports to more than 30 countries,with Germany its biggest market, and is thesingle largest food exporter from Poland.The acquisition of Brookside Products inSeptember 2010, approximately doubled Morpol’sshare of the UK smoked salmon market to 20 percentand with the John West brand provides furthergrowth potential. Combined with farmingoperations that begin with broodstock, BrooksideProducts makes Morpol the UK’s only fully integratedsupplier of smoked salmon. The locationof a significant proportion of the Scottish farmingoperations on the Orkney Islands offered a furtherbranding option. Morpol’s ambition is to grow theUK smoked salmon market above that of Germany,to make it the second largest in Europe. Morpolalso benefits from sales of fresh Scottish salmonproducts in both the UK and French markets.The acquisitions of the four salmon farming operationsin Scotland placed Morpol in a strongposition to grow its presence in the UK market.As with the French market, prices are relativelyhigh compared with the German market.When Morpol first entered the value-addedsalmon products market in 1998 it needed a commercialedge to gain a foothold. That edge wasquality; founded on strict purchasing criteria andMorpol’s unique, purpose-built processing equipment.The CEO’s engineering background wasa significant factors in the design of the equipment.At the time Poland was not a member ofthe European Union and Morpol products facedan import tariff. Even so, quality and value formoney earned the products space on the shelvesof many EU retailers. After Poland’s accession tothe EU in May 2004, sales grew rapidly.All sea lanes lead to Ustka– and out againMorpol processed approximately 70.000 tonnesof salmon in 2010 at its plant in Ustka. It is thelargest value added plant in the world for salmon.“Malek is an extraordinary entrepreneur”, saidone of his colleagues at a recent seafood expo.“I’ve never seen anything like it”, he said, referringto the salmon processing plant in Ustka.“They use every imaginable part of the fish”.With nearly 200 engineers employed at Morpol,Malek is bringing modern management techniquesand processing engineering to an unconsolidatedand unsophisticated industry. Morpolimports fish processing machinery, then his engineersget to work, re-engineering the machineryto extract as much value from the salmon that ismostly imported from Norway and Scotland.Like Poland’s car manufacturers, TV producersand global outsourcing firms, Morpol has appliedthe same business model to the fish industry: produceand process in Poland, and sell to Europeand the world.34 Britain in Poland

Patron ProfileQ&A with Janusz Dedo, Presidentof the Board at HSBC Bank Polska SAand wholesale banking. Last year we announced ourintention to focus on market segments where wehave the strongest advantage – servicing corporateand institutional customers.Being a part of the BPCC community gave usmany opportunities to engage with Polish and Britishcompanies interested in doing business in the UK orPoland respectively, which certainly had a positiveimpact on our operations in Poland. Together withour colleagues from the UK we keep on supportingbusinesses from these two countries in leveragingopportunities in these markets.As you look forward, what is your firm’s strategyfor Poland, and what are your expectationsover the next 3-5 years.Please tell us about your earliest involvementwith the BPCC, as well as some details onhow and when your firm originally started inPoland. Has your firm developed as originallyplanned?HSBC has been the member of BPCC for many yearsnow.We’ve now been in Poland over 20 years with anumber of different businesses, so we’ve got a goodunderstanding of the market. We’re committed toand look forward to supporting the growth of thePolish economy over the next 20 years and beyond.What were your earliest impressions of theBPCC, and its role in uniting British firms operatingin Poland?BPCC has been uniting British businesses in Polandsince the early days of the market economy, openingup networking opportunities, linking future businesspartners and promoting the best of Poland and theUK. These two economies have a lot to offer to eachother and BPCC has done a great job in revealing thepotential that lies in tightening the relations betweenthese countries. It has played an important in supportingthe growth of bilateral trade and investmentsof biggest British companies in Poland.Tell us about the development of your firm inPoland since the early days. And has yourinvolvement with BPCC had an impact onyour firm’s development. Please give specificexamples.We established ourselves here in 1991 with an investmentbanking business, which we’re still running. In2003 we bought a local bank and in 2004 started operatingunder the HSBC Bank Polska SA brand. Lateron we established the consumer finance business,which was followed by moving into retail, corporateThe short-term and the medium-term outlook forPoland and the Polish economy remains strong. Theeconomy is in a far stronger shape than the majorityof European markets. GDP growth this year of overfour percent will be an excellent result and even inthe midst of the difficulties within the eurozone atthe moment, the HSBC forecast for next year is GDPgrowth of 2.7 percent. So while it will slow down abit, it is not threatening recession at this point, whichI think is a major accolade to the strength of thePolish economy. It has clearly withstood a numberof shocks and a number of difficult times. Lookingfurther down the road, what HSBC has forecast isthat the amount of trade that Poland will undertakewith its trading partners will increase over the next15 years by 110 percent. That is not so far away, soas the Polish economy opens up even further, as itcontinues to grow and be more connected with othermarkets, that is something that HSBC – with its globalpresence and local expertise – is exceptionally wellplaced to support both on an inbound and the outboundbasis in terms of trade flows. Both in Polandand globally we want to be the leading internationalbank. We’re committed to growing our business inPoland servicing corporate and wholesale customers.Any suggestions for other British firms consideringexpanding in Poland?We see good prospects for the Polish economy, andwe will continue to support it through our corporatebusiness and through our global banking and marketsbusiness. That’s something we are very committedto and I hope we will be a key part of connectingPoland and Polish business up to the new marketsthat th ey explore in the future. Very clearly, Polandis the leading emerging market in Europe. We’ll continueto sell that story abroad—that the opportunitythat awaits Poland’s trading partners is considerable.If Poland can continue to grow and develop its tradein that way, then that will underpin the future economicperformance of the country for many yearsto come. The infrastructure needed to support it isbeing developed, and the investment into roads andinto rail will help enormously in unlocking that potential.Those things combined will deliver a rosy futurefor Poland, without a doubt.Britain in Poland 35

Polish Entrepreneurs in UKHenryk Strzelecki, founder of HenriLloyd, awarded title Honoris CausaThe origins of this storied Britishbrand are as interesting as theclothing that they make. Theoriginal Henri after whom thecompany was named was a Polecalled Henryk Strzelecki whomoved to Manchester, and settledthere after serving in the Polisharmy in the Second World War.He adopted the more pronounceable last nameof Lloyd and studied textiles and fabrics andworked with the local clothing companies thatManchester had at the time.Henri Lloyd’s interest in sailing and yachtingled him to make a number of innovations in theworld of yachting clothing that had been quiteunchanged for decades and even centuries beforehe came on the scene. Today a lot of innovationsthat we take for granted were originallythought up by Mr Lloyd himself and applied tohigh performance clothing.He was the first person to start using a newman-made fabric called Nylon in clothing andcombine it with water proof enclosures andother innovations at the time like velcro tobring yachting and sailing clothing into thetwentieth century. Other innovations like handtaped seams and corrosion resistant zippersmade out of nylon were also the products of MrLloyd’s fertile brain.Lloyd’s clothing range really gained worldwide popularity respect and recognition forthe first time in the years 1966 and then a decadeor so later when two famous explorers,both of whom are now British Knights and oneis still a living legend first used his clothing. In1966, Sir Francis Chichester was the first manto circumnavigate the globe and his clothingof choice for this ground breaking and historymaking journey was clothing by Henri Lloyd.More than a decade later an equally intrepidBrit, Sir Ranulph Fiennes known now as theworld’s greatest ever explorer led a group ofexplorers called the Transglobe Expedition inwhat was the first round the world journey viathe poles. Sir Fiennes and his entire team allwore Henri Lloyd’s foul weather gear for theentire journey.Nearly a decade later the Lloyd brand once againcame into the limelight but this time for its stylerather than its well proven endurance. The MilanScooter Society adopted a piece of clothing fromthe line called the Henri Lloyd Consort Originalsailing jacket to be part of their uniform alongwith a pair of Levi’s 501 jeans. The sales of thisclothing item went through the roof as youngmen around the European continent flocked tothe stores to purchase the jacket in an effort tolook cool. For many years the Lloyd sailing jacketremained the definitive clothing of choice foryoung and hip Italians.Henryk Strzelecki MBE was born in the cityof Brodnica, and later received an HonoraryDegree of Doctor of Technology – for his tremendousachievements in manufacturing andclothing technology. The title was awarded byManchester Metropolitan University in 2011. Hewas also honored the title of MBE by the Queenof England. After more than five decades, thecompany has a worldwide reputation for innovativedesign and unmatched sailing apparel.36 Britain in Poland

Jones Lang LaSallePatron ProfileJohn DuckworthManaging DirectorJones Lang LaSalle is afinancial and professionalservices firm specializingin real estate. The firmoffers integrated servicesdelivered by expert teamsworldwide to clientsseeking increased valueby owning, occupying orinvesting in real estate.Jones Lang LaSalle servesclients in 70 countriesfrom more than 1,000locations worldwide,including 200 corporateoffices.For further information,please visit our websitewww.joneslanglasalle.comQ : Since this publication is a “tribute” to theBPCC’s foundation 20 years ago, please tell usabout your earliest involvement with the BPCC, aswell as some details on how and when your firmoriginally started in Poland. Has your firm developedas originally planned?A: We began getting involved in the BPCC about threeyears ago after I had arrived in Poland and took on therole as Managing Director. The firm has been operatingin Poland since 1995 and began with a few people inWarsaw. Jones Lang LaSalle is now a leading commercialreal estate consultant employing over 350 peoplein Poland with offices in Warsaw, Gdansk and Krakow.In addition to our main commercial services, the companyhas located their European Financial & LeaseAdministration Centres in Poland. We are delighted withour position in the Polish market and will continue to investand provide services to a wide range of Polish andinternational clients in this exciting and evolving market.Q : What were your earliest impressions of theBPCC, and its role in uniting British firms operatingin Poland? Please add any interesting storiesfrom that time.A: It was an interesting collection of business representativesand characters who worked hard to promotewhat is best about bi-lateral trade. I thinkit has gone through a major refresh and evolution inthe last three years and today the brand, structureand organization of the BPCC is vibrant and strong.It will need to continue to evolve in such a changingworld in order to cement its place in this vital areas oftrade relations between both countries.Q : Tell us about the development of your firmsince that time. And has your involvement withBPCC had an impact on your firm’s development.Please give specific examples.A: As we mentioned above we have developedstrongly in this time. Much of this has been throughnatural growth and evolution in an expanding market,and by making correct investment decisionsby the leadership. One area where there has beengood participation with the BPCC has been aroundthe BPO / Offshoring industry where we have developedmarket expertise. This trend is critical andhas driven important levels of corporate investmentin Poland in the last 10 years. We are happyto work with and continue support and promotionof this trend.Q : As you look forward, what is your firm’s strategyfor Poland, and what are your expectationsover the next 5-10 years.A: Steady, continuous and sound investment inPoland will be our strategy. We have a good platformfrom which to now develop and steadily grow. We arepositive about the future of this wonderful countryand want to be a continuing partner in its development.Poland offers hugely exciting prospects tocommercial property investors, developers and corporates,particularly in office, industrial/warehouseand retail asset classes. We see the mid to long termfundamentals of the market and the economy assupport further investment in the above, and consequentlywe will continue with our significant commitmentto this market.Q : Any other issues or thoughts that you wouldlike to be included, or suggestions for other Britishfirms considering expanding in Poland:A: Get good advice and do really good due diligenceon the market sector and location you are choosing totarget. The work will be demanding, but the rewardsare there if you are prepared to invest in time, energyand wisdom.Britain in Poland 37

Major UK Investors in PolandThe following list was updated in December 2011, and is an alphbetical list of major UK firmswith direct investment in Poland, according to PAIZ (Polish Agency for Foreign Investment)20:20 Mobile Group Ltd.Real estate, renting and business activitiesAerogistics Holding LtdManufacture of transport equipmentAmvescap plcFinancial intermediation ; Financial intermediationAPV Overseas Holdings LtdWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles,motorcycles and personal and household goodsArcelorMittalManufacture of metals and metal products;Manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products andderivativesArconManufacture of electrical machinery and apparatusAviva Plc.Financial intermediation; Financial intermediationB InternationalManufacture of machinery and equipmentBates Telecom LtdTransport, storage and communicatio nBritish Oxygen Corporation (BOC Group)Manufacture of chemicals and chemical productsBritish Sugar Overseas (BSO) Ltd.Manufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsBritish Vita PlcManufacture of chemicals and chemical productsBroadway Malyan International LtdReal estate, renting and business activitiesBuro Happold LtdReal estate, renting and business activitiesCadburyManufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsCAPARO ENGINEERING LTD.Manufacture of metals and metal productsCaribbean Distillers Corporation Ltd.Manufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsCentral Europe Trust Company PLCHealth and social work; Real estate, renting and businessactivitiesCeramaspeed LtdManufacture of other non- metal goodsChemitex Trading Ltd.Manufacture of chemicals and chemical productsCompass Group International B.V.Hotels and restaurantsCookson Overseas LimitedManufacture of other non- metal goodsCorusManufacture of metals and metal productsCussons Group Ltd.Manufacture of chemicals and chemical productsDDB Holding EuropeReal estate, renting and business activitiesDrummonds Architectural Antiques LtdManufacture of metals and metal productsEMCC SoftwareReal estate, renting and business activitiesEnterprise InvestorsManufacture of machinery and equipment;Real estate, renting and business activities;Financial intermediation ; Financial intermediationEuropa Distribution CenterTransport, storage and communicatio nEuropean Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment (EBRD)Financial intermediationFCE Bank PlcFinancial intermediationFoseco Foundry—G4S plcReal estate, renting and business activitiesGallaher Group PlcManufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsGardner Group LtdManufacture of transport equipmentGerber Foods Holdings LtdManufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsGKN Industries LimitedManufacture of transport equipmentGlaxo SmithKlineManufacture of chemicals and chemical productsGwarex Holdings LimitedMining and quarryingHanson AK i BVManufacture of other non- metal goodsHaysTransport, storage and communicatio nHenri Lloyd LimitedManufacture of fabrics and textilesHicks Muse Tate & Furst, Emerging MarketsPartnership and Argus Capital PartnersOther community, social and personal serviceactivitiesHSBC Bank PLCFinancial intermediationICLReal estate, renting and business activities;Manufacture of furniture and consumer goodsIMC ConsultingReal estate, renting and business activitiesImperial Tobacco PlcManufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsInternet Securities LtdReal estate, renting and business activitiesKingfisherWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles,motorcycles and personal and household goodsKodak Ltd.Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles,motorcycles and personal and household goodsLatium Plastics Holdings LtdManufacture of rubber and plasticsLUManufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsMarks & SpencerWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles,motorcycles and personal and household goodsMc Bride plcManufacture of chemicals and chemical productsMid Europa Partners LLPTransport, storage and communicatio nMillward Brown GroupReal estate, renting and business activitiesNational Grid PlcTransport, storage and communicatio nNova Holding Ltd.Transport, storage and communicatio nNSG GroupManufacture of other non- metal goodsNSK Europe LimitedManufacture of machinery and equipment38 Britain in Poland

BPCC MediaPanasonic Europe LtdManufacture of electrical machinery and apparatusParkridge HoldingsConstruction; Real estate, renting and businessactivitiesPeak Packaging LTDManufacture of rubber and plasticsPharm Research Associates Uk LtdReal estate, renting and business activitiesPrintpackManufacture of rubber and plasticsProject Management HoldingsReal estate, renting and business activitiesProvident Financial Plc.Financial intermediationRolls-Royce Group plcManufacture of machinery and equipment;Manufacture of machinery and equipment;Manufacture of machinery and equipment;Manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatusR&R Ice CreamManufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsRegenersis PLC.Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles,motorcycles and personal and household goodsRenold Holding GmbHManufacture of metals and metal productsReuters Group LimitedOther community, social and personal serviceactivitiesRobinsonManufacture of rubber and plasticsRolls-Royce Power Ventures LtdElectricity, gas and water supplyRoyal & SunAlliance Insurance Group PlcFinancial intermediationSABMiller PlcManufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsShell Overseas Holdings LimitedWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles,motorcycles and personal and household goodsSitel Europe LtdReal estate, renting and business activitiesSmiths Group AerospaceManufacture of transport equipmentSumitomo Electric Wiring SystemEurope Ltd.Manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatusSummit Motors Investment U.K.Manufacture of transport equipmentSynexus—ľ––TarmacMining and quarryingTesco PlcWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles,motorcycles and personal and household goodsTG Consultants UK LtdReal estate, renting and business activitiesThe Aluminium Powder Co. Ltd.Manufacture of metals and metal productsTI Automotive Holding LtdManufacture of transport equipmentTrusthouse ForteHotels and restaurantsUniq plcManufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsUnited Biscuits InvestmentsManufacture of food, drinks and tobacco productsWillis Group Holdings plc—Xerox Ltd.Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles,motorcycles and personal and household goodsThe BPCC hasa tarargeted rangnge of digital media andcommunicicationsns. Weencourageourmembers tocreaeatebesespopokeintegrated campaigns,exploiting theadvavantagesof diffffererenent media.Britain in Poland 39

BPCC MembersBPCC Members 2012■ Patrons■ 20th Anniversary Partners4Projects A A.M. Jesiołowscy – Finanse • A.T. Kearney • A.Y.L.I. Personal Service • A4E Polska •Academia Polonica • accace • Accenture • Accounting Audyt Partner • Accreo Legal J. Affre R. Czarnecki• Accreo Taxand • Adams Solicitors • Adgar Poland B.T.C. N.V. Conference Center • Aedas CE • AgencjaBackstage Events+Production • Agencja Jamboree • AGS Warsaw • Alpha HR Solutions • Alps Group •ALS • AM Consulting & Education – Kursy Językowe Za Granicą • American Express Poland • AndersiaTower Hotel Management • Anna Hyams • Anna Pepłowska – Nieruchomości • Antal International •Aromatic Flavours & Fragrances Europe • Art Capital • Art Wonders • Art-Margot Agencja MuzykiKlasycznej Małgorzata Szymanek-Piotrowska • ASB Poland • Ashville Polska • AstraZeneca PharmaPoland • Atkins-Polska • ATS • Audley Holdings Limited • Aurelian Oil & Gas Poland • AvantiCommunications Group plc • AVC Polska • AVIS • Aviva Investors Poland Towarzystwo FunduszyInwestycyjnych • Aviva Powszechne Towarzystwo Emerytalne Aviva BZ WBK • Aviva TowarzystwoUbezpieczeń na Życie • Aviva Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Ogólnych • AWIL Consulting B BAE Systems(Poland) • Baker Tilly Poland • Bank Polska Kasa Opieki • Bank Zachodni WBK • Bartosiewicz ChabockaKancelaria Radców Prawnych • BBcomm • Beiten Burkhardt P. Daszkowski • Belvedere Cafe ŁazienkiKrólewskie • Berlitz Poland • Best Western Hotel Felix • Beta Technology • Biedecki Biedecki i PartnerzyRadcowie Prawni • BIG InfoMonitor • Bigram • Bird & Bird Maciej Gawroński • Bissole • BiznesPolskaMedia • Blackstones • Blue Business Media • BMCC • BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland • BNP ParibasSecurities Services • Boxit Polska • Boyden \\ Szostek & Partners • BP Polska • BPA London • Brill AVMedia • British Council • British Embassy • British International School of Cracow • Broadway MalyanPolska Arc hitekci i Projektanci • Brzezińska, Narolski, Mariański Adwokaci • BSD Management • BSIGroup Polska • BSJP Brockhuis Jurczak Prusak • Building Business Bridges • Business Lease Poland• Butcher’s Pet Care C Calcul Iwona Chojnacka, Andrzej Chojnacki • Capita Symonds • Capital BusinessLinks • Casinos Poland • CBRE • CEC Government Relations • CEERES • Central Europe Trust Polska •Central European Staffing • Centrum Badań Interdyscyplinarnych Astroman • CFE Polska • CH2M HillPolska • Chandney Software • Chapman Taylor International Services • Chartered Institute ofManagement Accountants • Chinook Energy Europe – Branch in Poland • Cichy Andrzej Professional •Clarena sp. kom. • Clifford Chance, Janicka, Krużewski, Namiotkiewicz i Wspólnicy • Clifford ThamesGroup • Climate Finance • CMS Cameron McKenna Dariusz Greszta • Coaching Center, CoachWise. •Colliers International Poland • conject AG • ConQuest Consulting • Consulco Poland • Consulting &Management Waszkiewicz Sp.J. • Contact Center • Contract Administration • Copernicans(Obserwatorium Finansowe) • CPL Jobs • CSGI • CSRinfo • Cushman & Wakefield D Dachser • DarlingAssociates • DB Schenker • DCH Art and Businessevent Management • De Lage Landen Leasing Polska• Delitrader Europe • Deloitte Advisory • Delta Capital Advisors • deVere Group • DGL Polska • DHLExel Supply Chain (Poland) • DLA Piper Wiater • Dom Development • DOOR Group • Dotpay • DoughtyHanson • DP Polska • Dragmor • DS Smith Recycling • DTZ Polska • Dyskret Polska E e|n|w|cRechtsanwälte E. Stobiecka – Kancelaria Prawna • Easy Times • EC Harris • Eco Spedycja • ElżbietaPełka Creative Services • EMW Law • Ensize Consulting Group Bernaś, Olesiak, Żarnowski • ERM Polska• Espetra Limited • Essex Chambers of Commerce • Euro M Marketing & Public Relations • EuropcarPolska • Export Poland F Fashion House Management Poland • Feedback/Hill and Knowlton • Fiege• Financial Stock • Finn Lines UK Limited • First Property Asset Management • Fiserv Polska • FKAFurtek Komosa Aleksandrowicz • FLOP System • Fortak & Karasiński Radcowie Prawni • FoundationWarsaw Destination Alliance • Freightliner PL • Fundacja Integracja • Futo • Futurea Grupa DoradczaG GD&K Consulting • Get It • getsix • GI GROUP • Gide Loyrette Nouel • Gildia Aniołów Biznesu •Glasgow David • Gleeds Polska • Global Reach Partners – Corporate FX • GoodBrand & Company Polska• Grafdrukpol sp.jawna • Grafton Recruitment Polska • Grand Cru • Granowski Aleksander • GrantThornton Frąckowiak • Graphology Solutions Group • Gras Savoye Polska • Grayling Poland • GreenWorld • Grupa Scandale s. c. • Grupa Trinity • Grupa Trip • GSK Services H Hampshire Chamber ofCommerce • Hard Rock Cafe Kraków Barista • HAYS Poland • Helical Poland • Herbewo City •Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce • Hill International • Hilton Garden Inn Kraków• Hilton Warsaw Hotel and Convention Centre • HMI • Hochtief Polska • Hogan Lovells (Warszawa) •Hotel Galaxy • Hotele Warszawskie Syrena Polonia Palace Hotel • HR High Touch Nina Sosińska •40 Britain in Poland

BPCC MembersHSBC Bank Polska • HTT Global Holidays & Incentives • Hyatt Regency Warsaw HotelI IBA Accounting Services • ICAEW • ICAN • Icon • Idea Place • Iglica Nieruchomości • IMG (UK) •Imperial CinePix • Imperial Tobacco Polska • Innovia Films Oddział w Polsce • InterContinentalWarszawa • International British School Vocandus Łódź • International European School • Istari • ITPConsulting J Jamore • Jerboch – Jerzy Bochenek Doradztwo • Joanna Hawrot • Jones Lang LaSalleK K&L Gates Jamka • K.R. Audyt • Kampoleone BIS • Kancelaria Adwokacka Woliński Jerzy •Kancelaria Prawna Lexcarta Zakrzewski & Associates • Kancelaria Prawna Schampera, Dubis, Zając iWspólnicy • Kancelaria Radców Prawnych Klatka i Partnerzy • Kelham Group • Kinga Hotel Wellness •Kingfisher Sourcing Eastern Europe • Kinnarps Polska • Kluk J. Jan • Knight Frank • Kochański ZiębaRąpała i Partnerzy • Kompass Poland • Kopalnia Soli “Wieliczka” Trasa Turystyczna• Kraków Valley Golf& Country Club • KST Konsulting • Kuczek-Maruta Kancelaria Radców Prawnych L Lacrosse LanguageConsultancy • Ladies Clinic • Łatała i Wspólnicy • LCP Properties • Le Meridien Bristol • Leach & LangProperty Consultants • Legal English Centre Agnieszka Chojecka-Wlazło • LIM Joint Venture • Link 4Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń • Link2Europe • Linklaters C.Wiśniewski i Wspólnicy • Lloyd’s Polska •Łódzka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna • London City Airport • Lorien Engineering Solutions Limited •LOT Catering M Macrologic – Branch in Wrocław • Makro Cash and Carry Polska • Mamaison Hotel LeRegina Warsaw • Marek Musioł Kancelaria Prawnicza • Marks and Spencer Poland • Marro • MazarsPolska • MCKB • MDB Projekt M. Iwaszko B. Mokrosiński • me&BAGS • Medicover Forsakrings • Mediq• Meeting Point • MeetingPoint – Personnel Search & Selection • Meetings Poland • Meritoros •MeteoGroup Polska • MG Network Marta Pawłowska • Michael Page International Poland • MichałGrzywacz MG Agency • MMF Services • Monster Worldwide Polska • Mosaic Property (Poland) N Netia• NetJets Europe • New Media Concept • Nexus F • Niras Polska • Norton Rose Warsaw Piotr Strawa iWspólnicy O OBKO • OKI Printing Solutions • Olejniczak & Richardson • Omega Resource Group •One Money Mail T/A Sami Swoi • Oprandi Polska • OSTC Poland • OTCF • Output42 • OVE Arup &Partners Poland P Panalyst • Park Inn Kraków • Parkowe Wzgórze • Parsons Brinckerhoff • Partnerin Pet Food Polska • Partners Employment European Recruitment • Partnerstwo Podatkowo PrawnoKsięgowe • Pathways Polska • PayPro • PDS • Pedersen & Partners • Perrigo • Pff Expatriates & LanguageServices • Picklemedia Consultancy • Piekielnik i Partnerzy • PinkPig • Piotr Smagała kancelaria radcyprawnego • Platinum Residence • PM Experts • PM Group Polska • PNO Consultants • Point 4 Art Sp zo. o. • Poland-Export.com T.Winnicki i Wspólnicy Sp.J. • POLFINANS • Polish Transport Holdings •Polkomtel • Polonez Travel • Pol-Selekt Benoit CONSIGNY • Polska Izba Pośredników Ubezpieczeniowychi Finansowych • Polski Instytut Kontroli Wewnętrznej • Port Lotniczy Wrocław • Pritchard Englefield •Process Solutions • PROFI SOLUTIONS • PromoAgency • Provident Polska • PUH KUNSZT • PureHealth and Fitness • PURO Hotel Wrocław • PwC • PWWB R Raben Management Services • RadissonBLU Kraków • Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel Warsaw • Radisson BLU Wrocław • Reabrook • RegusBusiness Centre • Renishaw • Restauracja Wesele • Rhenus Contract Logistics • RiDO – RotheramInvestemnt • Rodney Hughes • Roncato Poland • Rubinstein Residence • Russell Reynolds AssociatesS S&D Chemicals • Sage • Sagitta.Co • SAILPRO School of Yachting • Sakura Dance & Beauty • SalansD.Oleszczuk Kancelaria Prawnicza • Sandoz Polska • Saritor Group • Scandic Polen • ScottishDevelopment International • SGB CDR Investment • Shell Polska • Sheraton Kraków Hotel • SheratonWarsaw Hotel • SHL Polska • Simplica • Skrivanek • Slag Recycling • Societe Generale • Sofitel WarsawVictoria Hotel • Sofitel Wrocław • SoftwareMill • Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak • Solvena ManagementSystems • Southwestern Business Process Services UK • Spaczyński, Szczepaniak i Wspólnicy • SplastTravel • Spółka Doradztwa Podatkowego Ożóg i Wspólnicy • Stachowiak-Kowalska Barbara • Staff GB •Stamp Jackson & Procter • Staniszewski & Richter • Stanleybet International • Stannah Stairlifts • StartPeople • Stemcor Holdings • Surfland Systemy Komputerowe • Sybase Products Poland • Sysco Polska• Syzygy Leisure T Tate Security Technology Limited • Telos Partners • Tesco Polska • TFE • TGCCorporate Lawyers • The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants • The British School • TheRoyal Bank of Scotland N.V. Oddział w Polsce • The Westin Warsaw Hotel • Times Event Center • TopFarms • Torftech • Totalserve (Polska) • TP & K Capital Partners • TPA Horwath • TransAtlantic UK •Transpoint International (PL) • TriGranit Development Polska • Trinity Corporate Services U UniversalExpress Relocations V Valkea Media • Vattax • VDI Management Le Grand Cru • Vega BusinessServices • Verhoeven Logistics Poland • Verona Building • Vertebralia Polska • Vita Polymers Poland •Vita Travel W Walker Peter • Wardyński & Partners • Warszawskie Centrum Expo XXI • White & Case• Wierzbowski Eversheds • Windmill Gąsiewski & Roman • Wine Express • Working Links Employment• WSP Enviro • WV Marketing X Xelion. Doradcy Finansowi Z Zegart – FarmsBritain in Poland 41

BPCC Events Calendarwww.bpcc.org.pl/eventsMay – December 2012May28 May – 2 June, British Week28 May, Warsaw – Trade & InvestmentConference29 May, Warsaw – Food of Isles, SpecialFood Blender30 May, Warsaw – Business Breakfast: 20Years of British Polish Business; Guest ofHonour – Jan Krzysztof Bielecki31 May, Warsaw – Great British VintageRally Challenge & British Motor ShowJune2 June, Warsaw – H.M. The Queen’sDiamond Jubilee Ball 2012 Organised byThe British School Friends in associationwith The British School, Warsaw5 June, Wroclaw Business Ferryboat Cruise& Party12 June, Warsaw meeting with MinisterGowin, British Embassy13 June, Warsaw, New Member Breakfast14 June, Warsaw TMT Policy Group Meeting18 June, Warsaw, Public Procurement PolicyGroup meeting19 June, Warsaw BPCC Academy with HRHigh Touch21 June, Food Policy Group Meeting27 June, Warsaw, Annual General Meeting(tbc) Warsaw– Business Breakfast withMikołaj Budzanowski, Minister of theTreasury(tbc) Warsaw, Cheese & wine event at LaFromagerieJuly(London Olympics – 25 July – 12 Aug)3 July, Warsaw BPCC Academy with AccreoTaxandAugust15 August – holiday (PL)27 August – bank holiday (UK)(tbc) Warsaw, Business MixerSeptember18 September, Wroclaw , InternationalOktoberfest18 September, Warsaw, BPCC Academywith PM Experts25 September, Warsaw, Business Breakfastwith Marek Belka(tbc) Speed BusinessOctober13 October, Warsaw, BPCC Annual Ball,Sheraton Hotel23 October, Warsaw, BPCC Academy withAvivaNovember1 November– holiday (PL))15 November, Warsaw Business Mixer atPolonia Palace14 November, Warsaw BPCC Academy(tbc) Business BreakfastDecember5 December, Wroclaw InternationalChristmas Evening(tbc) Warsaw, New Member Breakfast(tbc) Warsaw, Christmas Carols at the BritishEmbassyNote from the Editor:“It has been my privilege to publish this one-off commemorative magazine for the British PolishChamber of Commerce. I have witnessed the development of the BPCC for nearly 17 years,have attended many excellent events, and have been a loyal reader of Contact magazine sinceits early days – and now frequent visitor to www.bpcc.org.pl. As a “colonist”, I have both theadvantage and disadvantage of distance from the Chamber, yet I have known many, manymembers over the years – and wish to thank the many people who have taken time to speakwith me and provide photos. Errors, and errors of omission, are all mine. During the processof researching “Britain in Poland”, I have come to see the BPCC as what it is: a living, breathing,thriving organisation, subject to the occasional mis-step, quick to adjust and adapt, andwith outstanding leadership. I wish you another 20 years of success supporting the bilateralrelationship between the United Kingdom and Poland.Thom BarnhardtBritain in Polandwas published andedited by BiznesPolskaMedia, under aone-off “contractpublishing” agreementwith the BritishPolish Chamber ofCommerce. All rightsto the publication areproperty of the BritishPolish Chamber ofCommerce.42 Britain in Poland

BPCC BoardBPCC Board MembersBPCC StaffBPCC StaffChairmanAlan JarmanCEOHSBC Bank PolskaVice ChairmanAntoni F. ReczekPresident of the BoardPwC PolskaVice ChairmanMichael ClayDirectorExport PolandHonorary SecretaryNicholas RichardsonPartnerOlejniczak & RichardsonBoard MemberJoe TunneyCEOBPCCBoard MemberDavid ThomasCEO, Principal PartnerFinancierBoard MemberMartin OxleyCountry HeadUK Trade & InvestmentBoard MemberIwona SarachmanHead of Corporate AffairsTesco PolskaWarsaw OfficeKraków OfficeLondon OfficeJoe TunneyCEODorotaKierbiedź-JaskólskaEwaŚwiętochowskaTessaSujka-McIverMartaMikliszańskaAgnieszkaLiburaPaweł SiweckiOperations DirectorMichaelDembinskiSławkaKroszczyńskaKamilaKozłowskaKuba PiegatIlonaChodorowskaWrocław OfficeBoard MemberOliver MurphyPartnerDeloitte PolskaMichaelClayBoard MemberRory MephamNational DirectorJones Lang LaSalleBoard MemberRoger HodgkissCEOLink 4British Polish Chamber of Commerceul. Nowogrodzka 12/3, 00-511 WarsawTel: +48 22 622 20 56E-mail: info@bpcc.org.plmembership@bpcc.org.plhttp://www.bpcc.org.plBoard MemberDavid ParkinsonCountry ManagerProvident PolskaBPCC Kraków:ul. Św. Anny 931-008 KrakówT: +48 12 421 70 30BPCC Wrocław:ul. Legnicka 51-5354-203 WrocławT: +48 71 733 13 75BPCC UK:43-45 Portman SquareLondon W1H 6HNT:+44 (0) 207 969 2789Britain in Poland 43