We would like to welcome redk as new Benefactor of the Spanish Chamber.
Founded in 2005, redk’s goal is to ensure their clients’ success by enabling them to integrate CRM solutions within their own business strategies and to help them stand out.
redk is a systems integrator and consultancy company delivering solutions in the CRM and customer experience fields for companies looking to improve their performance and market competitiveness. With over a decade’s worth of experience the firm has worked with hundreds of businesses, supporting the execution of their strategic visions and in overcoming their technical challenges.
redk is committed to deliver innovative technology solutions by applying modern methodologies and making use of the latest technology trends. As a highly experienced CRM consultancy, the company is dedicated to meeting both the technical and strategic needs of its customers.
Should you want to know more about our new Benefactor, please visit the company’s website: http://uk.redk.net/
We would like to welcome Bodegas Marqués de Cáceres as a new Patron of the Spanish Chamber.
Bodegas Marqués de Cáceres joined the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom in December 2011 and, since then, has consistently been an active member of the Chamber. We are delighted to announce that Marqués de Cáceres has now become a Patron.
Founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner, Marqués de Cáceres began exporting in 1975. Today, the bodega ships approximately 50% of its production to more than 120 countries. It forms part of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum and prides itself on supplying one of the best-known Rioja wines in Spain.
The Forner family has been devoted to the wine trade for four generations. Their business strategy is very clear: a search for quality, caring for the vineyards to select grapes from the best plots, ongoing investment at all levels of production and a coherent commercial policy. Their mission continues to this day under the management of Cristina Forner, company President since 2007, who pursues the family’s passion for high quality wines.
Marqués de Cáceres spares no efforts to achieve maximum quality, combining the best of tradition with a touch of innovation to highlight the finesse and elegance of its wines.
Having gone from strength to strength over the years, the bodega has become one of Rioja’s driving forces both in Spain and abroad, with a full range of first-class red, white and rosé wines that are exported world-wide.
Marqués de Cáceres also offer tours of their impressive winery in Cenicero, La Rioja – you can find out more about this by visiting their website.
Should you wish to know more about our new patron, please visit their website by clicking here.
On Tuesday the 11th of December we held our final Mahou Party of the year in collaboration with Mahou San Miguel and Meliá White House who are both members of our Chamber. The ‘ChristMahou’ party was held at the Dry Martini Cocktail Bar within the Meliá hotel, which is incidentally the only Dry Martini bar in the UK.
Our guests had the chance to catch up with fellow Chamber members, establish new contacts and enjoy some cold beers; or Solán de Cabras water for those taking it easy. A mouth-watering tapas selection was also available, which ham croquetas, delicious mini burgers and salmon blinis.
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Mahou is one of Spain’s most prominent beer brands and has been a vital part of Spain’s gastronomy culture for over 125 years. It has a delightfully refreshing flavour which makes it the ideal companion for any meal. We were delighted to be partnering up again with Mahou for this informal networking party and it was the perfect way to round off a busy year of events and wish all of our members in attendance a happy Christmas!
We would like to thank everyone who attended this event and helped to make it such a wonderful evening, with a special mention to our sponsor for the event, Mahou San Miguel, for making it all possible and Meliá White House for hosting it.
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Missed out this time? Click here to view the picture gallery of the event. If you missed the Mahou Party this time and would like to take part in the next one, keep an eye out for announcements about it on the Upcoming Events section of our website, on Twitter and in our fortnightly newsletter.
Our last Elevator Pitch event of the year was held on Thursday the 6th of December at Chamber member the London School of English, at their campus in the luxurious neighbourhood of Holland Park in west London.
After the guests arrived and introduced themselves to one another, the event format was explained to all:
Participation is limited to one representative per company and a maximum of 16 companies can take part in each edition. In addition, no more than two companies of the same sector can take part in each event.
Each attendee has two minutes to explain the work of his company to the other participants. Following this, there is a chance for each attendee to ask questions to their fellow participants about their companies. They then have the opportunity to network more informally and without the previous time constraints over a late breakfast.
Everyone leaves with a business card of each person who took part.
On this occasion, 9 companies from a variety of sectors joined us, both members and non-members of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce: AG Design & Construction (architecture, interior design and engineering), Brandlond (advertising and marketing), Listen2Earn (education, training and learning), The Mandeville Hotel (hotels and accommodation), Elastacloud Ltd (communications, IT and networks), EventsCase (event organisers), RCDOT (architecture, interior design and engineering), Paella fella (bar, restaurant and catering services) and London School of English (language services).
The session itself took place in one of the upper floor classrooms of the school. The dialogue flowed very well in this event with many questions being asked, discussions which continued after the end of the Q&A session over the delicious breakfast provided by the school in their impressive main canteen area overlooking some tennis courts.
We would like to thank all attendees who took part in this edition of the Elevator Pitch and hope that they found it as useful and enjoyable as we did. We would also like to extend a very big thank you to the London School of English for kindly hosting the event on this occasion!
If you have not yet participated in an Elevator Pitch event and are interested in doing so, we encourage you to keep an eye on our newsletter (released twice a month) as well as the UPCOMING EVENTS section of our website for information about the next one.
On the 22rd of November 2018 we celebrated our third and final Human Capital Forum of the year.
These forums aim to create a space for learning and discussing relevant topics in the areas of organisational development, leadership, change management and talent. The forum is chaired by Mónica Hernanz, Managing Director at The Client Academy and Adjunct Professor of Organisational Behaviour at IE Business School.
On this occasion, the Forum focused on the impact of the #MeToo movement in the workplace, how HR should prevent sexual harassment and protect employees. The guest speaker was Samantha Mangwana from CM Murray, who has an extensive background working in this area.
Samantha began the seminar asking the attendees about what they were hoping to take away from the session. The majority agreed on their interest in understanding what harassment is and what is not, also they wanted to learn the different perspectives on harassment depending on the culture.
She went on to explain the definition of sexual harassment and how HR department need to set boundaries for the staff. Following the presentation, attendees were able to share their own opinions on the topic.
The next edition of the Human Capital Forum is scheduled to meet in January. If you are interested in finding out more about this initiative, do not hesitate to contact us.
Last week, on the evening of Thurday 8th of November 2018 the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom celebrated its IX Annual Gala Dinner at Banking Hall in the City of London.
Almost 250 guests attended the dinner that was presided by H. E. Ambassador of Spain Carlos Bastarreche who welcomed Mr. Francisco Riberas, chairman of Gestamp, as the Guest of Honour for the evening.
The black tie event started with a drinks reception in the chic Counting Room, which was kindly supported by Chamber patrons Raventós Codorníu and Ibérica Restaurants and our member Hispania. Our guests were offered a glass of wine or Anna Blanc de Blancs cava and had the opportunity to meet and catch up with each other over a selection of delicious freshly cut Ibérico ham and Spanish cheeses.
Following the drinks reception, our toast master gave the call and guests were ushered down the main staircase to their tables in the stunning Banking Hall. Once everyone had taken their seats, the Ambassador led a toast to the King of Spain and the Queen of England each in turn, during which each national anthem was played.
Following the toasts, everyone proceeded to enjoy a delicious three course feast which fused traditional British cuisine with subtle Spanish touches. To begin, guests enjoyed salmon & cucumber with Almeria capers followed by lamb and mint with pimientos del piquillo, before rounding off the meal with tempranillo poached pears with ginger. The banquet was perfectly complemented by the Raimat Saira Albariño and Viño Pomal Reserva Centenario wines provided by Raventós Codorníu.
Following the dessert, once the teas and coffees had all been served the speeches were able to begin which were introduced by the toast master. The President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce Mr. Eduardo Barrachina was first to speak, during which he showed his gratitude to all the Chamber members in attendance with corporate tables for the institutional support and commitment they continue to provide to forming a stronger Chamber. He also emphasised that the links between Spain and the United Kingdom are “so strong that we are confident that in spite of the obvious obstacles in the upcoming months, the bilateral relationship will remain firm”.
The Spanish Ambassador was next to speak, highlighting the continued prosperity of Spain’s economy. Finally, the Guest of Honour Francisco Riberas, chairman of Gestamp, took to the stage to describe both the disruptions and many opportunities that the automotive sector will face around CASE and the UK, and how Spain should be in a position to take advantage of it and lead the change.
The dinner drew to a close late in the evening, with a pleasant and memorable evening appeared to have been had by all. We would like to warmly thank our members and their guests for joining us on this special occasion which has marked the end of another year full of diverse and successful Chamber activities. Once again, we would moreover like to express our gratitude to our generous sponsors Raventós Codorníu, Ibérica and Hispania for their contribution with the wines, cheese and ham which were served throughout the event.
Please click here to access the complete gallery of pictures of the IX Gala Dinner. You can also access a short video summary of the event by clicking here.
For further information about the Chamber’s events, do not hesitate to visit the Upcoming Events section of our website www.spanishchamber.co.uk or subscribe to our biweekly newsletter.
On Monday 29th of October we were delighted to welcome Ms. Nadia Calviño, Minister of Economy and Finance to the event “Spain – UK: Building Strong Economic Ties” held at Ironmonger’s Hall in the City of London. The event was organised in collaboration with the Chamber of Spain.
In front of almost 100 guests, Ms. Calviño emphasised that the United Kingdom is one of the most important trading partners for Spain and is the second greatest recipient of Spanish investment.
The minister spoke optimistically about the economic situation of Spain in order to encourage all of the entrepreneurs present in the meeting to continue investing in the country. She also underlined that the ultimate goal for the Spanish government is to achieve sustainable economic growth in order to tackle socio-economic inequalities.
The conference provided an ideal space for analysis of the economic relations between Spain and the United Kingdom in such a crucial point in time. Ms. Calviño concluded that Spain will maintain strong ties with the UK after Brexit.
A few days later, we had the pleasure of welcoming another minister from the Spanish government, Ms. Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism at the event “The future of UK-Spanish Trade Relations”. Once again, the event was celebrated in the City of London, at Armour’s Hall, in collaboration with the Chamber of Spain.
Ms. Maroto discussed the importance of working collaboratively alongside the Chambers of Commerce to help companies during the transition period. The minister also highlighted the strong economic and trade relations between Spain and the United Kingdom and the support that will be given to small and medium sized enterprises in order to create contingency plans in the instance of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
During the event, the president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Eduardo Barrachina, stressed the Chamber’s pivotal role in supporting companies and institutions in improving their bilateral relations with the UK following Brexit.
On Tuesday 25th September 2018 we were delighted to take part in the annual International Wine, Spirits and Beer Tasting event. This event was hosted by a total of 16 London-based foreign Chambers of Commerce representing countries from around the world, with the aim of broadening attendees’ networks by exposing them to a greatly international audience.
Over 400 guests gathered at the impressive Stamford Bridge, the home ground for Chelsea Football Club in south west London, which provided an impressive and memorable setting with elevated views of the whole pitch and fantastic, open views of the evening sky.
On this occasion, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium & Luxembourg, Canada, Colombia, The Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Switzerland were the participating countries, each with their own attractively decorated stand showcasing some of their finest wines, beers and spirits.
The International Wine, Spirits and Beer Tasting would not be possible without the invaluable collaboration of the sponsors. On this occasion, our member Raventós Codorníu was the sponsor of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce with two of their representatives operating the Spanish stand. They provided a generous selection of four different wines including two cavas, with vintages varying from 2011 – 2015 and grape varietals including 100% Pinot Noir, 70% Viura, 70% Chardonnay and 100% Tempranillo.
Raventós Codorníu is the business group which created cava and pride themselves in being the oldest family business in Spain and one of the oldest of the world dating back over 500 years. More than 150 of their international wines and cavas have received awards in the last 5 years and they are commonly known for their commitment to the earth and society by promoting the development of regional products and generating value in local communities through winery tours. Their commitment is to delight customers and they certainly delighted all those who sampled their wines at this unforgettable event.
With such an international range of beverages and backgrounds, the event did not fail to impress. Guests had a unique opportunity to broaden their international business networks with peers from other Chambers of Commerce. They were additionally able to exchange opinions about the excellent selection of drinks, from Japanese sake to Mexican tequila and Finnish gin, and make recommendations to each other in a relaxed environment, resulting in a positive and lively atmosphere.
We would like to thank our member Raventós Cordoníu for their kind support by providing a generous selection of their delicious wines. Likewise, we would like to thank all the attendees who joined us and, especially, to our colleagues at the Foreign Chambers of Commerce and trade institutions for their work and collaboration for bringing this event to life and for making it such a success yet again.
We look forward to seeing you at next year’s International Wine, Beer and Spirits Tasting. If you were unable to attend on this occasion or would like to reminisce about it, please click here to access the complete gallery of pictures for this event.
To find out what we have planned for the next few months, take a look at our Upcoming Events section on our website or subscribe to our electronic newsletter for fortnightly updates.
On Monday 17th of September we were delighted to hold our second Mahou Informal Party of 2018 in collaboration with Mahou San Miguel, Patron of the Chamber, and Hispania, member of the Chamber, at their gorgeous flagship restaurant in the heart of the City. The restaurant spans over 9,000 square feet and forms part of the historical Lloyds Bank building while showcasing the best of Spanish lifestyle, gastronomy and culture.
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Conveniently located for most of our attendees and with a beautiful sunset outside, the upstairs space started to fill up quickly and there was a relaxed atmosphere as guests caught up with one another after a long summer break and established new connections. The bar certainly proved to be a popular meeting point as guests enjoyed chilled Mahou beers whilst enjoying Hispania’s delicious tapas that were circulating around the room. These included empanada de atún, croquetas, ensaladilla rusa and a selection of jamón ibérico and cheeses, finished off with chocolate and pistachio brownies.
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Mahou is one of Spain’s most prominent beer brands and has been a vital part of Madrid’s gastronomy culture for over 125 years. It has a clean, refreshing flavour which makes it the ideal companion for Spanish cuisine.
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We would like to thank everyone who attended this event and helped to make it such a wonderful evening, with a special mention to our sponsor for the event, Mahou San Miguel, for making it all possible.
Pictures of the evening will be uploaded soon. If you missed this event and would like to take part in our next Mahou Informal Party, keep an eye out for any announcements found in the Upcoming Events section, active Twitter feed and in our fortnightly newsletter.
We would like to welcome CAF, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles as a new Patron of the Spanish Chamber.
Winners 0f our Annual Golden Award 2018 and with over 100 years since its establishment, CAF designs, manufactures, maintains and supplies equipment and components for rail systems throughout the world. The company boasts a workforce of 8,500 people across their main factories in Beasáin, Zaragoza Irún, Castejón and Linares; as well as others in the USA, Mexico, Brazil, France and the UK.
In Spain, CAF is one of the most prominent providers within the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles (RENFE), providing metro units, trams and the latest innovative trains to cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Vitoria, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga and Granada.
CAF began to expand abroad as of 1992 and has been operating in the UK since 1994 when it won the contract to manufacture Heathrow Express trains. In 1997, it won the contract to make the train and carriages for the Heathrow Express; the fast train from Paddington station to Heathrow airport. Since then, they have worked on large scale projects such as the diesel trains for the NIR and the tram networks in Edinburgh and Birmingham. The firm is currently working with Arriva, First Group, Serco and West Midland Trains for the provision and maintenance of new trains that will operate on various routes covering the north of the country.
In 2017, CAF selected the Celtic Business Park at the Llanwern steelworks site near Newport in South Wales as the location of its future UK factory. The 46,000 m2 plant will be designed to accommodate the production of a range of different vehicle types, including diesel and electric multiple-units, trams and high speed trainsets. CAF is to invest £30m in the plant; a major economic boost to not only the surrounding area, but also to the wider UK supply chain through the development of a cluster of local and national companies to supply components. The project consists of the supply of 51 two-car units, 26 three-car units and the maintenance of the units until the end of the franchise in 2033.
CAF’s sales reached 1,447 million euros in 2017 and they achieved a net profit of 42.5 million euros. Moreover, the firm has undertaken projects in over 35 countries including providing metro units in Washington, Rome, Mexico City, Bucharest and Sao Paulo; as well as trams in Belgrade, Edinburgh, Nantes, Sydney and Stockholm. They have also built diesel and commuter trains in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and the USA and high speed trains in Turkey and Norway.
Should you want to know more about our new patron, please visit their website by clicking here.
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