Among the many ideas that are being discussed at the moment to make management more accountable for the risks they are taking, I recently came across a really interesting concept that is being promoted by UK-based Kirill Ilinski of Fusion …
This time last week, I was waking up in a very snowy but extraordinarily beautiful Cumbria as I had taken my wife to Sharrow Bay to celebrate her birthday. Driving up there I was reminded yet again how stunning the …
In this difficult environment where many investors expect the world economy to go into a double dip recession, Scottish Development International and UK Trade & Investment organised an asset management seminar in Beijing on 15 September 2010. The event was …
In 2005, Glenn McGrath suggested that Australia would win the series 5-0. Actually, with McGrath, Warne, Ponting et al that was perfectly possible. The first test went to Australia comfortably. Just before the second test McGrath twisted his ankle by …
As I take up my new job as Director of Trade & Investment at the British Embassy in Japan I’m feeling lucky and excited. Japan is in the top three global economies, home to 127 million consumers with good taste, …
I’ve been listening to the coverage afforded to the Prime Minister as he undertakes his first visit to India, and I’ve also been considering the issues that face companies now assessing their strategy for entry into that vibrant market. A …
As anybody who has read my blogs will know, I love airports. I’ve been thinking recently, however, that we’re also very lucky here in the North West of England to have great port facilities which move our goods efficiently and …
It’s somehow appropriate that the day I get back from SXSW, I wake to a piece on BBC Breakfast about an initiative to help musicians called the Music Matters Trustmark. It’s an initiative aimed at acting as a guide to …
The first time I stayed in the Residence in Tokyo, the Ambassador had a rather rickety Rolls Royce, the art collection was fusty and old-fashioned and the ikebana (flower arrangements) was wondrous. Well now his wheels is a Jaguar (Indian-owned, …
The Map Room in the Foreign Office tells you a lot about the 1920’s British view of the world. Lots of empire, some Europe, Asia pretty sparse. Well, in the offices of the Korean equivalent of UKTI, Kotra, there is …
