BEI Weekly Update - 4th September 2026

Dear Members and Friends,

Back from the summer break, we return to a geopolitical scene no less conflicted and confused and a new Prime Minister and Cabinet getting down to work across the road in Westminster. There are some interesting foreign policy priorities emerging from Government, some familiar and some newer, on which I have been writing for our sister organisation BFPG while we continue our search for a new Director to replace Evie Aspinall who, as many of you know, has joined No 10 as a Special Adviser. She leaves Birdcage Walk with our congratulations and thanks.

There is a positive change to report closer to (BEI) home: Catherine Forbes has formally joined us in the new position of Managing Director. Many members will already have met Catherine in her role as COO of our parent company Strategy International. Catherine and I will be working closely to support members and to extend our reach across our stakeholder networks. I’m sure you’ll join me in formally welcoming her to the BEI team.

This week at BEI, we were delighted to host a roundtable with Friends of Ukraine focusing on the security of Ukraine's sea corridor, maritime trade resilience, port reconstruction and how to keep exports moving. We’ll have more to come on Ukraine.

On Wednesday, we held a Market Opportunity Overview webinar, this time focusing on the Republic of Korea. Many thanks to Beth McKendrick and BIST at the British Embassy in Seoul and to the International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK) for collaborating with us on this. The session explored the opportunities, challenges and support available to UK organisations that are looking to do business in Korea. We also explored opportunities to partner with Korean companies on third-country collaboration opportunities, particularly in Ukraine. If this is an area which interests you, please let us know.

We have a very full and varied programme over the next few weeks. First, on Tuesday 8 September from 15:00-16:00 BST, we look forward to our next SME wider community engagement session with the FCDO SME Advisory Forum. If you are interested in joining, register here.

Also, on Tuesday from 18:00-20:30 BST at the Wellington by Blue Orchid Hotels (71 Vincent Square, SW1 2PA), you can join us, BIST and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a business engagement evening covering energy sector priorities, procurement processes and regional grid connectivity across Southeast Asia. Attendees will hear from ADB specialists and have the opportunity to engage directly with ADB's energy leadership, UK government and private sector stakeholders. This session is open to both BEI members and non-members alike; you can register here.

On Wednesday 16 September from 16:00-19:00 BST, along with Accenture we will hold the in-person launch of our "Water Risk & Finance: Bridging the Gap" paper, where our panel of contributors will explore what it takes to package water resilience and nature projects for private investment – and what financiers are looking for in return. This event will take place at Accenture’s offices, 30 Fenchurch St, EC3M 3BD. If you’re interested in joining, you can register here.

On Thursday 17 September, we will be joined by Terence Lyons, CEO of TSC.ai for an informal roundtable session for public affairs and government relations specialists to explore how emerging technologies can maximise reach and impact. If you or colleagues are interested in joining, you can register here via our website or email Sofia Pennacchietti at sp@britishexpertise.org.

Finally, I’d like to highlight a new initiative for us: a programme of events in Scotland in early October which we are convening alongside our sister organisations The D Group and The British Foreign Policy Group covering a wide range of issues with a Scottish angle and local members and stakeholders. Whether you’re based North of the Border or just visiting, the team would be pleased to see you there.

First, on 6 October from 08:30 – 13:00 at Strathclyde University’s Technology & Innovation Centre in Glasgow, we will host “Resilient Water Systems: Global Perspectives from the UK”, a half day event with two panel discussions in the margins of the IWA World Water Congress. The sessions will explore what it takes to make water systems investable and resilient, from financing and infrastructure through to the pressures climate change is placing on critical services.  BEI members are welcome to join one or both panels, with refreshments/lunch provided. If you are interested in registering, click the following links:

Panel 1 – 08:30-10:00: From Point to Pipe: Financing Water’s Journey to Bankability
Panel 2 – 10:30-12:00: Modelling the Margin: UK Water Availability in a Changing Climate

As part of the same programme, we will be in Edinburgh on 7 October from 09:00 – 15:00 for a series of discussions on Resilience in the UK Energy Sector. The sessions will explore energy security and critical national infrastructure; grid modernisation, storage, and renewable integration; and workforce skills and supply chain resilience. If you are interested in registering, click here.

Finally, on 8 October from 09:30 – 16:15 in Edinburgh, The D Group and BFPG will be looking at Scotland’s role in National Security and Resilience from political and geopolitical perspectives, covering governance and cooperation, the defence industry and skills, as well as Scotland’s contribution to the Space sector. If you are interested in registering, click here.

With a busy few weeks ahead for all of us, I wish you a restful weekend,

David Landsman

Executive Chair  

British Expertise International

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External Events & Resources:

• Tuesday 8th September 2026 15:00 – 16:00 BST: SME wider community engagement with the FCDO SME Advisory Forum - BEI is delighted to continue supporting the members of FCDO’s SME Advisory Forum to engage with the wider SME community. Our aim is both to ensure that members of the Advisory Forum are briefed on the full range of views of the SME supplier community and to enable them to provide feedback on the discussions after their meetings.
• Tuesday 8th September 2026 18:30 – 20:30 BST: UK-ADB Business Connect: Grids, Growth and Connectivity in Southeast Asia - Join us, BIST and the ADB for a business engagement evening covering energy sector priorities, procurement processes and regional grid connectivity across Southeast Asia. Attendees will hear from ADB specialists and have the opportunity to engage directly with ADB's energy leadership, UK government and private sector stakeholders. Please note: this event is taking place at The Wellington by Blue Orchid Hotels, 71 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PA.
• Wednesday 16th September 2026 16:00 – 19:00 BST: Water Risk & Finance: Bridging the Gap - Join us and Accenture for an in-person launch of our "Water Risk & Finance: Bridging the Gap" paper, where our panel of contributors will explore what it takes to package water resilience and nature projects for private investment – and what financiers are looking for in return. Please note this event will take place at Accenture, 30 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 3BD.
• Thursday 17th September 2026 17:00 – 18:30 BST: Public Affairs: New ways to manage complexity - Join us for an informal roundtable session with Terence Lyons, CEO of TSC.ai, where we will convene public affairs and government relations specialists to share and discuss how emerging technology can maximise their reach and impact, especially ahead of the major party conferences.
• Thursday 24th September 2026 11:00 – 12:30 BST: FCDO Development Director Series: Tanzania - Join us on 3rd September as Anna Wilson, the Development Director in Tanzania for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), offers us updates on the current context on the ground as well as insights into FCDO’s development strategy in Tanzania.
• Tuesday 29th September 2026 09:00 – 10:30 BST: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Business Opportunities Webinars for Public Sector Projects - Join us for an online session with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) exploring business opportunities for public sector projects.
• Tuesday 29th September 2026 14:00 – 16:00 BST: Troubled Waters: The Strait of Hormuz in Focus - Join us for a panel discussion on the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab, looking at the wider regional security picture and the implications for Yemen, maritime security, and Gulf dynamics.
• Tuesday 6th October 2026 08:30 – 10:00 BST: From Point to Pipe: Financing Water's Journey to Bankability - Join us in Glasgow as we host “Resilient Water Systems: Global Perspectives from the UK”, a half-day event with two panel discussions in the margins of the IWA World Water Congress. This panel is the first of the two and will explore what it takes to make water systems investable.
• Tuesday 6th October 2026 10:30 – 12:00 BST: Modelling the Margin: UK Water Availability in a Changing Climate - Join us in Glasgow as we host “Resilient Water Systems: Global Perspectives from the UK”, a half-day event with two panel discussions on the margins of the IWA World Water Congress. This panel is the second of the two and will explore what it takes to make water systems resilient amid the pressures climate change is placing on critical services.
• Wednesday 7th October 2026 09:00 – 15:00 BST: Resilience in the UK Energy Sector - Join us in Edinburgh on 7 October from 09:00 – 15:00 for a series of discussions on Resilience in the UK Energy Sector. The sessions will explore energy security and critical national infrastructure; grid modernisation, storage, and renewable integration; and workforce skills and supply chain resilience.
• Wednesday 7th October 2026 14:00 – 17:00 BST: The Power of Social and Emotional Learning: What happens when we get Early Years Education right? - Join us for an in-depth panel discussion focused on embedding Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in early years education and the wider societal impact this has.
• Thursday 8th October 2026 09:30 – 16:15 BST: Scotland’s role in National Security and Resilience - Join us in Edinburgh as we explore Scotland’s role in National Security and Resilience from political and geopolitical perspectives, covering governance and cooperation, the defence industry and skills, as well as Scotland’s contribution to the Space sector.
• Monday 12th October 2026 15:30 – 17:00 BST: Resilience, Rights, and Reconstruction in Ukraine - BEI are delighted to host Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, for an event held in collaboration with Insulate Ukraine that examines resilience and reconstruction efforts across the country.
• Wednesday 21st October 2026 09:00 – 10:30 BST: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Business Opportunities Webinars for Private Sector Projects - Join us for an online session with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) exploring business opportunities for private sector projects.
• Date and Time TBC: Working with the Inter-American Development Bank - Join us for a virtual webinar with the Inter-American Development Bank. Our panel of speakers will explore the IDB's work as a principle source of financing, technical expertise and knowledge for sustainable and inclusive development. The IDB will share an update on its strategy, alongside information about how it works with suppliers and guidance on navigating its procurement process.

Event recordings and resources

Event recordings - BEI member access only

• Republic of Korea - Market Opportunity Overview
• Asian Development Bank Procurement Clinic
• Philippines - Market Opportunity Overview
• FCDO Development Director Series: Ukraine
• DFAT: Tender Requirements and Bid Writing

External Events & Resources:

• 14th September 2026: Have your say! Consultation launched for Indonesia, Philippines, UAE & Uruguay - BIST has launched a consultation on deepening the UK’s trade relationships with Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay. This consultation will inform the next phase of the United Kingdom’s trade relationships as we determine how best to engage with these countries through CPTPP accession discussions or other trade policy mechanisms, including bilateral free trade agreements where applicable and relevant. You can read the Information Notes and submit your views and evidence here.
• 16th September 2026 13:00 - 17:00 (Roundtable) 17:00 - 19:00 (Reception) BST: From Complexity to Confidence: Helping NGOs Build Financial Resilience - Join fellow finance leaders for an afternoon of keynote presentations, practical discussion and peer networking as we explore how organisations can build financial resilience while navigating an increasingly complex operating environment.
• 16th September 2026 16:00 - 20:00 BST: Future of Learning Live 2026 - This Pearson's first flagship global virtual event, bringing together educators, education leaders, employers, innovators and technology experts to explore how we can build the bridge from learning to earning in an AI-powered world. The agenda covers topics including AI readiness, future skills, workforce preparation, AI literacy, and strengthening the connection between education and employment.
• 18th September - 2nd October 2026: D Contemporary and Conflict Textiles Exhibition: The Silent Vocal Language of Textiles - This September, to mark the International Day of Peace, we are working with Conflict Textiles to present The Silent Vocal Language of Textiles. The exhibition brings together historical arpilleras on loan from Ulster University, made by people living through conflict and its aftermath.
• 21st - 24th September 2026 - ADB Business Opportunities Fair 2026 in Metro Manila, Philippines - The Business Opportunities Fair will bring together ADB operational teams and suppliers across a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, transport, energy, water, urban development, finance, digital, environment and climate, agribusiness, health, education, public sector management, and consulting services. Please email businessopportunities@adb.org for more information.
• 23rd September 2026 17:00 - 19:00 in Manila, Philippines: UK@BOF 60 & Beyond - This event is hosted by the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) in Manila on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Business Opportunities Fair. This year marks 60 years of partnership between the United Kingdom and the ADB, a longstanding collaboration that has supported sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific. The event will bring together UK Government, ADB colleagues, and industry leaders as well as development partners to build targeted connections, exchange delivery insights, and explore future opportunities.
• 24th September 2026 14:00 - 16:00 BST:  Employment Rights Act: What’s Changed & Are We Ready? - Join the Safeguarding Leads Network for a session on the Employment Rights Act. The coming changes are reshaping workplace protections in the UK, with some of the most significant updates strengthening duties around sexual harassment and whistleblowing.
• 29 September 2026 10:00 - 12:00 BST: How can countries turn strong TIMSS delivery into evidence that supports meaningful education improvement? - Exclusively for senior officials from Ministries of Education and governmental education authorities, Pearson Education Services, in collaboration with University College London (UCL) Institute of Education, is hosting a virtual workshop on 29 September 2026. Participation is limited to officials from Ministries of Education and government education authorities.
• 7th October 2026 16:00 - 17:30 CET: BID for the Americas: Increasing Business Opportunities for European Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean - Learn how the IDB supports European companies expanding their business engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean through trade promotion, project financing, public procurement, and investment. (Virtual Webinar)
• 17th - 19th November 2026: Ed Tech Pavilion at Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town, South Africa - A curated exhibition floor inside Africa's largest tech event - 13,500+ decision-makers, 650+ policymakers, 250 investors. Stands, pitch slots, and pre-qualified buyer meetings for education and skills companies entering African markets. Packages close early September. Contact: ernest@edtechexchange.africa or Complete the expression of interest form.

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