Nov 6, 2026

BEI Weekly Update - 6th November 2026

by

David Landsman

by

Dear Members and Friends,

Several recent elections around the world have produced seismic results, none more so than in the U.S. There is plenty of commentary and advice on what the new Congress will mean, including for the UK. For our sister organisation, The British Foreign Policy Group, Jack Pannell has written a piece here exploring what changes in the U.S. legislature might mean for foreign policy. Also this week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua, at which he proposed discussions on accessible finance for small and developing nations through both the Commonwealth and the UK’s Presidency of G20. We will be following the implications of this for the UK’s international development agenda in our discussions with FCDO and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile our programme this week has spanned several countries and sectors. Our latest publication, “The Power of Social and Emotional Learning - what happens when we get Early Years Education right?”, draws on insights from a recent panel discussion with Think Equal, Aldates Global Education and the Early Years Alliance. The piece explores the importance of SEL in Early Years Education and how to embed it more effectively within education systems. You can find the piece linked here.

On Tuesday, our Skills Working Group examined the skills dimension of the green transition alongside members from our sister organisation, The D Group. The session explored the international mobility of skilled workers required for the green transition. Guest speakers included: Helen Dempster, Co-Director, Migration and Displacement and Policy Fellow at the Center for Global Development; and Mike Dawe, international workforce development expert. Many thanks both to speakers and participants for their insights.

On Wednesday, we welcomed a “Women in Business” delegation from Pakistan for a discussion with BEI members on how skills and workforce development drive women’s economic empowerment in Pakistan and the UK. Many thanks to the Pakistan-Britain Business Council for collaborating with us for this thought-provoking session.

On Thursday, the latest in our Market Opportunity Overview series looked at business and investment opportunities in Thailand. We heard insights from David Cran, Head of Trade at the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade in Thailand; Greg Watkins, Executive Director of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT); and Nuntanart Krisnachinda, Director of the Thailand Board of Investment. Our speakers provided helpful insights into how UK organisations can effectively enter the Thai market, exploring key challenges and opportunities.

We still have a number of events to go before the end of the year. On 25 November, we have our next webinar on the reconstruction of Ukraine. The focus will be on the security, delivery, legal and financing dimensions of working and delivering projects in Ukraine. Our speakers from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Tetra Tech, Spearfish and Kinsteller will provide practical advice on how to effectively manage the risks involved in entering or expanding into Ukraine and help UK companies participate in reconstruction efforts. If you are interested in joining, click here to register.

We will soon have news on the first events in our 2027 programme. In the meantime, warm wishes for a (probably less warm) weekend,

David Landsman

Executive Chair

British Expertise International

Upcoming BEI Events:

Wednesday 25th November 2026 11:00 – 12:30 GMT: Ukraine Reconstruction: Managing Risk and Delivering Resilience - Join us for a webinar focusing on the security, delivery, political and financing dimensions of working and delivering projects in Ukraine today, offering a realistic, non-alarmist picture of what entering or expanding into Ukraine involves.
Thursday 26th November 2026 12:30 – 14:30 GMT: Business Opportunities in the Overseas Territories: A Discussion with OT Leaders - Join us for a business engagement event and networking lunch with a visiting delegation of leaders from the Overseas Territories (OTs), as we explore economic diversification across the OTs and the opportunities this presents for UK businesses. Please note that this event will take place at Lancaster House, Stable Yard, St James’s, London SW1A 1BB.
Thursday 3rd December 2026 09:30 – 12:00 GMT: Compliance, Investment and Moving Money in Complex Markets - Join us for an in-person panel discussion, bringing together speakers from British International Investment, MetricsLed and Crown Agents Bank to provide an overview of compliance, investment and moving money in complex markets. This session aims to explore two connected questions: how money moves into and out of these markets, and how organisations keep it safe and compliant along the way.

Event recordings and resources

Event recordings - BEI member access only

External Events & Resources:

Survey: World Bank-Financed Procurement Supplier Survey - Whether or not your organisation has previously participated in World Bank-financed procurement, your feedback can help the World Bank improve how procurement opportunities are communicated, engage with the market and understand potential barriers to participation. The survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. This is an open-ended survey, with responses reviewed on a regular basis.
11th - 13th November 2026: Africa PPP Summit in Nairobi, Kenya: the 16th Africa PPP Summit is co-convened by Kenya PPP Directorate and supported by the State Department for Public Investment & Asset management, National Treasury, Kenya. This years theme is "Building Africa’s Prosperity: Transformative Infrastructure, Investment and Partnerships to Accelerate Economic Development”. BEI members have an exclusive 10% discount. Please email Sofia Pennacchietti via sp@britishexperitse.org for more information.
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. Complete the expression of interest form.
19th November 2026: Jordan–European Union Investment Conference at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, Dead Sea, Jordan - The conference will bring together senior government representatives, investors and business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Jordan and strengthen cooperation across a number of key sectors.
30th November - 4th December 2026: UK-Cameroon Business Roadshow - The British High Commission Yaoundé, in partnership with Cameroon's Ministry of Commerce, is inviting British businesses, investors and professional service providers to engage with a high-level delegation of leading public and private sector decision-makers from Cameroon during a unique investment and business roadshow scheduled across the UK from 30 November to 04 December 2026. To take advantage of this opportunity and explore how you can participate in the Roadshows, please email Alex Murr via am@britishexpertise.org.
11th March 2027: UK Trade and Export Finance Forum - Taking place at the InterContinental London - The O2, the UK Trade and Export Finance Forum brings together finance and business leaders for a full day of keynotes, case studies, panels, workshops and networking, covering the latest developments in export and trade finance.
6th - 8th April 2027: Innovation Africa 2027 in Harare, Zimbabwe: Innovation Africa 2027 is a Ministerial summit for Education, Skills and ICT Innovation which connects Africa's leaders with global technology partners. BEI members interested in joining can view partnership and participation options at this link: Innovation Africa Participation Options.