The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK launches north east England Chapter with seminar on internationalism and technology in Newcastle on 7 October

“Newcastle has geographical and historical ties to Sweden and Scandinavia”, says Annika Wahlberg, Managing Director, Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK (SCC). “The location of the region in the northeast of England, two international airports and three main ports further establishes it as a large exporting hub, and is already the home to Swedish businesses”.

To mark the launch of the new Chapter, the Chamber will be hosting a trade seminar on internationalism and technology in Newcastle on 7 October, sponsored by Deloitte. The seminar will address doing business in north east England as well as in Sweden and will include representatives from various British and Swedish companies, organizations and authorities.

Caroline Theobald, Swedish Consul in Newcastle and founder of the Bridge Club Ltd, an expert provider of contacts and connections, is the Chapter Chairman and is particularly keen on building networks across the North Sea, with western Sweden and Sweden’s second city Gothenburg. “I feel very privileged to be chairing an SCC Chapter in the north east with the brand name backing of the sponsors and contributors to our launch programme”, says Caroline. “There are strong links between this launch and the successful ‘Think Britain’ festival organized in Gothenburg by H.E. Andrew Mitchell, UK Ambassador to Sweden, in June of this year. We hope to be further strengthening the north east region’s business, cultural and educational links with the Gothenburg region in particular over the coming months and so it is a wonderful coincidence that H.E. Nicola Clase, Ambassador of Sweden to the UK, who is launching the North East Chapter on 7 October, comes from this part of Sweden.”

Deloitte is the title sponsor for the event which will be hosted at The Vermont Hotel in Newcastle. David Wilkinson, a partner at Deloitte in Newcastle said: “Deloitte is delighted to be involved in the launch of the North East Chapter of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and the Anglo-Swedish trade seminar in October which is an excellent opportunity for businesses across the North East to learn more about developing links with Sweden and for Swedish companies to do the same here. This initiative will strengthen Anglo-Swedish trade relations – creating new business contacts, building networks and facilitating new business opportunities, which in the current climate is important for all businesses.”

Schedule and list of speakers:

• 2.00pm Welcome by H.E. Nicola Clase, Ambassador of Sweden, Annika Wahlberg, MD Swedish Chamber of Commerce and David Wilkinson, Deloitte
• 2.15pm – 4.00pm Doing business in North East England introduced by Alexandra Allan, Investment and Aftercare Specialist Advisor, ONE North East; Gun-Marie Östedt-Axelsson, SEAGULL Project Business Development Manager; Karin Angus, Senior Trade and Investment Advisor, UKTI with case-studies from:
  • Niklas Lundvall, Head of Project Services  Vattenfall Wind Power;
  • Mihaela Golic, Managing Director, Curictus AB;
  • Curt Luks, CEO & Founder and  Norman Ingram, UK Director, PriceIndx;
  • SODRA-ESH Joint Venture, Climathus/ Swedish Construction Technology
  • Seminar chairman: Caroline Theobald, Chair, North East Chapter of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce
• 4.00pm – 4.30pm Afternoon tea and business to business networking sponsored by EnLink Ltd
• 4.30pm – 6.00pm Doing business in Sweden introduced by Börje Svanborg,  Vice President, Regional Cooperation Invest Sweden with case studies from:
  • Fiona Cruickshank OBE,  Founder, SCM Pharma;
  • Simon Johnson, Founder,  Storyphones
  • Jon Kent, CEO, 5G Technologies;
  • Steve Blanks, Founder, Business Gateway
  • Seminar chairman: Caroline Theobald, Chair, North East Chapter of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce
• 6pm – 8pm Networking reception in the presence of H.E. Nicola Clase, for Swedish Chamber of Commerce and NECC members and guests of Handelsbanken, event sponsors.

For further information on the event and to sign up, please contact Toni Allen, Bridge Club Ltd by telephone 0191 230 5742 or by e-mail to t.allen@bridgeclubnorth.com, alternatively see www.scc.org.uk

The North East Chapter is the fourth regional Chapter of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK, following the Northern Chapter, based in Manchester, the Midlands Chapter, based in Birmingham and the Humber Chapter, based in Immingham.

About the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1906 and has around 400 Member companies, representing not only Swedish companies but also British and European companies interested in strengthening their existing ties with Sweden and the UK or expanding to new markets. Today the Swedish Chamber is one of the largest and most active foreign Chambers in the UK.

Contacts
Peter Sandberg, Communications Manager
Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK
Sweden House
5 Upper Montagu Street
London W1H 2AG
United Kingdom
Tel 020 7224 8001
Fax 020 7224 8884
Email sandberg@scc.org.uk 
Web www.scc.org.uk

Caroline Theobald, Northeastern Chapter Chairman
Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK
c/o BridgeClub
Black Swan Court
69a Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SG
Tel 0191 230 5742
E-mail c.theobald@bridgeclubnorth.com

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