Global Chamber Trade Mission to Northern UK, Scotland and Ireland

At Global Chamber®, leaders are directing Chapter operations in over 525 metro regions around the world, focused on helping members grow by creating connections and access across the global network. As part of that connecting activity around the world, I led a Business Development Mission to the northern region of the UK, Scotland and Ireland.

The mission was a joy, and some key stops are documented here.

For instance, while conducting a business breakfast in Leeds, it was truly a joy to meet Katie Keith, Director of Global Chamber® London Chapter, as we have collaborated over the past few years in a virtual capacity. It was also wonderful to meet and have great discussions with Leo Jones-Rowe, Partner at Schofield Sweeney and Co-Chair of Simon on the Streets.

On Day 1 our delegation met with thought leaders at the University of Leeds Business School, where we had the opportunity to meet with Professor Iain Clacher, Pro-dean of International, Leeds University Business School; Professor Ian Wood, Pro-Dean of International, Biological Sciences; Professor Chee Yew Wong, Supply Chain Management & Director, Centre for Operations & Supply Chain Research; and Professor David Loseby MCIOB Chtr'd FAPM FCMI FCIPS Chtr'd FRSA MIoD MICW, Research Impact; for a fascinating discussion on how academic research in supply chain management can provide important data to support local SME’s; and potential collaborations for business student exchanges between Miami and Leeds.

An exciting tour of the state of the art technology at the Centre for Immersive Technologies was led by Associate Professor Faisal Mushtaq followed the meeting. Many thanks to the respective professors who met with us, and to Ellen Wang, Faculty International Manager; Hannah Mawson, Faculty International Officer, and Liangyanan Cheng, Faculty International Assistant; who arranged the meetings and tour, and offered us tremendous support on our first day of our mission in Leeds.

It was inspiring to participate on a panel representing Global Chamber Miami at the Scotland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition, in Glasgow. A conversation on “Optimizing Supply Chain Efficiency through Strategic Warehousing Management,” was moderated by Guven Gurkan Inan, Assistant Professor at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University. Many thanks to fellow panelists from academia and the private sector who helped to create an impactful session today by sharing their expertise and insights with the audience.

A conversation on “Optimizing Supply Chain Efficiency through Strategic Warehousing Management,” was moderated by Guven Gurkan Inan, Assistant Professor at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University. Many thanks to fellow panelists from academia and the private sector who helped to create an impactful session by sharing their expertise and insights with the audience.

Enchanting Cork, Ireland, Sister City to Miami-Dade County, is a region of rich and varied tapestries of attractions. Spanning from the intimate cobbled streets adorned with independent businesses, to its rugged, majestic coastlines with lush natural beauty bursting with life, Cork County mirrors the dynamic contrast of its Floridian sibling.

At 'Kerryman's Table' and 'The Butter Museum,' sweeping tales about the golden era of butter trading are shared about how Cork reigned as the world's largest butter exporter in its storied past where in the 18th and 19th centuries "Old Butter Roads" where used to transport butter that was produced along the route and transported to The Butter Exchange (now known and operating as The Butter Museum) in Cork City. Farmers traveled from west to east, on a horse and buggy, through a lush valley of ancient castles, market towns and farmland, making the arduous effort to export butter to the West Indies and South America through the Port of Cobh.

In our modern day, Cork City has the second-largest natural harbor in the world. It is an inviting city and has innovative cafes, restaurants, markets, stores and producers, with the heart of it all being 'The English Market,' started in 1788, that is a bustling hub known for its quality local products, artisanal cheeses, and handcrafted chocolates and the various culinary establishments in the region where chefs continue to pay homage to Cork's rich food heritage, concoct gourmet delights with a twist of contemporary creativity and innovation, that has established Cork as a beacon of gastronomic brilliance and testament to its historical lifeline.

Throughout the County there are entrepreneurial towns that are powerhouses for growing and creating goods and crafts. During a visit to Ballyvolane House, one can learn the story of Bertha's Revenge, an Irish Milk Gin crafted at an onsite distillery at Ballyvolane House, that is wrapped in the exciting myth of Bertha, a legendary local celebrity cow from Sneem in County Kerry, where the unique gin encapsulates the essence of her spirit.

Cork County is a mesmerizing journey for the entrepreneurial spirited, history aficionados, culinary adventurers and scenery enthusiasts!

To learn more, contact me at MIA@globalchamber.org.

Lynare Robbins

Global Chamber® is a globally-connected community of CEOs, executives, and leaders in 525 metro regions and 195 countries... every day connecting member businesses to new growth opportunities. We're the only chamber of commerce operating everywhere in hundreds of locations that proactively helps members to export, import and invest through hundreds of events and targeted warm introductions to clients, partners, projects, investors and resources. Our platform uses AI and human processes to help make doing business across regions and borders as easy as doing business across the street, while supporting leaders and member firms to be global and UNSTOPPABLE.

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