Results-driven BBG aims for new business goals

Already recognised as one of the largest and most active business groups in the Gulf, the BBG for Dubai and the Northern Emirates celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, but new Chairman and CEO Mark Beer is determined to achieve new goals rather than dwell on the past.

Immediately after taking the helm, Beer, who at 35 is one of the youngest ever BBG chairmen, has started accelerating measures to modernise the way the group works and increase its effectiveness in encouraging the development of British business locally, while reinforcing links between the UAE and the UK.

The 11-strong committee were, for the first time, hand-picked for their positions by the BBG members, who have tasked them with producing results. At the same time the BBG has reinforced its full-time office staff.

"It's the first time in 20 years that BBG officials have been elected by members for specific positions, given clear role descriptions and made responsible to the membership for delivering results," said Beer. "We have an excellent committee, with drive and focus, and a commitment to delivering value to our members. We are already developing a short-term action plan, as well as having a strategic planning offsite later in June to agree our focus and direction for the future."

"We have a number of aims, and the overall objective is to be more effective as an organisation in working for the benefit of our members, in promoting British business, and strengthening the already solid links between the UK and the UAE.

The initiative comes at a time when the UAE in general, and Dubai in particular, is attracting growing UK Government attention, a fact underlined by visits this year from Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Prince of Wales, and Andrew Cahn, head of the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the UK Government's international business development organisation.

The UKTI estimates that UK exports to the Middle East were worth more than £10 billion (approx US$19.9 billion) in 2006.

Figures like this do not include the value of services exported to the UAE from the UK, the contribution made by around one million UK million tourists to the Emirates each year or the incremental economic contribution made by Britons working in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Equally, we are seeing increasing inward investment from Dubai into the UK, with the acquisition of numerous UK companies by Dubai International Capital.

"The BBG started the year with 850 members and we're now aiming to double that figure, and build a membership which is more representative of the Dubai's business demographics," said Ian Giulianotti, the BBG's Membership Director. "Our own research into the changing demographics of Dubai demonstrated a significant opportunity for the Group to add value to the more than 120,000 British citizens in Dubai and the Northern Emirates; the largest British community in the region."

"So we've simplified and widened membership categories to encompass the entire spectrum of the British business community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, including companies managed, if not owned, by British people, and British individuals working for local or foreign companies."

The membership drive is backed by a BBG commitment to stage a wider variety of top quality events featuring high-profile speakers, and by improvements in the way it communicates with members, decision makers, and the general public. "We want all members to feel the benefit of being part of the organisation," said Beer. "That means creating more business opportunities for them, starting with a bigger and better range of events and other activities, and more joint meetings with other business groups."

The BBG's new team
Mark Beer, Chairman & CEO
Bob Collier, Director Events
Ian Giulianotti, Director Membership
John Martin St Valery, Chief Operating Officer
David May, Director UAE and Government Relations
Matthew Ranson, Director Brand
Elizabeth Sellwood, Director Special Interest Groups
Phil Ward, Director Finance
Peter White, Director Legal and Secretariat
Stephen Williams, Director Business Development
Claire Evans, Embassy Representative