UK Israel Business Breakfast
12 February marked the first of the breakfasts of 2025 which was attended by up to 65 businesspeople from across the region.
The breakfast was sponsored by Nick Dyson, Partner of Blacks Solicitors who heads up the firm’s Real Estate and Holiday and Home Parks Sector. Nick welcomed guests and speakers sharing his mantra about developing a clear vision for business enabling it to focus on and to develop a clear vision which should be inspiring for customers and colleagues alike.
One of the guest speakers was Andrew Cooper, Chief Executive of LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District). This organisation, founded in April 2015 and the largest multi-sector BID outside London, is business-led and non-political. Its goal is to promote Leeds as a City with investment of approximately £18.2 million from April 2025 to March 2030.
The goal of LeedsBID is to make Leeds a welcoming city focusing on it being safe, attractive clean and friendly. Andrew is energetically ambitious to lead and promote inspirational events showcasing the rich tapestry of the city’s history including celebrating the 400th anniversary in 2026 of its Charter.
The main speaker was Matan Safran, the Minister of Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Israel to the United Kingdom. His main role being to direct efforts to strengthen and further build upon Israel-UK trade relations.
Matan outlined his key approach to his role being Challenges, Optimism, Resilience and attitude to failure which he said also epitomises the way Israel approaches its current situation.
Trading bilaterally needs to be proactive, where both UK and Israeli companies engage with each other to form long lasting relationships.
The Israeli economy, in spite of the country being on a war footing, is very strong where inflation and unemployment are very low with HiTech being the main engine of the economy. This, Matan says, is down to attitude where “failure is the means to an end as you learn from your failures.”
The future is in Artificial Intelligence and Bioconvergence.
Although trade between both countries is slightly lower at this time, there is a brighter future ahead as negotiations are ongoing for a Free Trade Agreement with five rounds completed and a sixth due very soon.
Any companies wishing to explore trading with Israel are welcome to contact Matan and his team at the embassy.
