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Corporate feedback

Andrew Morris-Richardson, Group Managing Director, Abacus Lighting

“We felt very privileged that his HRH The Duke of York took time out of his busy schedule to visit our Global Headquarters in Nottinghamshire.

HRH plays a vital role in bringing new business to the UK and promoting the UK across the globe. HRH’s visit spearheaded a strategic change initiative for our organisation. We are currently embarking on a fast-paced period of global expansion and in his role as UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, HRH was able to take part in a key business meeting about this expansion. His inspiration and ideas have contributed to some key decisions being made about Abacus’s future. HRH also highlighted some new business opportunities through connections made in his recent visit to China.

In addition, as a result of HRH’s visit, our company’s profile has been raised internationally with some of our worldwide partners even joining us for the event.

All the team at Abacus were thrilled to be part of the visit, which created a whirlwind of enthusiasm and positivity about our organisation and its future.”

www.abacuslighting.com

Sir Mike Rake, Chairman, BT Group plc

“We believe that HRH Prince Andrew’s UK Special Representative role for International Trade & Investment offers unique access, consistent long term advocacy, and tangible progress. The support to BT specifically and the ICT industry generally has been very welcome: BT examples include our activities in California and more recently at an event in Beijing.”

www.btplc.com

Zubair Salim, Director of Marketing, Picsel UK Limited

“The Duke of York has always been an avid supporter of innovation in British business. He has demonstrated this over the years with his involvement in the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, which has become established as one of the most prestigious honours for business performance. Innovative businesses in the UK not only affect our economy, but are also at the cutting-edge of our relations with other countries around the world. While other states see their ambassadors for trade change with each government, The Duke of York has been able to firmly establish himself as the UK‘s Special Representative for Trade and Investment over many years. From our own work with him, we know how he has used his passion for the mobile industry to become a real driving force in helping us engage with large-scale mobile players in Korea and the US.”

www.picsel.com

Philip Cave, Managing Director, Kier Construction

“Prince Andrew is very supportive of British Trade overseas. By example, we are looking to take British expertise in education and schools building into the Middle East. This is against a backdrop of reduced spending and construction unemployment in the UK. His Royal Highness is looking to support this trade as it will not only create UK jobs in design, construction and education services it will also build closer links between the countries.

In many countries, relationships take time to build and the short window of a parliamentary term creates continuity challenges. His Royal Highness can provide that continuity and is widely respected.

We should cherish and protect what is the envy of other nations. He is a competitive advantage. We would request and support his continued involvement in overseas trade.”

www.kier.co.uk

Malcolm Brinded, Managing Director, Shell

“British Trade and Investment benefits greatly from the strong support that the Duke of York provides in his role as The UK’s Special Representative For International Trade & Investment. His experience, commitment and global reach are a real asset to UK companies operating around the world, in a wide range of businesses.”

www.shell.com

Sir Thomas Harris, Vice Chairman, Standard Chartered Capital Markets

“As first a diplomat and then as a banker, I have seen at first hand the tangible benefits which have flowed from the work of The Duke of York as the UK‘s Special Representative for Trade and Investment. There are too many examples to quote them all but I recall those US firms I knew who only decided to invest in the UK after his personal intervention; or that major Korean Pension Fund which only began to do business in the City after his personal invitation to come to see what was on offer in London; or those banking licences granted to Standard Chartered and HSBC in Vietnam after he had raised the issue at the highest level on a visit to Hanoi. Much of his work is necessarily unpublicised but, in current circumstances, we are fortunate to have a Royal envoy who is knowledgeable about business and devoted to the promotion of economic prosperity in his country.”

wholesalebanking.standardchartered.com

Peter Levene, Chairman, Lloyd’s of London

“The continuing success of British business, especially at a time of such testing economic conditions, depends to a considerable extent on the image of the United Kingdom worldwide. The global programme of visits by The Duke of York in his role as the UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, succeeds in presenting the achievements and potential of the UK at the highest levels of Government and Industry in a way which is rarely available to other nations.”

www.lloyds.com

Chris Hyman, Chief Executive, Serco Group plc

“Being British stands for a lot in the global market but in a competitive world having the right service quality at the right price is just expected. So if we are to win it is vitally important to have support and endorsement from those inside and outside of government. As a result of the Duke of York’s very significant help we have won a £400 million contract to operate the new Dubai Metro. His ability to skilfully establish and develop strong relationships in this important market has been very helpful. This new business, and the Duke’s ongoing support, will further our growth in that region which continues to enhance UK plc.”

www.serco.com

Graham Cartledge, Chairman, Benoy

“Benoy has built an enviable reputation as a leading designer of retail and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. We feel that the role of His Royal Highness as Special Representative for International Trade and Investment has added a new dimension to the UK business offer, contributing to a greater visibility and bargaining power for UK business abroad. Benoy is especially grateful for his help and work on our behalf in the Middle East, where we have won several contracts with a budget of over £5 billion, including the design of one of the world’s largest and most prestigious retail and leisure destinations.”

www.benoy.com

Sir David Wright, Vice Chairman, Barclays Capital

“I have had the pleasure of working with HRH both during my time as Chief Executive of UK Trade & Investment and subsequently as Vice Chairman of Barclays Capital. In the increasingly competitive and globalised market in which we work, it is vital to maximise the support which companies can secure from effective international networks. HRH provides access to one of these in his role in support of business. This is an asset of value for companies and the UK brand.”

www.barcap.com

Frank Chapman Chief Executive BG Group

“The Duke of York is strongly committed to promoting UK trade and investment. His visits to our countries of operation give visibility and impact to UK investment and create a positive environment for engagement with government and other stakeholders. In a competitive global economy he adds strength and presence to the reputation of UK businesses.”

www.bg-group.com

Edward Chen, Managing Director, Huawei UK & Ireland

“We greatly appreciate the support of the Duke of York as Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. He has shown a high level of insight into our industry’s technology, as well as a keen interest in facilitating both continued investment and growth in the UK operations. The Duke’s extensive influence international should prove to be very beneficial in increasing cultural and business ties between our two countries.”

www.huawei.com

Tony Allum CBE FREng, Chairman, Halcrow Group

“Halcrow is expanding rapidly outside of the UK, and is making great progress in regions such as the Middle East, India and North America. The contact we’ve had with Prince Andrew in this period of growth has provided us with invaluable insight and support. He helped to host our 50-year celebrations in Dubai in 2002 and since then has actively worked with us to open up new opportunities for the business in different parts of the world.”

www.halcrow.com

Lord Foster of Thamesbank OM, Chairman, Foster + Partners

“We are grateful to HRH The Duke of York, in his role as Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, for all of the work he has done on our behalf in raising Foster + Partners’ global profile. He has particularly helped us in the Middle East where he has shown great skill in establishing and nurturing commercial relationships at the highest possible level”

www.fosterandpartners.com

Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive, AirAsia

“What the world needs to know is how hard the Duke of York worked for British industry to ensure AirAsia X became a reality. It was through his hard efforts that AirAsia chose Rolls-Royce engines and ensured we got credit support. As AirAsia X grows, the importance of HRH’s involvement can never be underestimated and will clearly be remembered as a pivotal step for the airline.”

www.airasia.com

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Video

The Duke of York gives an interview to David Frost on Frost over world

The Duke of York gives an interview to David Frost on Frost over world

Frost over the World – For the last seven years Prince Andrew has been the UK’s ‘special representative for international trade and investment’. In this role he travels the world promoting British business.

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