Atlantic Charter

This summer marks the 80th anniversary of the Atlantic Charter. My great grandfather, Sir Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister at the time, and Franklin Roosevelt both got together in order to agree this historic charter. Freedom of the seas, freedom of fear and want, democratic self-determination, all of these things were wrapped up into the Atlantic Charter. It led to that transatlantic cooperation where we see the United States being the largest inward investor in the UK, and the UK also being the largest inward investor in the US.

And that's why it's so important that we recognize and celebrate that today. Amazon, Oracle, Netflix, Hewlett-Packard Enterprises, Boeing and many others. We're proud of the innovative businesses that invest in our region. The US market is our number one international market for Bristol Bath and the West of England, both in terms of its volume and value.

It's a no-brainer for us to set up in the Southwest because our clients needed access to great talent that allowed them to speak the language of the rest of the world. Having an office in the Southwest has been great. It's been a real gateway to business in Europe and given us access to a wealth of local clients. We started with a couple of employees only and have been able to grow to over a thousand across the UK, covering multiple sectors including government and other civil opportunities.

We grew from four to forty-five people in space of four years. That's thanks to the fact that this region has amazing talent. We have world-renowned universities which are centers of excellence in terms of research and development and also things like robotics. And with Bristol we have been able to tap into a rich pool of creative talent.

Locating here in the Southwest has given us access to an exceptional talent pool and we've been able to get the right people and the right jobs quickly. It's a region of collaboration and opportunity with expertise in sectors from the arts and tourism to advanced engineering, digital, aerospace and financial and professional services. We pioneered the Great British Food Program, which to date has helped more than a hundred food and drink businesses from the Southwest enter the US market. The visitor economy encompasses not just holidays but also the business events market and this is something that's developed specifically through our convention bureau, Meet Bristol and Bath.

The Southwest has a fantastic offering in terms of incubation hubs and start-ups. Our Retail Lab initiative will list companies on a major B2B marketplace in the US. This marketplace hosts buyers from retail giants such as Target, Whole Foods, Lowe's, Home Depot and many, many more. MyWorld brings together amazing talent from the universities of Bristol, Bath, Bath Spa and the west of England.

Collaborating with international organizations such as Netflix and YouTube, MyWorld will enable the creation of the most amazing films, games and online experiences. There's nowhere else in the world that gives this support as we do in the Southwest. As an American moving to the UK, the Southwest has so much to offer. You're a couple of hours from London, the airport has access to anywhere in Europe and the local culture here is outstanding.

So whether it's walking in the footsteps of Romans from 2000 years ago, right through to exploring the streets of Bristol and discovering original Banksy Street art, we have the right connections, whether that's road or rail or airport or even seaport. Supported by the Combined Authorities Inward Investment Service, Invest in Bristol and Bath, we have all the parts to continue to develop our relationship with the United States. With a vibrant future built on a thriving green economy, we will ensure the region continues to grow. Preserving our environment, reducing inequality and ensuring prosperity for current and future generations.

In the spirit of the signing of the Atlantic Charter so many years ago, we are so proud of our strong bond with the US and we look forward to the bright future that this partnership will bring.