Exporters, business leaders and DIT staff have been recognised in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Congratulating those to have been honoured, Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “It is wonderful to see some of the brilliant UK business leaders and exporters honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list this year.”
She added: “To see so many DIT staff honoured demonstrates the outstanding achievements of our trade professionals and the importance of their work boosting the UK economy and championing free and fair trade across the globe. Well done to all of those recognised.”
The winners
Business leaders and exporters honoured include:
- Karen Betts, chief executive, The Food & Drink Federation (OBE)
- Maggie Kessler, co-owner and export director, 2M Group (OBE)
- Mordechai Kessler, chairman and CEO, 2M Group (OBE)
- Sanjay Vadera, CEO, the Fragrance Shop and Per-Scent (MBE)
- Bradley Aspess, founder, Rarewaves (MBE)
Department for International Trade staff honoured include:
- Ameeta Virk, markets leader – India & USA (MBE)
- Rodney Berkeley, director for manufacturing, energy and infrastructure (CBE)
- Esi Eshun, director of legal and compliance group (OBE)
- Sandra Martin, deputy director, Southern England Regional Team (OBE)
- Angela Whelan, assistant director, international engagement and protocol (MBE)
- Tom Goodwin, member of WTO institutional affairs and governance (MBE)
- Camille Pascual, head of marketing and communications Middle East, British Embassy Dubai, UAE (MBE)
- Sharon Neblett, business management assistant to deputy director of communications and marketing (BEM)
Among the 1,134 honoured was the Nairobi-based chief executive of TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), Frank Matseart, a founder of the NGO.
Matsaert was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for ‘services to trade and economic development in East Africa’.
The IOE&IT is partnering with TMEA in developing the UK-Kenya Trade Logistics Information Pipepline (TLIP), which aims to improve the efficiency of supply chains between the two countries through the electronic exchange of trade information across borders.
Jubilee jump
Despite cost of living concerns, the Platinum Jubilee celebrations are estimated to have added £6bn to high street sales and hospitality, reports the Guardian.
The Guardian also reports on retailers selling out of Jubilee themed merchandise, including:
- M&S’s Queen Connie and Corgi caterpillar cake
- Lakeland’s £35 vintage-look trifle bowls
- Pottery brand Emma Bridgewater’s Queen Bee mugs and personalised teapots
Brits spent £400m on merchandise according to the Centre for Retail Research.
Shopping footfall
According to the British Retail Consortium, footfall on high streets was at its strongest since the pandemic began last month, although still 12.5% lower than pre-coronavirus levels, reports the Express.
This is the lowest rate of decline in visitor numbers to shops and malls since the pandemic hit – and the total is up by 0.6% from April. Overall, footfall has increased for the third month in row.
Tourism bounce
Travel Weekly reports that inbound tourism body UKinbound is urging the sector to build on the boost from the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The UK is expected to welcome 21.2m international visitors in 2022, spending £16.9bn. However, these figures are only 52% and 59% of 2019’s totals respectively.
Flagship for trade
Meanwhile, the new £250m national flagship HYM Britannia will win business deals for Britain, trade minister Penny Mordaunt has predicted.
In the first comments from a DIT minister on the possible replacement for the royal yacht Britannia, the Portsmouth North MP told the Telegraph: “It’s a great message to send about Britain and what we’re trying to do across the world. This new ship will undoubtedly help with that. And I think the Britannia brand is very powerful”.