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July 2008
UKTI invites BESTFRONTSEAT to attend St. James Palace to demonstrate our delivery capabilities of motor sports worldwide.
In the week of the British Grand Prix, Formula One drivers past and present including Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and John Surtees - the only man to have won World titles on both two and four wheels - join forces with the UK's leading designers and business leaders.
The meeting, hosted by Trade and Investment Minister Lord Digby Jones, highlights the important contribution to the UK economy by Brand Britain's world-leading skills and expertise in innovative design - from performance cars to video games, iconic architecture to advertising.
The event takes place at St James' Palace today and guests include the best of British. British companies - from architects to video games creators, branding specialists to fashion designers and a small, Hull-based TV company at the forefront of internet technology advances - will be showcasing their business successes to overseas ambassadors to promote the UK's design expertise in all fields.
The business-focused event sees the leading UK designers (of cars, fashion, buildings, computer games, advertising, photography, publishing.).meet motor sport chiefs and overseas creatives and Ambassadors mostly from F1 hosting nations.
Damon Hill, President of the British Racing Drivers Club, Ian Callum, Chief Designer of Jaguar cars, David Nelson, Head of Design at Foster and Partners, Lord Heseltine, Chairman of the Haymarket Media Group, designer Thomas Heatherwick and the Duke of York will also be among those gathered.
Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, said: “There's no doubt that Formula One has a huge following. 181,000 people visited Silverstone over the three days of the Grand Prix two years ago - that's the equivalent of over four full capacity Premiership Aston VIlla games! But it's about more than the spectacle. The business of motor sport is a true British success story - and it's a success driven by another Great British business sector, our creative design talents.”
British racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart said, “I am pleased to be participating in this initiative, showcasing the creative industries of Great Britain involved in Motor Sport. Britain is still the capital of the world for technology in motor sports. The British Grand Prix must remain in the United Kingdom and achieve even more global reach in the future by aligning commercial interests with other countries around the world.”
- Showcased companies at the event are:
Motorsports:
- Williams F1 - Car - courtesy Williams F1; Sir Frank Williams and his designer Patrick Head who joined together in the 1970's have been one of the most enduring partnerships in motorsport - together have taken this leading British brand to all corners of the motorsport world. Williams F1 will be represented by Adam Parr, CEO
- Triumph Motorcycles - currently leading the British Supersport Championship and reminding us that motorsports isn't just on 4 wheels; Demonstrating the UK's strength in Creative Products such as publishing, fashion, computer games, TV programme and photography we are showcasing:
- Bestfrontseat - demonstrating the importance of new media and the need to respond to new viewing behaviours, Best Front Seat (Peter Kemp) - a Hull based IPTV company, whose unique suite of internet video products enable the delivery of live events to be taken to new horizons.
- Haymarket - a global media player known especially for it's racing titles such as F1 Racing and for Autosport International, the world's best known motorsport exhibition held annually at the NEC. (Lord Heseltine, Chair will be at the event)
- Edward Sexton of London - a bespoke tailor starting out in the 60's and with a truly international reputation having dressed a host of well known international celebrities from Mick Jagger through to F1's Flavio Briatore.
- Sony Evolution - Motorstorm is currently the world's best selling motor related game and designed in the UK. Mick Hocking, Studio Group Director is due to attend
- Keith Sutton of Sutton Images - based just a stone's throw from Silverstone, and a long established international brand renowned for its quality in photographic images across all areas of motorsport. Keith Sutton is due to attend
- Jenny Packham - glamorous ladies fashion, Jenny Packham is showcasing alongside Edward Sexton her Bond Girl dress used in Casino Royal -the last Bond film
- Mark Stewart - an award winning TV production company specialising in documentaries, corporate communications and tv commercials with strong links to motorsport - their achievements include documentaries on the Goodwood Revival; Graham Hill and The Flying Scot. Showing how buying creative services can enhance the value of business we are showcasing:
- Corporate Edge - a branding and communications company whose clients and showcased work include both Williams F1 and Triumph. Chairman, Chris Wood, will have just left the racing track in France to join the event.
- CGI Consulting - from their base in the West Midlands, they combine the best of UK creative talent alongside the latest in Automotive manufacturing technologies giving them a global reach to OEMs worldwide. They are showcasing a scale model of a concept car. Thomas Ashton, Design Director attending
- Benoy - showcasing a model of the world's first Ferrari World Centre alongside the Abu Dhabi F1 track - marrying an iconic Italian brand synonymous with the best in design with UK architectural expertise. Graham Cartledge, Chairman attending Attendees are drawn from the worlds of motor sports and creative industries and include:
- Head of Design from Foster & Partners, Chair of Benoy, Gebler Tooth Architects, Atelier Gustavo Lins, Studio Merscough and other UK architecture firms
- Damon Hill, President of the British Racing Drivers Club,
- Nick Fry, CEO of Honda F1,
- Thomas Heatherwick, Designer,
- Lord Heseltine, Chairman of the Haymarket Media Group.
- David Godber, Deputy CEO Design Council (and ex-Head of Design at Nissan)
- Chief Designer of Jaguar Cars + Design Director for Aston Martin Lagonda
- Owners of Triumph Motorcycles and Williams F1
- Conran and Partners
- BMW
- Prodrive
- Sony BMG Music Entertainment
- Head of Automotive at the RCA
- Established & Sons furniture designers ... to name but a few. Speakers represent government, creative and motor sport industries:
- Lord Digby Jones, Minister for Trade & Investment
- Sir Martin Sorrell (WPP - advertising)
- Sir Jackie Stewart (motor sport and education)
- HRH The Duke of York
The reception also aims to celebrate the work underway to ensure expertise in motor sports and the creative industries is carried through to the next generation, including the F1 in Schools initiative and the creation of 5,000 new creative apprentice places by 2013 as part of the DCMS Creative Britain strategy.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)
UKTI is the UK Government's international business development organisation, supporting businesses seeking to establish in the UK and helping UK companies grow internationally. The services offered by UK Trade & Investment bring together a network of business sector specialists and support teams in London, Glasgow, Cambridge, the nine English Regions and in British diplomatic posts in some 100 markets all around the world. UKTI works with a wide range of partner organisations in the UK, including other Government departments, Regional Development Agencies and the Devolved Administrations, Business Links, Chambers of Commerce and trade associations.