23 Jul 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in FBCC News Permalink

Changes in the FBCC Team

Sticky Post By On 23rd July 2020

Dear FBCC members, partners, friends, and extended network,

We hope you are all enjoying an amazing summer full of long, warm sunny days and some well-deserved time off. For us at the Chamber, this summer has been different in more ways than one – in addition to the lockdown, remote working and business unusual, we also have a big announcement to make. Our General Manager Emma Jalonen will be stepping down from her position on 31st July and starting 1st August her successor Jade Juvonen will be taking on the role.  Many of you may remember Jade from her previous time at the Chamber in Autumn 2019.

I, Emma, would like to sincerely thank all of you for your support, for attending our events and for engaging with us. These past three years at the Chamber have given me so much, both professionally and personally, and I have had the enormous privilege of meeting so many of you. It truly has been my pleasure meeting so many inspiring and interesting people from different industries and backgrounds and hosting you at our events. Working for the FBCC has been an amazing experience and I consider myself very lucky to have been given the opportunity to leave my mark on our operations. I also want to give a special thanks to our Board of Directors for giving me this opportunity, for believing in me and for all your support. I know I will be leaving the chamber in capable hands and I look forward to seeing what Jade and her team will accomplish over the next years.

As for me, Jade, when I left London this March, I knew I was coming back, but what I did not know was how and when it would happen. It is probably the most unique time to take on this role, with upcoming changes caused by Brexit and especially the pandemic. However, I am beyond excited to be back on the team! The past spring has been challenging for everyone, but it has also given room for innovation and new opportunities. I’d like to thank Emma and her Spring 2020 team for taking good care of the chamber and for proving us that the FBCC is able adapt to extreme changes.

The FBCC Team will be joined by two wonderful new trainees on 3rd August and they will be introduced to the network in the August Newsletter. We cannot wait to see all our members and friends at upcoming virtual and (hopefully) live events in the Autumn. There are lots of exciting things planned, so keep an eye out for updated on our website and newsletter.

Please join us in wishing Emma all the best in her future endeavours (you can stay in touch with her via LinkedIn) and welcoming Jade back to the Chamber and congratulating her for her new role.

Wishing the entire network health and happiness and I hope you enjoy the rest of the Summer!

Warmest Regards,
Emma & Jade

06 Jul 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in FBCC News Permalink

The FBCC Wishes You a Lovely Summer!

Sticky Post By On 6th July 2020

The FBCC office will be closed for the month of July. We will be back in the office on 3rd August. During July, our General Manager Emma Jalonen will be intermittently available via email: emma@fbcc.co.uk.

We wish you all a lovely Summer full of warm, sunny days, that will enable you to return to work in the Autumn with recharged batteries and new energy. We look forward to seeing you all at our virtual and (hopefully) live events soon!

We have also published our summer newsletter and you can read it here.

03 Jul 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in Corporate Member News, COVID-19 Permalink

Finnair Ramping Up their Network

Sticky Post By On 3rd July 2020

FBCC Member Finnair is happy to inform that as travel restrictions are removed in different countries and air travel starts to recover, they have now started to ramp up their operations! The  frequencies and routes will be added back to their network month by month from July onwards as the demand recovers.

The new schedule has now been published for the coming months all the way until end of March 2021 and they will gradually increase the flights from the United Kingdom and Ireland to Helsinki.

In July, August and September, Finnair are also able to resume flights to many of their long-haul destinations so that the short northern route via Helsinki is again open.

Check the exact, up-to-date timetable in the reservation system or on Finnair.com. Always remember to check the current restrictions for the destination country when planning or booking flights.

You can read the latest travel updates from Finnair’s website.

30 Jun 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in FBCC News, FBCC Trainees Permalink

Goodbye from FBCC Spring 2020 Trainee Lotta

Sticky Post By On 30th June 2020

I cannot believe it’s almost July already. It’s summer now, even in Helsinki! Today is also my last day at the FBCC and I would like to share some of my thoughts with all of you members and friends of the FBCC.

Six months ago, I travelled to London and didn’t really know what to expect. However, I was extremely excited to work at the FBCC. Although, the past spring had a lot of surprises to all of us and my internship was not exactly how I imagined it to be, I can say that I have learnt and experienced so much during my time at the FBCC.

I set a few goals in the beginning of my internship. I wished to develop my networking skills and to learn more about event management and I think I have accomplished both of those goals. In addition, as I have studied international business, I was interested in to see what Nordic companies have expanded their business to the UK market and how do these companies operate in a foreign market. I think after working at the FBCC, I have really seen how Nordic companies internationalise to the competitive UK market. All in all, after this internship, I have grown as a young professional and I know I will benefit from these skills in my future career.

I got to experience so many great things during my internship. First of all working in the small and vibrant team FBCC gave me so many opportunities. I have created marketing campaigns, done bookkeeping, organised and participated in a variety of events and set up the first ever webinars for the FBCC. Second, I got from the frontline see how companies adapt during a global crisis like COVID-19. Although, the situation was not pleasant for anyone of us, for me it gave a great opportunity to learn about adapting to new and uncertain situations.

I would like to express my warmest thanks to the FBCC members I met, the FBCC board and last but not least to my colleagues Emma and Anna. I would like to thank Emma for being a reliable general manager who both trusts and supports her trainees. In addition, I would like to thank Anna for being my positive and uplifting colleague through out the internship.

In the autumn, I will continue studying management and international business at Aalto University. However, I wish to return to London sooner or later and meet you at FBCC events. I would like to wish a lovely summer and upcoming autumn to all of you. I know we have some exciting times ahead!

If you would like to keep in touch, please connect with me on LinkedIn and feel free to leave a message.

30 Jun 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in FBCC News, FBCC Trainees Permalink

Goodbye from FBCC Spring 2020 trainee Anna

Sticky Post By On 30th June 2020

Hi everyone!

My time as a Marketing and Events Coordinator at the Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce is coming to an end. These five months flew past surprisingly quickly and now, new challenges await. I will continue my studies at Tampere University and continue to develop professionally. Before I go, I would like to reflect on my experiences at the chamber and share my thoughts.

My goals in the beginning of this traineeship were to learn more about marketing and to develop as a networker. Despite the current situation, restrictions, social distancing requirements and me travelling back to Finland, I believe, that I’ve met my goals and gained much more. I gained so much valuable experience in digital marketing and management of both live and online events. I learned bookkeeping and to use various software. Due to the restrictions on live events and remote working I got the chance to develop my independent working skills and to learn to adapt quickly to ever changing situations. Most importantly, however, I developed my communication skills and became more confident in networking and meeting new people during this traineeship.

This has truly been a life altering experience. Relocating to beautiful London and working in the dynamic and incredibly energetic environment gave me a new level of confidence in myself and my abilities.

Working in a small team presented me with the opportunity to gain a lot of knowledge in a short period of time. I was always certain, that I could count on our team for help, even when we were miles apart from each other, in quarantine and in different cities.

I would like to genuinely thank all members and friends of the FBCC for making my time in London but also online so exciting and unforgettable.  Hopefully we will meet again at FBCC’s events in the future, as I am planning to visit London as soon as everything will get back to normal!

I would like to warmly thank our general manager Emma and my amazing colleague Lotta for being part of this journey. My experience wouldn’t have been the same without both of you. Emma showed trust in our abilities right from the start, gave us individual responsibilities, offered her help in any situation and has been a great friend. My fellow trainee Lotta has been a fantastic co-worker. I am extremely happy to know her not just as a colleague, but also as a friend. In addition, I would like to thank our board members for their help and support.

Now it’s time to enjoy our summer vocation and welcome new trainees in the Autumn 2020! I am positive, that they will do a great job and have an amazing time.

I am sure we will meet again and, in the meantime, if you would like to keep in touch, please connect with me on LinkedIn!

26 Jun 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in Corporate Member News, FBCC News, Jobs Permalink

FBCC Patron Goodwille is recruiting!

Sticky Post By On 26th June 2020

FBCC patron Goodwille is looking for an Office Assistant who thrives on providing great customer service to join our Front of House team in Warwick. Within your role you will be responsible for:

  • Meeting & Greeting visitors
  • Telephone answering
  • Post handling
  • Meeting room bookings
  • Order handling & Sales support
  • Supporting both internal and external clients with administrative tasks
  • Working with onboarding new clients
  • Liaising with suppliers
  • Supporting other departments & building tenants with ad hoc requests

The applicant must be computer literate, have a strong understanding of the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word & Excel) and experience working within a busy administration/reception role. We work with clients from all over the world, so experience working in an international environment would be a bonus.

Handling incoming calls will be an important part of your job and you should be passionate about providing great customer service, both on & off the phone, as well as being able to work independently to ensure the smooth running of the reception area. In joining us, you will become part of a modern, forward-thinking and inclusive organisation, capable of offering a stimulating environment for you to work in.

Goodwille is a forward-thinking, ambitious company dedicated to providing foreign businesses with the kind of professional services required to establish themselves and flourish in the UK. These include Corporate Legal, Finance, People Management, Payroll & Virtual Office services.

Read more about the position here!

16 Jun 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in FBCC News, Patron News Permalink

Member offer from F-Secure

Sticky Post By On 16th June 2020

Our Patron member F-Secure has an offer for all our members:

In recent years, remote working has become a regular treat for millions of employees, and a means to redress work / life balance. Over the last few weeks and months, this switch to remote work has accelerated at breakneck pace and across vast swathes of the workforce. The difference, however, is that the impetus has been a worldwide societal crisis, not cultural change.

F-Secure’s users and customers are doing things differently, often under duress and with all kinds of resource challenges, and we can’t do a good job if we don’t adapt to conform to their changes, too. One result of this is that a plan we’ve been working on for a while, has just been accelerated into production.

F-Secure has introduced Countercept Rapid, an essential version of their award winning 24/7 Managed Detection and Response service.

Here’s a quick rundown:

  • Quick deployment – up and running within a week.
  • Billed after the third month, pay (and renew) monthly after that.

F-Secures existing MDR service is usually provided via contracts of a year or more; it’s comprehensive and exhaustive, tailored to your organisational needs and it works exceptionally well. But not every organization wants to make a long-term financial commitment, nor do they need every single capability we provide over the short term.

Over the last few years we’ve seen the practice of business change dramatically; we’re seeing another seismic shift now. We must – and have – moved with the times. Countercept MDR isn’t going anywhere, but if you need to quickly build a relationship with F-Secure with something more flexible, a simpler service with the same quality and expertise you’d expect from them, then Countercept Rapid it is. Given more time, you can also move to a more tailored, long term contract if you want to commit to a longer term relationship – and if you need access to extra capabilities.

Click here for further information.

 

09 Jun 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in Corporate Member News, COVID-19, FBCC News Permalink

What Happens After Recovering from COVID-19? One Individual’s Data Story

Sticky Post By On 9th June 2020

The FBCC member Firstbeat has provided a unique insight into life after COVID-19 for one individual.

This individual, a 47-year-old man from London, contracted coronavirus in March. He was never admitted to hospital but was wiped out for well over a week and endured difficulty breathing, aches and pains, fever, and exhaustion. Thankfully, he made a full recovery and had returned to his normal routine when he took part in a Firstbeat measurement roughly one month on from the illness. This measurement involves recording physiological reactions over a three-day period using heart rate variability to provide insights into everything from sleep and recovery, to exercise and stress.

The individual’s typical routine included a return to physical activity and working life. A combination that would usually leave him feeling energized. However, the results from his three-day measurement revealed that, although he had recovered from COVID-19, the knock-on effects of the respiratory illness appeared to be impacting his ability to recover effectively from even the most moderate of exercise.

For a man of his age, the typical ‘stress and recovery balance’ score seen in a Firstbeat measurement report is 53 out of 100.  And the average ‘restorative effect of sleep’ score comes in at 57. This individual’s scores were 9 and 22 out of 100, respectively.

On Day 1 of the Assessment, despite only 13 minutes of vigorous physical activity, and racking up almost eight hours of sleep, the individual experienced no daytime recovery and only minimal recovery overnight.

Day 3 was a similar story. Even though the individual noted in their diary some specific periods of ‘relaxation’ their body once again was unable to react affectively to balance the physiological stress brought on by periods of work and moderate exercise.

Although these results are only one person’s experience of life after recovering from COVID-19, it is interesting to note the apparent extended impact the illness had on this individual’s ability to recover. At least suggesting that a patient and slow approach to ramping up a return to normal life – and specifically exercise – if you have suffered from coronavirus may be the best and most sensible approach.

Read full article here.

08 Jun 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in Corporate Member News, COVID-19, FBCC News Permalink

“Podinar” with Marks & Clerk: Protecting Your Brand during the Lockdown 

Sticky Post By On 8th June 2020

Are brands important during the time of COVID-19? How should you protect your brand during these times? Does the lockdown bring any opportunities?

In our first ever “podinar”, Simon Portman and Michael Barret of Marks & Clerk and the general manager of the FBCC, Emma Jalonen, will discuss the current situation and what kind of difficulties and opportunities the lockdown has brought. Simon and Michael, as intellectual property experts, will also tell you how you can protect your brand during these times.

Speakers:

Simon PortmanSimon Portman specialises as a commercial contract lawyer for technology companies. He works for clients in the electronics, bioscience,  defence, software, nanotech and creative industries, advising companies ranging from small start-ups to big multinationals as well as individuals, public bodies and charities. You can read more here.

 

 

Michael BarrettMichael Barrett is dual-qualified as a Chartered (UK) and European Trade Mark Attorney and as a solicitor. He advises brand owners on all aspects of trade mark protection and registration, including portfolio management, clearance searching, trade mark prosecution, opposition, cancellation, revocation, licensing, assignment, infringement and the law of unregistered trade marks/passing-off. You can read more here.

 

About Marks & Clerk:

FBCC member Marks & Clerk has long been recognised as one of the leading intellectual property firms across the globe, with eight offices across the UK and a further nine in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific. 

02 Jun 2020
Sticky Post By Posted in Corporate Member News, FBCC News Permalink

Finnmark turns a box van into sauna

Sticky Post By On 2nd June 2020


FBCC member Finnmark Ltd has launched a wood-burning sauna using a box van from Ifor Williams Trailers. The box van sauna was featured in the Northern Echo newspaper. Read the whole article here!

The box van sauna is new, purpose-built mobile sauna, which has a dimmable LED-lit back rest. The sauna will be parked up at idyllic tourist spots including the Lake District and at endurance events, cycle races and triathlons once lockdown restrictions lift.

Jake and Max Newport of Finnmark ltd consulted distributors Alan Tuer Trailers in Carlisle to find the perfect box van model to their project – the BV127. Finnmark ltd used western red cedar wood from Canada during construction, to keep weight to a minimum. Ifor Williams Trailers was chosen as the brands share the same values of quality and durability.

Finnmark Ltd is so pleased with its box van sauna it could lead to a new product range for leisure companies or private hire.

Finnmark Ltd is known in the industry for their uncompromising dedication to quality and authenticity when it comes to the sale of sauna equipment and bespoke installations. The growing company, which was founded in 2016, is based in County Durham’s Enterprise City.

Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce

The FBCC is an independent, non-profit organisation, recognized throughout the Finnish, British and international business communities. The Chamber offers four different membership categories: Patron, Corporate, Professional and Young Professional.