The FBCC is welcoming two new additions to the team for the Autumn 2019 period. Please welcome Maria and Jade!

Maria is studying a master’s degree at Tampere University, majoring in sustainable business management. Before that, she attained a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Stockholm University. London is a completely new city for Maria, so she is excited to explore the dynamic, innovative city that London is!

Maria is interested in megatrends such as sustainable development and digitalization. As the Finnish-British business community is an innovator in these fields, Maria is excited to network with the Chamber’s members and other companies in the community. She is looking forward to the traineeship at FBCC, as its diverse work tasks will help develop her professionally.

Jade is a last year double-degree student of European Business Administration at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. She’s completed the first two years of her studies in Finland and the third-year specialization for international business and management at the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom. Originally, she chose her study program specifically for its international aspect and the opportunities to study and work abroad.

At Metropolia Jade worked as a tutor for the incoming exchange students which strengthened her resolve to leave Finland for her own year abroad. During her Erasmus year at the University of Wolverhampton, and several trips to London, Jade fell in love with the country and the idea of working in the UK was born.
Jade is looking forward to learning more about marketing and organizing events. She’s also very excited to meet new people at the networking events. For the future she wishes that the internship at FBCC will help her to form a business network and give a great kickstart for her career in international business!

Maria and Jade are looking forward to meeting all of you this Autumn in our upcoming events!

Today is my last day with the Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce as a Marketing and Events Coordinator. It is time for new challenges.

The experience has been highly rewarding, on both a personal and professional level. At the beginning of my traineeship, I wanted to develop my business skills, enhance my knowledge of international business and marketing and to learn more about the Finnish companies in Britain. During this time, I can say I learnt a lot.

Organising the FBCC events and meetings have been fantastic opportunities to gain experience and improve my transferable skills. No two days were alike, there were fun tasks of taking photos, event planning from coordination to delivery, accounting and supporting Finnish companies as they begin to enter the British market.

I’ve enjoyed my time here in the international environment and learnt about the business culture in the UK and Finnish businesses here in London.

The highlights of my time here have been the opportunities to meet our all existing and new members and participating in all amazing events we organized throughout this Spring.

I’d like to warmly thank all the wonderful people I’ve had the opportunity to meet, extend my gratitude to our general manager Emma for being a supportive and inspiring manager and the FBCC team and all our members and partners.

See you all soon!

I am Erika Sipilä, one of the Marketing and Events Coordinator Trainees for Spring 2019 at the Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce and this is my farewell blog post to FBCC Members and friends. You can read my introduction post here and my halfway greetings here.

First and foremost, I would like to thank all FBCC Members for the warm welcome I received when I arrived in London in January and everyone’s kindness throughout my six months here. Thank you also to my lovely colleagues Emma and Heli. FBCC has provided a platform for me to enhance my networking skills and really get to know the Finnish and British business communities here in London. In my introduction post I wrote that my goal was to learn more about Finnish businesses in the UK and develop as a young professional. I am happy to say that I feel like I have achieved both.

It has been a very interesting experience seeing how businesses internationalise, especially to a market like the UK, which is notoriously difficult and competitive. It has been rewarding being a part of the successes of our Members through organising events with them, networking and supporting operations here in the UK. FBCC has given me the opportunity to work very independently and take responsibility of long-term projects and divisions of FBCC operations, such as our social media. The internship has taught me more about long term project management from a directing point of view and got me well-versed in the world of InDesign. I have also gotten to meet interesting people and experience exciting things from events at the Finnish Residence and company launches to shooting a commercial.

Time has gone by so fast and I will look back to my days here in London fondly. I do not leave London with sadness but with a sense of accomplishment. I will continue to my master’s studies at Aalto University at the International Design Business Management department beginning in September. To follow my journey or to keep in touch, feel free to connect on LinkedIn and send me a message!

Patrons’ Dinner at the Finnish Residence in Kensington Palace Gardens