InFocus UK

British

DI PLOM ACY

&

COM M E RC E

PR E S E N T S

NATIONAL DAY

TEA TIME Every day, the British drink 165 million cups of tea, which is over 20 times more than the Americans.

CONQU E R I NG T H E WO R L D The British Empire, was the most extensive empire in world, ruling 1/4 of the world's population.

HER HIGHNESS Queen Elizabeth II, has visited more than 116 counties of the world, although she does not have a passport.

OLD BUT GOLD The Windsor Castle in the English county of Berkshire is the oldest royal residence in the world.

HEAR THE BIG BEN Big Ben in London actually doesn’t refer to the clock. Big Ben is the bell that is located in the clock tower.

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

No-one Wants to Hold Back the Western Balkans We see the Western Balkans Summit in London as an opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to the longterm prosperity and security of the European continent, despite Brexit. We hope that the initiatives taken will make the lasting impact I N T E RV I E W

H.E. DENIS KEEFE British Ambassador to Serbia

his year so far was full of important events shaping the EU accession process of the Western Balkan countries. The main one took part in Sofia where the EU and Western Balkan leaders met at the EU-Western Balkans Summit, after a long pause since Thessaloniki. While the public got impression that the participants' assessments about the future of the Western Balkans in the EU are polar opposites our interlocutor H.E. Denis Keefe British Ambassador to Serbia is of a different opinion: “It’s true there exists some hesitance around the pace of enlargement, but certainly noone wants to hold back the Western Balkans from reaping the benefits of EU accession”. Great Britain, itself, in spite of the Brexit, strongly supports the EU future of the region. The Western Balkans Summit in London which took place on July 9 and 10,as well as the support Serbia is receiving from the British experts in different fields – from

T

2

the reforms of the legal system to the digital revolution - clearly speaks in favour of that intention. We took the opportunity to talk with H.E. Denis Keefe about the Berlin Process, and expected results of the London Summit, as well as about the Brussels Dialogue and the pace of the Serbia‘s EU accession process in general.

Why the Western Balkans Summit in London is important, and what kind of novelties can we expect to hear after it?

— The Berlin Process is important as it focuses on the connectivity of the Western Balkans. It’s not all about EU accession (although undoubtedly those on their EU path benefit); it’s about breaking down the barriers that hinder cooperation in the region. This ranges from physical connections such as roads, railways and other networks to political relationships.

The London Summit novelty is that it brings together Heads of Government,

Serbia needs to focus on closing chapters, not just opening them.

The big ones, in my opinion, are Chapters 23 and 24

Foreign Ministers and – for the first time in the Berlin Process – Interior and/or Security Ministers. Discussion is focused on three key areas: economic stability, political and legacy issues and security. The Summit should make progress on some bilateral disputes, as well as on some very delicate issues such as war crimes and missing persons. Interior Ministers agenda includes the security challenges facing the WB6, from migration to organised crime and anti-corruption. Economic Ministers who met a week in advance of the Summit in Vienna were there to discuss how to improve the financial and business climate of the region. In London we have introduced a great showcase of young business talent, as 25 entrepreneurs from the region were ready to come to London to compete for mentoring support from the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT). Civil Society Organisations participation is secured through the ‘Question Time’ format with Foreign Ministers of the region.

These initiatives were meant to make the Summit dynamic and to make a lasting impact. We have worked hard to make it so: this is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

the long-term prosperity and security of the European continent, despite Brexit. We hope to make the most of the opportunity.

The EU-Western Balkans Summit is finished, and the participants' assessments about the future of the Western Balkans in the EU are polar opposites. What are the main pros and cons of the EU taking up new members?

— The UK has always been pro-enlarge-

and freedom of expression. These are long-standing and really need to be tackled. Then of course, Chapter 35 on Kosovo is difficult given the political context. But we are hopeful that the Brussels Dialogue will bear fruit soon. President Vučić’s commitment to this, including the Internal Dialogue over the past year, is very important.

Other issues need not be too difficult – the economic chapters, for example.

The government has already done excellent work on the economy under the IMF Stand-by Agreement. It just needs to pick up the pace on private sector development to prepare itself for integration in to the single market.

accession, which improves governance, security and living standards for all.

What are the main reasons for our two countries having had so many ups and downs in their bilateral relations?

— History is history. What matters to me is the shared values that link our countries since the first diplomatic contacts in 1837. I have used my time here to promote the stories like the Scottish Women’s Hospitals, the Serbian Heriot-

How much has Serbia progressed in the rule of law, which is one of the sectors in which Great Britain has provided a strong support both the Serbian government and the judiciary?

— Serbia has made limited progress in the crucial rule of law area, as mentioned above. UK support has directly helped reduce the backlog of old enforcement cases and improved the efficiency of commercial dispute settlement by enhancing and promoting the use of alternative dispute resolution as a way to reduce the burden on courts.

However, while the efficiency of the judiciary system may be slowly improving there remains much to do on ensuring full accountability and independence.

ment, and that remains the case today despite Brexit. Countries are stronger, safer and more prosperous together, bound by a common set of values.

The opening, negotiating and closing of chapters one-by-one provides a disciplined framework for governments to see where they are and where they can improve. It’s true there exists some hesitance around the pace of enlargement – and whether the EU has some internal reforming to do before it takes on new members – but I do not think that’s a ‘polar opposite’ assessment. Certainly no-one wants to hold back the Western Balkans from reaping the benefits of EU

ers, the ‘Forgotten Admiral’ Troubridge etc. I am also glad that our political relationship is developing as we have been working together to face new challenges such as the fight against organised crime.

What key steps does Serbia need to take in order to join the EU? — There’s a lot to do and a lot of chapters left to negotiate. Serbia needs to focus on closing chapters, not just opening them. The big ones, in my opinion, are Chapters 23 and 24. The EU Annual Enlargement Report this year cited problems on Rule of Law

SUMMIT

ISSUES The Western Balkans Summit in London should make progress on some bilateral disputes, as well as on some very delicate issues such as war crimes and missing persons.

Great Britain has been supporting Serbia through donor funds too. Which projects would you like to single out?

— Through the UK’s Good Governance Fund – which amounts to about £4m a year across a wide range of areas – we are providing significant support to drive forward the digital revolution in Serbia. This is vital to improve transparency, simplify accountability, tackle corruption and make life easier for all Serbian citizens.

Key projects include decreasing the administrative burden that businesses are facing by simplifying procedures for 1250 licences and permits while enabling online application for 100 procedures that can result in $8 million of direct compliance costs savings not to mention the huge amount time saved. As well as building the internal capacities of the Office for Information Technologies and Electronic Government (ITE), to enable effective coordination and implementation of the digital government strategy. Big changes are coming to Serbia and our support is acting as a catalyst, speeding up progress.

3

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

Ž I K ICA MI L O Š E VI Ć

Looking for New Markets Big dreams ahead ECONOM IC C O O P E R AT I O N

lthough the bilateral cooperation between Serbia and the UK has been growing year-on-year and despite Brexit not having a pronounced negative effect on this cooperation, considering that Serbia is not even in the EU, there is still a lot of room for improvement.

The external trade between Serbia and the United Kingdom has been constantly growing. Last year, it was worth $500 million. Also, the Serbian export to the British market has been growing. Still, there are many untapped opportunities for bolstering the economic ties between the two countries and their companies.

market economy here, but only since 1990, and particularly since 2000, and the removal of sanctions, the market has been dynamised by more serious consumer demands and foreign investments. In this sense, Great Britain is interested in developing cooperation with Serbia, especially in IT industry, hotel industry and catering.

The value of the total external trading in goods with Great Britain amounted to $573.2 million in 2017, with Serbia recording a surprising surplus of $58.6 million. The total external trade increased by 22 percent compared to 2016, according to data from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

BREXIT AS A CHANCE One man's loss is another man's gain.

Unfortunately! What we are particularly interested in exploring here is how to use the upcoming turbulence in the economic relations between the UK and EU. Namely, the UK, which is currently in the Brexit process and plans to leave the European Union by March 2019, is searching for new markets in which it could invest, with Serbia mentioned as one of the interesting places to invest for the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish investors, since the country, paradoxically, could actually take advantage of the rather long period that awaits it before joining the European Union.

For the British, Serbia is a relatively young, dynamic, unsaturated market. During the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, there were traces of

THE NEXT FRONTIER: FACTS AND FIGURES It is interesting to note that, as expected, Croatia is the leader in the region, and that Macedonia and Serbia share the second place. The British investors have been increasingly focusing on Serbia. The data generated by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce shows that in the first three months of 2018, the value of the external trade was $148.8 million, up 18.3 percent from the same period in 2017. Total Serbian export of goods to the UK amounted to $315.9 million last year, representing 1.9 percent of the country's total exports, with the UK occupying the 17th place in the list of the countries that Serbia exports to, in terms of export value. In 2013, the total value of trade with the UK was EUR 401 million, and last year

A

4

FA C T

GREAT CLIMATE Many British come here to grow their own fruits and vegetables because of the great climate here. Also, there are already British companies in Novi Sad involved in the production of juices, fruits or ciders.

it rose to EUR 573 million. The aforementioned surplus is quite interesting to mention because it has been happening for the second consecutive year.

We import mostly cars and drugs from the UK, and export car parts and agricultural products to the UK. Serbia's great chance lies in the food industry, IT and automotive industry. There are 476 active companies with the majority British capital operating in Serbia.

EXIT AND NIGHTLIFE The Exit Festival is perhaps the place where most of the British tourists end up in Serbia, who then continue to visit other parts of Serbia too, either on their way to summer vacation spots, or engaging in the increasingly popular city-break tours. Quite a few British skiers come to the Serbian mountains.

The British love wine, they want to invest in this industry, and many come to grow their own fruits and vegetables because of the great climate. There are already British companies in Novi Sad involved in the production of juices, fruits or ciders. Other notable British companies in Serbia are MidEuropa Partners (food company), British American Tobacco South-East Europe (tobacco) , Albon Engineering & Manufacturing Plc (automotive), Poseidon (real estate), Endava (IT sector), and DS Smith (packaging industry).

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

Dedicated to the Needs of Each Client Our way of operating entails in providing high quality services, which we guarantee, both with the accreditations of international associations and institutions, as well as our reputation C O R P O R AT E

he HR CENTAR team comprises of about a dozen business consultants, trainers and coaches who can help with their expertise in meeting the needs that an organization might have in the development of its business and human resources. In terms of consulting services, HR CENTER deals with strategy, corporate finance, business processes and human resources. When the human resource development is concerned, the company's programmes include segments such as assessing competencies and potentials, training, mentoring, coaching, and monitoring the progress made by programme participants and post-programme activities. "We are best known for our leadership programmes for middle and top management. In recent years, mentorship and coaching, overall the individual approach to top management development is ever so growing. The companies have recognized the importance of investing into people who need to inspire and move their teams to achieve excellence, as what leaders do," said Tatjana Šokčić, Managing Director of HR CENTAR.

T

What makes your approach and operating mode so unique in the market?

— Our way of operating entails providing high quality services, which we guarantee, both with the accreditations of international associations and institutions, as well as our reputation which we have been building successfully as a team for 5 years and much longer as individuals. Each of our projects is carefully designed to respond to the needs of a specific client. Based on the inputs obtained by spending time at client's premises and getting to know

TATJANA ŠOKČIĆ Managing Director at HR CENTAR

Coaching is a very efficient and applicable method in the development of individuals and teams and an increasing number of our clients looks for it

their business processes and staff, we devise a project proposal that would yield the best results. For example, our development management programme begins with identifying the individual development needs of each participant to determine in which way are these needs same or similar, and in which way they differ. Also, as a part of a one programme, we can provide joint workshops, but also individual coaching or mentoring to cover the specific needs stemming from personal development of the programme participants.

Coaching is a method that leads to real and tangible changes in people, in their attitudes, behaviours, and the way they work and communicate with other people.

Which certificates do you possess?

— Our consultants, trainers and coaches are accredited by the biggest, world-renowned associations and organizations.

For instance, we are the only ones in Serbia that are implementing NLP programmes in line with the principles of three associations - IANLP, International Association of NLP Institutes IN and INHNLP. Quite a few of us are certified coaches for several methodologies and members of a number of international associations such as A-N Network for Psychodynamic Coaching, IANLP and ICF. Also, we are certified consultants for the use of the Hogan, Inspire and SDI tools for evaluation and development of human resources.

Furthermore, we are active members of the American and German chambers of commerce, as well as EBRD consultants on domestic and international projects.

Why did you decide to focus on young people in your CSR strategy?

— We firmly believe that, by utilizing their full capacity, young, successful professionals contribute to the progress of the entire society. Young people are the future pillar of the economy. Our desire is to contribute to making young people professionally more successful in Serbia and therefore we have decided to make our knowledge, skills and experience available and relevant in order to support them. We have developed special programmes towards this end - from the scholarship programme for future leaders to learning opportunities through practical work - as well as numerous workshops from different areas of business, professional and personal development. We cooperate with many faculties, student organizations and youth organizations such as the student organizations from the faculties of philosophy, mathematics and economics - AIESEC, EKOF, SPEKOF, BEST, YouthNow, FON Career Development Centre, AmChamps Youth Program of the American Chamber of Commerce and the Youth Heroes Programme by the Exit Foundation. To date, and in cooperation with the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Media and Communications, over 40 students had the opportunity to get practically acquainted with modern business practices in Serbia.

INFO

HR CENTAR

Resavska 48, first floor, apartment 12 11 000 Belgrade • T:+381 11 40 666 49, office@hrcentar.rs • www.hrcentar.rs

5

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

Early Ticket for Success The ambition of the Department for International Trade’s Global Entrepreneur Programme in the Western Balkans is to offer British expertise to promising individual entrepreneurs in the region. Four Serbian startup companies were chosen to take part in the event parallel to the Western Balkans Summit in London, known as the WB Start-up Games he next Western Balkans Summit, within the Berlin Process, is to be held in London on July 9-10. Great Britain has expressed the wish to remain committed to helping the Western Balkans region, and to assist the region in achieving economic stability, fostering connections between the countries of the region, a further development of the infrastructure – roads, railways, as well as to help in digital transformation and youth entrepreneurship.

In line with that ambition, the focus of the Global Entrepreneurship Programme in the Western Balkan is on advancing and promoting the creative and entrepreneurial talents of the re-

T

6

W B S TA R T - U P GAMES

THE PROGRAMME

NUMBERS The programme has so far helped 340 businesses grow, creating over 1000 jobs and raising over £1 billion of private investment for the start-ups.

gion, providing them with an opportunity to be selected for a specialised mentorship programme.

The Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) helps overseas entrepreneurs and early stage technology businesses or start-ups that want to use the UK as a springboard in successfully launching their business ideas globally The aim is to encourage overseas entrepreneurs and innovation-rich small businesses with the potential for rapid growth to set up in the UK, providing them with a tailor made support programme through its network of 22 UK and overseas based entrepreneurs and angels, called "Dealmakers".

Over the last couple of months the six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Macedonia) were visited by GEP Dealmakers, where a selection of top 24 companies was made to participate in the Western Balkan Startup Games – an event that will be held parallel to the Western Balkans Summit.

The Games will be a daylong event, with presentations from high level officials and keynote speakers, covering topics ranging from attracting capital, the challenges of the entrepreneurial journey, to scaling up a business to achieve global success. The day will be crowned off with a competition where the startup delegation will pitch their products and services to a range of virtual investors. Using a specially devised app, entrepreneurs will present their companies to their peers to raise virtual seed capital. At the end of the event, the firm

with the most virtual investment will be proclaimed the winner, and will be selected for a special three year mentorship programme, that will see an entire range of entrepreneurs and specialists rallied around making the idea a commercial success on a global scale.

The programme has so far helped 340 businesses grow, creating over 1000 jobs and raising over £1 billion of private investment for the start-ups.

Support is free and includes: help to develop business plans, assistance with tapping into the UK ecosystem through providing introductions to investors, guidance on how to grow internationally, mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs, continued help once located in the UK. The GEP ambition in the Western Balkans is to create and build long term links by offering UK competences and expertise in the field of entrepreneurship in order to enhance the start-up community in the region, helping upskill individual entrepreneurs, including those at the beginning of their journey, who would benefit most from guidance of experts. This initiative aims to forge greater connection between the UK and the Western Balkans, as the GEP team has ambitions to explore the entrepreneurial potential of the region beyond the Summit.

The recipe already proved to be successful in Spain, Singapore, and Argentina, where the Games have served as a unique opportunity for local start-ups and entrepreneurs to interact with different stakeholders and receive guidance on leveraging their business ideas.

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

The Global Entrepreneurship Programme in the Western Balkan

A Huge Opportunity to Learn We asked five Serbian start-up companies going to the UK to tell us whether Serbia is a good place to launch a start-up company and what does it mean for them to go to be a part of the Summit in London? Here are their answers:

Opportunity for promotion in the UK market PETAR MATUNOVIĆ

Composite Technology Team LLC

The state still has no interest in startup entrepreneurship but is more focused on attracting foreign direct investments which yield quick and visible short-term results. However, in the long run, FDI are turning Serbia into a country with cheap labour. Investing in entrepreneurship, innovtion and startups is a model that is on the completely opposite side of the spectrum which is why I think that Serbia is not such a fertile ground for startups. The state must redirect part of its energy and resources it uses for foreign investments

Networking with partners and investors

Bolstering market opportunities

MIŠA ŽIVIĆ

Business Developer at Solagro Smart Recycling

There are many quality engineers in Serbia, which is a very important segment in the development of a start-up ecosystem. However, it is necessary to do more work on two more important segments.

The first is the availability of financing, without which there is no growth and development of any company. The second is to involve experienced managers in this ecosystem so that startup companies are able to properly define their strategies and set

There are an increasing number of opportunities for startups in Serbia every day, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. Some of the biggest issues are rather complex, such as the unstimulating bureaucracy, outdated legislation and access to funding.

Nevertheless, the startup community is growing stronger, and there are many organizations providing valuable resources - funding, mentoring, access to networks, such as Innovation Fund, ICT Hub and many others. What is specifically interesting is opening of

to focus more on young people with potential and to help create successful innovative firms. Also, there is no critical mass of private investments in startup companies in Serbia, and thus the development of such companies relies on the founders' ability to make investments. Attending the Summit in London is an opportunity to have a feel of the entrepreneurial climate in the UK, to find out about the opportunities offered in UK to startups and to try to get local investors interested in cooperating on our high-technology projects.

DJORDJE DJORDJEVIĆ

Ceo & Co-founder LeanPay

up operations in order to ensure their rapid growth. Going to London is an opportunity to connect with potential partners and investors so that our start-up can expand its operations across Europe.

Also, London is the fintech industry centre, and I hope to connect with similar companies and hear about their experiences.

Breading my knowledge DRAGANA ČALIJA

Managing Director SaintDi

Serbia has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to set-

ting up your own startup company. The main advantage is that you can build a great product with less funding. Moreover, we have a plethora of talented IT experts to choose from, which has been very important for building my startup product, OrderEngine. However, when it comes to placing your product abroad, being a Serbian company can present a slight disadvan-

the corporate sector towards startups.

We are very pleased to have been selected to show our business and passion at the London Summit. We're hoping to expand our partner network in the Western Balkans, as well as in the UK, while bolstering market opportunities. Environment and recycling are becoming hottest topics in the WB region and we see a huge opportunity for our affordable Smart Recycling System. tage at times and bring additional challenges for growing outside the borders of our country. Participation in the Western Balkan Summit enables me to expand my network and broaden my knowledge about the best practices for seeking investments, as well as have the opportunity to place my product abroad with help and resources from the UK.

7

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

Ž I K ICA MI L O Š E VI Ć

Giant on its Own Road Singapore-on-Thames to be or not to be?

ECONOM Y

ritain is slowly moving away from the European Union, and the country is expected to leave the EU quite soon. The chances of "hard Brexit" happening are diminishing, with the "soft Brexit" increasingly becoming reality with Europe being more present, including in the economy. Yet, as mentioned a million times before, leaving the EU does not mean leaving Europe.

The United Kingdom’s economy is highly developed and market-oriented.

It is the fifth-largest national economy in the world measured by the nominal gross domestic product (GDP), the ninth largest measured purchasing power parity (PPP), and the nineteenth larg-

B

est measured by GDP per capita, accounting for 3.5% of the world’s GDP. Maybe this is not a share in the global GDP that once the mighty British Empire had, but it is enough for Britain to be considered a giant economy in itself, outside the EU too.

In 2016, Britain was the tenth largest exporter and the fifth largest importer of goods in the world. It was also the second largest direct investor abroad, and the third largest in terms of foreign direct investments, which means that it

8

remains a very attractive market for foreign money and generating more of it.

A lot can change, but the UK will continue to be the major hub of big business, and the global centre where big deals are made

WHAT AFTER BREXIT? Great Britain is one of the most globalized economies, while Boris Johnson still hopes, and he could be right, that after Brexit, the United Kingdom will become some sort of Singapore-on-Thames - a place where people from Europe, Canada, America, China, Australia and Africa, will be happy making business deals to the benefit of the British and the rest of the world. We sincerely hope that will happen.

Prior to the June 2016 referendum, the British Treasury warned that voting against the country staying in the European Union would lead to the recession in the UK, but this did not happen, which Brexit supporters are quick to note. On the other hand, those who oppose Brexit say that Britain's growth has slowed dramatically since 2016. In just a year since Brexit, what can the British economy hope for? After the initial fears that EU membership was important for the operations of international companies in the UK and could lead to a decline in investments, the country recorded a solid growth in 2017.

Neither Norway nor Iceland are in the EU, just like Switzerland, and they all have quite solid economies, so, in the perspective of "soft Brexit", this remains the most obvious solution.

A Conservative MP, Owen Patterson says: “If we are to thrive, our post-Brexit model should exactly be Singapore, a

tiny country devoid of natural resources but with a booming economy and an average life expectancy of 85”, adding that Britain's future lies in the liberal laissez-faire - “low-tax, low-spend, low-regulation”. If „soft Brexit“ does happen, it is quite possible that taxes will not be cut just to attract investors, but rather certain solutions from Singapore, an ex-colony and now a successful economic giant, will be copied.

It may not be perfect, but the economy will have to adapt to new conditions.

As things are at the moment, London is still the main international business and trade centre, as well as one of the three "command centres" of the global economy (next to New York and Tokyo). London has over 500 banks and it is the leading international banking, insurance, eurobond, foreign exchange and energy futures centre. London's financial services industry is primarily based in the City of London and Canary Wharf. Regardless of how much leaving the EU is frowned upon, changing company headquarters from London to the Netherlands or Germany will not be so common. Inner London West, now the richest region in the European Union, will continue to be so since it is almost twice wealthier than Luxembourg and is at 611% of the EU average.

A lot can change, and maybe next year, London will not be in the EU (March 2019 is the date of the exit) but it will continue to be the major hub of big business, and the global centre where big deals are made.

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

MI NA V U Č I Ć

The British Cultural Palace

A museum of the world, for the world C U LT U R E

f we had to pick a place where the British Culture is stored, where historical competence and power of colonization is felt- it would be the British Museum.

The United Kingdom has a distinct culture which can’t be compared to any other in the world. From literature, art, philosophy to architecture and education, the British are proud of their numerous achievements and cultural aspects which in many situations root from their land, and can surely be felt in the walls of this grand this significant property.

Founded in 1754, the British Muse-

I

um is the world’s oldest national public museum. Its foundations lie in the will of the Irish- born British physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane.

Throughout his lifetime, he gathered inevitable amounts of collections of all sorts of curiosities. At time his gatherings consisted of around 71,000 objects!

40,000 printed books, 337 volumes of dried plants, as well as numerous drawings rooted from Sudan, Egypt, Greece, Rome and many more.

Until the late 19th century, the Museum was lit by natural daylight. Candles, oil lamps, and gas lamps were not

used in the galleries as the fear of fire was high, and so the museum was often forced to close early due to poor light, imagine the situation during the foggy winters! A such, the museum became one of the first public buildings in London to install electric lightning! Although most of the light systems were quite unreliable, within 10 years, an improved system had been extended to most of the public areas.

Many might know this already, that the Museum has been a popular film set for numbers of years! With 15 films to its name, the British Museum has a recognizable role in the movie world.

From 1929, when Alfred Hitchcock’s Black mail was shot in the Museum, to of-course the one and only, Night ACQU I SI T ION

LAMPEDUSA CROSS A poignant modern acquisition in 2015 was a Lampedusa Cross, donated by an Italian Carpterner who made it from pieces of wood, from boat wrecks of the refugees who tried reaching Europe.

in the Museum. The limitations of the British Museum, allowed Fox only a limited amount of time- three nights, from the moment the gates closed to the public to 07.00 the next day. The Night in the Museum had 200 crew members on site, a 40-tonne crane, helium balloon lights so large they couldn’t fit through the front door when inflated, and a myriad of other lights, cameras and stands. A visual effects crew also 3D-scanned key spaces and dozens of objects to populate the film!

Crazy right!

It is easy to assume that the museum only stores ancient objects, but in fact, collections continue to be made all the time! A poignant modern acquisition in 2015 was a Lampedusa Cross, donated by an Italian Carpterner who made it from pieces of wood, from boat wrecks of the refugees who tried reaching Europe! Something a little older, in December 2016, the Museum acquired a beautiful medieval alabaster of the Virgin and Child, made in the midlands in the 1360s!

As a worldwide museum it is vitally important that the objects in the collections are shared with as many people as possible. In 2016 over 5000 objects were sent across the globe on loan, making the most sharing museum on the planet!

9

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

Tea Time!

MI NA V U Č I Ć

T R A DI T ION

The British can’t deny their long love affair with tea! ince the 18th century, the United Kingdom has been one of the world’s greatest tea consumers, with an average annual per capita tea supply of 1.9 kg. Through colonization, the British Empire was instrumental in spreading tea, and mixing tastes from China to India, as it became a prominent feature of their culture and tradition.

Fun fact, the average Brit drinks 876 cups of tea every single year! This is enough to fill two bath tubs! It was first introduced to the Brits almost 400 years ago and described as a “China drink” based on its origins. Ever since then a cup of tea has become a native British tradition. We all know that Britz love their tea with milk, however traditionally, milk was poured to protect the delicate china rather than change the taste.

It was around 4 o’clock in the afternoon at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire, England, during the early 1840’s, when Anna Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford noticed she had a “sinking feeling” at this time of day. She therefore ordered some tea with bread to stop her hunger, making the well known ritual of “afternoon tea”. It is typically compromises Devonshire cream tea and an assortment of delicate crust less sand-

S

10

wiches, sweets, and cakes. This ladies and gents is where the afternoon tea ritual came from!

High tea is a traditionally, end of day meal tea, served usually for the working class, comprising things like cold meats, pies, salad, pickles, and bread.

As it can be seen from the name, high tea was usually served on high chairs and tables, the term is still used in the Midlands and the North of England.

Chinese green tea was first introduced to London’s coffeehouses in 1657.

The owner of one of the cafes, created an advertisement to explain the new beverage as “health drink.” He said “That Excellent, and by all Physicians approved, China drink, called by the Chinese, Tcha, by other nations Tay alias Tee, ... is sold at the Sultaness-head, by the Royal Exchange, London.” These were the first steps to the creation of this popular drink.

Yet another fun fact about tea lies within Sir Isaac Newton’s “apple falling from the tree” moment, as on a summer afternoon of 1665, he was holding a cup of tea as he sat under the tree. Coincidence or not the flowering of the intellectual thinking in Britain occurred right at the time when the drink became the nations favorite drink! Many say that

The average Brit drinks 876 cups of tea every single year! This is enough to fill two bath tubs

tea powered the massive minds of some of history’s greatest thinkers, suggesting it’s key role in the British Industrial Revolution. Stimulants in the tea, coupled with extra energy from sugar and milk gave the workers boost as they worked for longer hours.

Now you have arrived to the point when you think you know absolutely

everything about the UK tradition and history of tea making, however wait up for just another moment, as we haven’t mentioned the National Tea Day yet!

The NTD is celebrated every year on the 21st of April, usually in tea rooms, pubs, and cafes. Most often charitable and fundraising events are held across the country, one of the very popular ones being called “Fes-Tea-Val”.

Now, our readers can be happily informed about the wonders of this all day every day drink! After all, tea is the second most consumed drink in the world!

FOCUS ON

British N AT I O N A L DAY

MI NA V U Č I Ć

The Island Which Welcomes Everyone The United Kingdom is on the hot list of everyone’s travel destinations, as summer is in full speed TOURISM

he United Kingdom, a land of hope and opportunity. A place where 40 million tourists arrive each year, spending over $22 billion.

The Royal Family alone, generate close to 500 million pounds just from tourism in the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, and Buckingham Palace-the most popular Royal destinations.

Tourism in the UK takes back to the 19th century, when on July 5th, 1841, Thomas Cook organized a trip from Market Harbourough, to Loughborough for a temperance meeting. By 1845, his industry had grown to an extent where he offered trips to Glasgow for a guinea, and 2 decades later the city of love, Paris.

T

LONDON Every tourist has a different motivation for visiting a country, and thanks to the UK’s geographical position these motivations are broad, and are highly likely to please the interest of many. London itself, offers thousands of attraction, more than any other city in the world.

Major sights like the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace are on most visitor’s to-do list. Art lovers are likely to make a beeline for the National Gallery as well as the Tate Modern. Fathers and sons never miss the Cabinet War Rooms and history museums. Although the British cuisine isn’t the main thing the country focuses on when it comes to tourism, the amount of restaurants and the food diversity is astonishing.

YORKSHIRE Put aside London, let us take you through the coolest attraction around the UK which won’t leave you indiffer-

ent, like for example, Yorkshire. Visitors flock to this city because there is no other place in the country which holds more Michelin-starred restaurants in one place. It considers its food and drink reputation as now the best in Britain! The instant beauty of the country that no one can miss out on has greatly inspired generations of painters all the way to the Victorian era. Thank God the countries old cities and sweeping moors are large enough to soak up over 40 million visitors per year!

and fun, a place where you simply cannot get bored in! It is a city of spontaneous visits as there is always something unexpected to enjoy. In the North Laine, you can find offbeat designers and flea markets, surrounded by restaurants and bars. Through the historic museums, squares, and traditional cafes-you have a city that truly welcomes all tastes.

Travelling to the UK is definitely a lovely experience whether your destination is on the south, north, east, or west coast. It is a country full of history and tradition which is felt through its walls, and most definitely must be on the top of everyone’s travel diary.

DEVON Who isn’t ready for long strolls on the beach picnics and pints in pub gar-

dens? A holiday in Devon is like no other-wholesome, simple and scenic. Magnificent beaches on the south and north coasts a filled with relaxing vibes and activities for both families and couples If you’re up for mixing life’s greatest pleasures, food and the outdoor, this is the perfect place for you.

BRIGHTON For younger visitors, Brighton is the perfect destination, as its filled with love

A place where 40 million tourists arrive each year, spending over $22 billion

11