The United Kingdom 2022

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United Kingdom The

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STONEHENGE The monument is claimed to be one of the oldest monuments in the world! Scientists believe that it was built over in 3,000 B.C.

INDIAN RESTAURANTS THE QUEEN Queen Elizabeth is the longestreigning Queen in the world.

It is estimated that there are more Indian restaurants in London than in Indian urban centres like New Delhi or Mumbai.

RED LION

NATIONAL PARKS

It is a common name for pubs in the UK. Around 500 pubs in the UK have the same name.

The U.K. has only 15 National Parks, but they only cover 8% of British land.

THE UNITED KINGDOM

Long List of Opportunities

As we point out to British companies, the regional opportunity in the Western Balkans and the wider area makes Serbia an even more attractive proposition as a regional hub

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areer of Dr David Landsman OBE, chairman of the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, spans senior positions in government and business. His connection to Serbia dates to 1997 when he joined the British Embassy in Belgrade. We talked with him about economic ties between Serbia and UK, Western Balkans and UK’s cultural products.

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The new economic reality has been created by the coronavirus-induced crisis, inflation, energy crisis and attempts at the implementation of the green agenda, all in light of the Ukraine war and pandemic. How has the UK been coping with all of this?

— We are now seeing everywhere the cumulative effects of multiple challenges from the coronavirus pandemic to the conflict in Ukraine. No country is unaffected and in Britain we are experiencing an energy crisis and inflation which remind many people of the 1970s. But much has changed for the better since then.

For example, the UK’s leading efforts in tackling climate change means that renewables and energy efficiency measures can play a significant role in blunting the effects of the crisis. Technology, where the UK is a leading player, helps reduce costs and support continued globalisation. Every crisis brings new opportunities and acts as a spur to innovation.

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DR DAVID LANDSMAN OBE Chairman of BSCC

Our two countries are looking at each other with a fresh eye

Will the new situation cut the economic ties or reinforce them, in sense of bigger trade volume and more FDIs? — We should never underestimate the benefits from globalisation, including to the poorest. Globalisation isn’t remotely finished, but it will change. Supply chains for goods will in some case be shortened. That will come at a price, but for essential supplies and components, we will recognise that “just in case” instead of “just in time” will be worth paying for. There will be more opportunities for midshoring and onshoring, which can benefit both Serbia and Britain.

But in many areas of today’s life, technology can take the geography out of trade, and in these areas globalisation will continue to advance, bringing developments for innovative sectors in both Britain and Serbia.

What are the chances for boosti n g t h e U K- S e r b i a e c o n o m i c cooperation?

— I have recently returned to the UK after the BSCC’s Trade Mission in Serbia. In the space of a week, we travelled across the country, visiting factories and vineyards, meeting Chambers of Commerce and business leaders from Vranje and Leskovac via Čačak and Kragujevac to Novi Sad and Belgrade. We met with many Chamber members, but equally exciting was to meet new companies who were also doing business between the two countries. After all our meetings, I’d say that the prospects for British-Serbian economic relations have never been better. The situation in Europe and the world is changing and both countries – governments and businesses – are actively looking for new opportunities. Our two countries are looking at each other with a fresh eye. After our week on the road, we have a long list of opportunities to follow up. And I’m sure there are many more.

The British companies are traditionally more orientated towards the Commonwealth and the EU. Will the Western Balkans come into focus any time soon?

— After Brexit, British companies have taken a pragmatic approach to making the best of the new opportunities and a new more global focus. We are seeing this in the number of enquiries we are receiving.

The British Government, especially the Department for International Trade (DIT) and UK Export Finance (which has allocated £4bn for projects in Serbia), are actively supporting businesses to find the opportunities. As we point out to British companies, the regional opportunity in the Western Balkans and the wider area (which is benefitting from substantial infrastructure investment to improve rail, road and electronic communications) makes Serbia an even more attractive proposition as a regional hub.

The entertainment industry is one of the British trademarks and Serbia has been traditionally influenced by British culture. Can we expect more of the UK's ‘cultural products’ because they are the true soft power?

— I walked along the riverside by Belgrade Waterfront a few days ago and was delighted to see the Trotters’ (Only Fools and Horses) van parked there as part of the tourism fair! It’s true that British entertainment and culture, from the Beatles to the Premier League and from high culture to Del Boy, have the power to attract people to Britain and so to build lasting relationships.

As a Chamber in Serbia, we benefit from “Brand Britain“. It’s great when our members can join in supporting cultural activities. Personally, I look forward to seeing more Serbian culture in the UK as well.

THE UNITED KINGDOM

Attracting Investment to Serbia

We are the only organisation in the UK looking after Serbian economic and commercial interests and work closely with the Serbian Embassy in London

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ichard Robinson, Executive Director BSCC Serbia talked with us about British investments, business environment and workforce and nearshoring in Serbia.

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What can Serbia and the WB6 do to attract even more British investments in the future?

— The British Serbian Chamber of Commerce is working hard to attract investment to Serbia. We are regularly receiving new enquiries and support them in whatever way is needed providing information, advice and introductions in Serbia.

We are the only organisation in the UK looking after Serbian economic and commercial interests and work closely with the Serbian Embassy in London. In a post Brexit world, many UK businesses are considering investing the Western Balkans for the first time. Also, the Serbian government should continue its successful programme of digitalisation and continue improving the business environment. And of course, we would like the Serbian state to put more resources into investment promotion.

Recently, we supported several Serbian food and drinks companies to attend in London IFE, the premier UK food and drink trade fair.

Following the companies’ success there, both the Serbian and Vojvodina Chambers of Commerce (PKS and PKV) are now planning to attend next year.

Three out of six Western Balkan economies have joined the Open Balkans initiative. The new Montenegrin PM, Dritan Abazović, claims Montenegro will be the

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RICHARD ROBINSON Executive Director BSCC Serbia

We welcome any initiative that makes it easier for investors to treat the Western Balkans as a single economic area

4th country to join. Do you think that this initiative would facilitate FDIs and trade since the market is going to become much bigger?

— We welcome any initiative that makes it easier for investors to treat the Western Balkans as a single economic area. The Open Balkans Initiative (OSI) has a long way to go. I believe that the OSI will need to establish a permanent secretariat and develop enforcement mechanism as it becomes more successful. However, the OSI is not the only means of achieving greater economic integration. Building on the successful new bilateral trade treaty, the BSCC is working with the PKS and the British Chambers of Commerce in London to persuade the UK to join the Pan Euro Mediterranean (PEM) Convention on Rules of Origin enabling regional sourcing to become tariff free.

We also have members who continue to rely on CEFTA for the legal basis of regional trade. Ultimately, all these different treaties and bodies are the means to achieve the goal of greater economic integration.

British companies are traditionally more orientated towards the Commonwealth and the EU. Is this because of inertia or Serbia is simply worse regarding the business environment and workforce?

— As exporting to the EU has become more bureaucratic for many UK companies, it has become relatively easier to export to the Western Balkans. So, many of them are looking at the Western Balkans and Serbia in particular, as an export market. The improvement in the Serbian business environment acts as additional encouragement. The BSCC hopes that the new government prioritises customs processes as one of the next areas of its digitalisation programme as this improve

matters further following the UK example introducing new online customs systems later this year.

We have to overcome the energy crisis this year, as well as the disruption of the old routes of trade with Russia and Ukraine. How can the UK help the WB6 countries with these problems?

— The UK has much to offer Serbia both in addressing the immediate energy crisis and in helping Serbia achieve its decarbonisation targets.

Earlier this year, the UK Minister of Energy, Greg Hands, visited Serbia.

We will see the first results shortly including a signed memorandum of understanding. Meanwhile, the UK is a good source of expertise and finance for renewable energy generation: UK Export Finance . the UK credit guarantee agency, is very active in this area. One of our members, Vanguard, is working with Serbian Railways to retro fit locomotives to run on green hydrogen.

Is nearshoring an opportunity for Serbia in the context of the EU+UK markets?

— There are nearshoring opportunities in a wide range of sectors and an UK companies approach the BSCC regularly asking for help in sourcing.

We work closely with both PKS and PKV to identify appropriate Serbian companies. How big the opportunities are for nearshoring will depend on a wide range of international trends including the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and the continuing logistics problems and the consequent costs of shipping from the far east, especially containers from China. I believe that Serbia is in a good position to exploit these changes and the BSCC will work hard to connect UK and Serbian companies and increase bilateral trade.

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The Path of Innovation is Our Chosen Path

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On a global level but also as G4S Serbia, we are constantly working on implementing cutting-edge technologies in integrated security solutions. We have several ongoing new projects that will be soon introduced to the Serbian market C O R P O R AT E

DAWID SOLD Managing Director of G4S

n his interview, Dawid Sold, Managing Director of G4S, talked to us about the challenges of G4S’ employees, their and the company’s needs, the company’s development and providing quality security services.

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In Serbia, G4S has about 3,500 employees and after last year's acquisition by Allied Universal®, that number globally now stands at more than 800,000. What challenges do your employees face?

— We are proud that G4S Serbia provides stable working conditions for our employees which is confirmed by our sustainable growth in Serbia, at the same time global acquisition by Allied Universal makes us the largest Security Company in the world. This is exactly what G4S Serbia aims at – to remain a reliable partner and stable employer. Providing service excellence whilst creating job opportunities is our modus operandi. That said, G4S Serbia brings together security experts, top (electronic security systems) engineers, health and safety professionals, fire protection experts and specialists in supporting roles, HR and finance.

A major industry challenge is the lack of licensed candidates for the job of a security officer.

The main reasons for this are relatively low salaries in the security industry both in Serbia and globally. These are dictated by the low market going rates. One of the biggest challenges affecting our industry is the grey zone in security. Unfortunately, Covid and the war in Ukraine and subsequent market uncertainty have pushed the economy even further into a lack of compliance.

Furthermore, being a low-margin industry, security needs certain law amendments in

order to offer more to its first-line employees. Together with chambers of commerce and industry peers, G4S is working closely to support those and share best practices from other geographies. It is also important to note that our people on the first line are not “doormen” or “guards” but licensed security officers with relevant training. During the lockdowns and strict Covid protocols they were the part of critical infrastructure supporting our common safety. A change of mindset is also needed so that our colleagues get well-deserved appreciation.

G4S in Serbia has over 5,000 facilities under its supervision and it provides protection 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How do you harmonize the needs of your company and employees with customer requirements?

— It’s all about having the right people working together towards the common goal.

In a nutshell - always have a strategic approach to make the best out of your know-

It’s all about having the right people working together towards the common goal

how, make clear-cut procedures to enable workflow. Invest in your employees and let them show their expertise. Practice their knowledge and work independently and in a team, and listen to both customers' and employees’ needs. Many answers to everyday challenges can be found when you “walk a mile in another person’s shoes”. We are also building and nurturing relationships with internal and external stakeholders, as nothing beats honest and friendly professional cooperation. G4S Serbia has the infrastructure, expertise and global experience and

the number of 5,000 supervised facilities is only the beginning.

How difficult is it to provide quality security services when it comes to cash and valuables?

— Challenging, to begin with, but not in terms of delivering the service - G4S Serbia has an ever-growing fleet of specialized vehicles and well-equipped Cash Centres and employs trained people. The biggest challenge in the market is the lack of knowledge of what true compliance represents. Having a licence to deliver the service does not necessarily mean one has the insurance to cover the possible loss. When we talk about the risk associated with cash management, it is very important to make sure all insurance policies are valid and in place. It’s not only important that there is an insurance policy, but also that it is up-to-date and covers all the required details. Do you know which risks are covered by your policy or rather the policy you think you have?

G4S Serbia strictly complies with all internal and other relevant procedures, goes through regular G4S Group security controls and offers the service with all the applicable insurance policies.

It is about time to start thinking about risks when choosing a service provider. We are glad to be able to help.

You believe that in today's world there is no greater purpose than to serve and protect clients, community and people. Are there any new types of protection that you plan to include in your offer?

— The path of Innovation is our chosen path.

We, on a global level, but also as G4S Serbia, work constantly on implementing cutting-edge technologies into integrated security solutions. New projects are ongoing and are soon to be introduced to the Serbian market.

We aim to lead the way to the ManTech (Man and Technology) approach in security, focusing on product development. Stay tuned!

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THE UNITED KINGDOM

British Companies are Interested in Investing in Agriculture The United Kingdom is ranked 20th, as the country of export destination of Serbia, with a share of 1.7% in total Serbian exports to the world. Looking at imports from the world, the United Kingdom is ranked 26th, with a share of 0.7% in total Serbian imports from the world

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ased on the latest data of the Republic Bureau of Statistics, for the period January – March 2022, the total value of realized foreign trade amounted to EUR 171 million (increase of 24% compared to the same period in 2021). In this period, a surplus of EUR 42 million was realized. Coverage of exports with imports is 165%.

For the period January - December 2021, the total value of realized foreign trade amounted to EUR 623 million (increase of 17.7% compared to the same period in 2020). In this period, a surplus of EUR 91 million was realized. Coverage of exports with imports is 134%. The United Kingdom is ranked 20th, as the country of export destination of Serbia, with a share of 1.7% in total Serbian exports to the world. Looking at imports from the world, the United Kingdom is ranked 26th, with a share of 0.7% in total Serbian imports from the world.

January – March 2022, the realized value of Serbian exports to the UK is 106 million EUR (an increase of 22.5% compared to the same period in 2021), while the total import of goods worth 65 million EUR (an increase of 27% compared to for the same period in 2021). Products that were mostly exported in the period January - December 2021: new pneumatic tires new for passenger cars; ignition wiring sets for vehicles; circulating pumps for heating systems and the like; lead ores and concentrates; raspberries, frozen, not containing added sugar; fruit, whether or not cooked, whether or not containing sugar, frozen; parts

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Looking at the period January December 2021, FDI from the UK amounts to EUR 335 million

of seats, of other materials; pipes and hoses, solid, of other plastics, ice cream, not containing or containing milkfats <3%.

Products that were mostly imported, in the period January - December 2021: parts of other gas turbines; other precious metal compounds; other medicines, for retail purposes; cars, petrol,> 1000 = <1500cm3, new; other yarn, single thread; nickel alloy bars and profiles; other precious metal compounds; opium alkaloids and derivatives.

In international trade with the United Kingdom, the exchange of services dominates: January - February 2022: the value of exports of services from Serbia to the United Kingdom amounted to EUR 126 million, while the value of imports of services from the United Kingdom was EUR 77 million. In this period, Great Britain was on the 3rd place in terms of the value of exchange of services with Serbia (ahead of Germany and the USA) For the period January-December 2021, the value of exports of Serbian services to the United Kingdom amounted to EUR 596 million, while the value of imports of services from the United Kingdom was EUR 510

million. (3rd ranked).

Based on data from the NBS RS, UK net investments in Serbia for the period 2010 - 2019 amount to EUR 608.35 million, and it was ranked 10th in terms of investment. For the period January-December 2020, according to the NBS, FDI from the United Kingdom to Serbia amounted to EUR 106.4 million.

Looking at the period January - December 2021, FDI from the UK amounts to EUR 335 million. It was noticed that British companies are interested in investing in agriculture, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, primarily in production for export to the British, but also third markets.

The specificity of British investments in Serbia is the significant presence of institutional investors (mainly investment funds), but in the meantime some of these funds sold previously purchased companies in Serbia. Many of the investment funds with majority British capital, which are still active in Serbia, are registered in Switzerland, Cyprus and the Netherlands, and it is assumed that the value of previous British investments is higher than the presented NBS data.

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More than 20 Years of Successful Entrepreneurship G3 Spirits & Hendrick’s gin at BSCC exclusive dinner at Klub privrednika Belgrade 3 Spirits Group is one of the leading representatives and distributors of alcoholic beverages and global brands in the region. More than 20 years of successful entrepreneurship and management of a carefully selected and well-balanced portfolio in an efficient organization enabled us to remain one of the leading companies in the region. Striving for constant progress our goal is not to become the biggest, but to remain the best.

Our continuous pursuit for quality positively affected G3 Spirits result in quantity as well. According to data from the latest report published

by IWSR (www.theiwsr.com), a global leading source of information for the global spirit market, wine and beer, G3 Spirits has become the largest distributing company in the Western Balkans territory in the Standard and Premium price segments with over 3.8 million bottles sold.

One of the main contributors of such a success is William Grant & Sons, one of the UK's best-known distilleries, which continues to grow seriously throughout the ex-Yu region under G3 Spirits management, with the brands that have established themselves as market leaders in their

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respective categories. Hendricks Gin is the best-selling gin in the super premium segment in Serbia and regionally, with one of highest growth rate recorded in our industry.

The work of the BSCC in Serbia is extremely important for our business, as well as the function that this body performs. In the previous 2 years, this cooperation gained additional importance and included extensive and frequent communication to understand the needs of group members, informing members about the status and progress of Brexit negotiations, as well as the role of the bridge that this group represents between the governments and regulations of two countries. G3 Spirits always strived to be a reliable partner to BSCC in Serbia throughout various areas of cooperation such as information sharing, assistance for events organization and logistical support.

As a part of this cooperation, G3 Spirits was delighted to be one of the supporting partners with Hendrick’s gin at BSCC Exclusive Dinner. The Exclusive Dinner took place on May 27th and was organized at Klub Privrednika Belgrade in Belgrade for representatives of the diplomatic core. Traditionally, many distinguished guests at-

C O R P O R AT E

Striving for constant progress our goal is not to become the biggest, but to remain the best

tended the event, and had a chance to enjoy delicious specialities and the most exquisite flavours of Hendrick’s gin, paired with different flavours of Thomas Henry premium mixers. For the first time in Serbia, guest had a chance to taste Hendrick’s Neptunia, a limited release that captures the magic of the sea, in a gin. Master Distiller Ms. Lesley Gracie's creation is as refreshing as her muse, the mighty waves that lash the Ayrshire coast. Infused with an exquisite blend of locally sourced coastal botanicals and with a remarkable smooth citrus finish.

Hendrick’s Neptunia proudly supports PROJECT SEAGRASS, an environmental charity devoted to the conservation and restoration of seagrass ecosystems. Their mission is to lead societal change to enable the global recovery of seagrass ecosystems which provide biodiversity, food security, and long-term carbon storage.

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THE UNITED KINGDOM by ŽIKICA MILOŠEVIĆ

ECONOM Y

From Empire to Riches On its own way

s of recently, the UK's economy is completely independent of any integration, following Brexit and the break with the EU. It is still one of the world's largest economies, and it accounts for 3.3% of the global economy.

A hundred years ago, if we viewed the British Empire's economy as a single entity, it was the largest in the world. Although the Americans began to match the UK with their mass production and industrialization as early as the late 19th century, and Germany began to breathe behind its neck around the same time, the UK was still the largest superpower. After the devastating consequences of World War II and the loss of the colonies, everything was significantly reduced. Still, the UK's economy remains impressive – the

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It remains to be seen how successful he will be and how much he will manage to avoid the traps this time around

Brits have the 6th largest national economy in the world measured in the nominal gross domestic product (GDP), 8th in purchasing power parity and 25th in GDP per capita.

The British economy embarked on globalization a long time ago, and it is not surprising that it is today one of the most globalized economies in the world - peanuts for butter started to be grown in East Africa a long time ago, and sheep were raised on Antipodes, while the population was "exported" to dominions. In 2020, the United Kingdom was the fifth largest exporter in the world and the fifth-largest importer. It also had the third-largest inward direct investments and the fifth largest outward direct investments. Data from nine years ago, i.e.

2013, show that Great Britain was the leading country in Europe in terms of foreign direct investments (FDI) which amounted to 26.51 billion dollars, a 19.31% share of the European market. In contrast, the UK was second in Europe in terms of outward foreign direct investments, amounting to $42.59 billion, a 17.24% share of the European market. Impressive for "small islands" with a "big name", isn't it?

In 2020, Great Britain's trade with the 27 member states of the European Union accounted for 49% of the country's exports and 52% of its imports - so the EU is not "fin-

ished" after all and the two neighbours are still cooperating. During Baroness Thatcher’s term as PM, mines and many factories were closed, and mass production gave way to services. So today, the British economy is one of the most pronounced service-based economies, because services make up as much as 81% of state GDP. Of these, financial services are the most important, and London is one of the largest financial centres in the world. Hope that Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt will replace London as the financial hub has remained largely futile.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of "left behind areas" in the UK, euphemistically speaking, as there are big differences in regional development, which is partly historical heritage and partly a consequence of Thatcherism - southern England and northeast Scotland are the two most developed regions. London is enormously rich as it has the highest GDP per capita in all of Europe from the Urals to Greenland. They say that this disparity was what brought Brexit about. Prime Minister Johnson vowed to use his plan to develop those UK regions, which supported him during the Brexit referendum and last elections. It remains to be seen how successful he will be and how much he will manage to avoid the traps this time around.

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Excellent Results of the BAT Factory in the Area of Sustainability visit from the delegation of the British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce to British American Tobacco factory (BAT) in Vranje once again shown outstanding company results in modernization of Vranje’s factory, as well as innovations and alignment of BAT’s business activities within the principles of sustainable development and environmental protection.

Investments and the company’s determination to reducing harmful impacts of business on the society have led to the factory’s results which can be viewed through the reduction of waste disposal at the landfill by 35 percent, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 56 percent and recycling waste of as much as 95 percent. In addition, the factory is using a 100 percent of electricity from renewable sources, while a switch from using fuel oil to natu-

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ral gas is happening in the meantime, with noticeable reduction of emissions. These results within the topic of sustainability have placed the company amongst the regional leaders in the race for carbon neutrality, while it is confirmed by the company that this goal will be realized by 2023.

During 2022, with the help of its employees BAT has continued to contribute to the fulfilment of the sustainability mission, as well as participating in all initiatives that

create additional value for the society and community. Besides the aid the company has provided to the health and social system during the crisis, its employees have also shown social responsibility by engaging in all charitable activities, as well as those interested in creating a better natural environment. So, in the beginning of the month, marking the World Environmental Day, BAT employees had joined strengths with local public enterprises in organ-

izing an action to clean Vranje’s water drainage channels in order to protect the ecosystem and highlight the importance of environmental protection. Shortly before that, in collaboration with NALED, BAT had supported an opening of a recycling yard, the first of its kind in Serbia, thanks to whom the citizens of Sremska Mitrovica will have an opportunity to dispose of bulky waste and in that way provide additional contribution to the society.

As far as further priorities of the company go, they stay dedicated to listening to the needs of their consumers, the local community and their employees, simultaneously fulfilling the goals of the ESG strategy and building A Better Tomorrow. Science and innovations stay amongst the main initiators of BATs development, while social responsibility is one of the fundamental principles in business.

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THE UNITED KINGDOM

BSCC Serbian Trade Mission

The BSCC delegation, led by Chairman Dr David Landsman, visited several cities across the country including Leskovac, Vranje, Čačak, Kragujevac, Orašac, Novi Sad and finally Belgrade. BSCC Serbian Trade Mission (23-27 May) had the goal of strengthening trade and business between the UK and Serbia irst stop was Leskovac where they were warmly welcomed by Goran Jović, director of Leskovac Chamber of Commerce and his wonderful team. They went to the beautiful Vinarija Aleksić in Vranje where three sisters and founders of the vineyard Dragana, Maja and Marija showed them how they turned their passion for wine into a hugely successful business. The first day of their tour continued in Vranje where they had the opportunity to visit BAT! The second day of the BSCC Serbian Trade Mission started by visit to their member AUTOSTOP AVIATION and their factory in Leskovac.

They finished the day by visiting Naučno tehnološki park Čačak - Science Technology Park Čačak, which is an influential factor in local and regional economic growth that provides conditions for the development of entrepreneurship, application of innovations and cooperation between science and economy in Western Serbia.

Day 3 was reserved for the visit to British Motors Srbija, their premium member in Čačak. They are the exclusive importer of Jaguar

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and Land Rover vehicles for Serbia.

After Čačak, they continued their tour across the country and visited MIND - Milanović Industries Group near Kragujevac, where they were greeted by Marion Georgi and her wonderful team Jan Georgi, Darko Đorić and Ana Račić. The final stop for the day of their Serbian Trade Mission was to the beautiful Matijašević Vinogradi!

Day 4 of the BSCC Serbian Trade Mission was reserved for Novi Sad. They also paid a visit to British Motors, their premium member and OMR Group at the National Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad. The final day of the BSCC Serbian Trade Mission was reserved for Belgrade where they had the opportunity to meet with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and their representatives Mr. Mihailo Vesović, Director of Division for Strategic Analyses, Services and Internationalisation and Ms. Marica Vidanović, Head of Business Development for North, Central and South America and Australia of Division for Strategic Analyses, Services and Internationalisation.

To complete the Serbian Trade Mission, they organised an exclu-

T R A DE M IS SION

To complete the Serbian Trade Mission, they organised an exclusive reception and dinner at Klub Privrednika

sive reception and dinner at Klub Privrednika in Belgrade on Friday 27 May 2022. The event was attended

by H.E Sian MacLeod, UK Ambassador to Serbia and was opened by Dr David Landsman, the BSCC Chair and Mr Predrag Leković, member of Board Directors of our Premium member Porto Montenegro who was the Golden Sponsor. The guests included the BSCC members and friends of the Chamber and the programme was followed by incredible musical performance by young talents from Musical School Stanković and ArtLink.

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THE UNITED KINGDOM

The Sensitivity of an English Writer

C U LT U R E

Some of the most famous literary works in the world come from the pen of the English writer Jane Austen. Her characters and stories have been an inspiration to many girls and women around the world, as well as to filmmakers who have made numerous films based on her books ane Austen was born in Steventon, Hampshire, on 16 December 1775.

She was born a month later than her parents expected; her father wrote of her arrival in a letter that her mother "certainly expected to have been brought to bed a month ago". He added that the newborn infant was "a present plaything for Cassy and a future companion". The winter of 1776 was particularly harsh and it was not until 5 April that she was baptised at the local church with the single name Jane.

She was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique,

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and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary, have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

With the publication of Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), she achieved

Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security

modest success and little fame in her lifetime, as the books were published anonymously. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1818—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind: three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript; the short epistolary novel Lady Susan; and another unfinished novel, The Watsons.

Austen gained far more status after her death, and her six full-length novels have rarely been out of print.

A significant transition in her posthumous reputation occurred in 1833, when her novels were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series, illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering, and sold as a set.

They gradually gained wider acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience.

Austen has inspired a large number of critical essays and literary anthologies. Her novels have inspired many films, from 1940s Pride and Prejudice to more recent productions like Love & Friendship (2016) and Emma (2020).

Morris Dancing

T R A DI T ION

In the 1950s and especially the 1960s, there was an explosion of new dance teams, some of them women's or mixed sides

orris dancing is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers, usually wearing bell pads on their shins. Implements such as sticks, swords and handkerchiefs may also be wielded by the dancers. In a small number of dances for one or two people, steps are near and across a pair of clay tobacco pipes laid one across the other on the floor. They clap their sticks, swords, or handkerchiefs together to match with the dance.

Throughout history, the Morris seems to have been common. It was imported from village festivities into popular entertainment after the invention of the court masque

by Henry VIII. The word Morris apparently derived from “morisco,”

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meaning “Moorish.” Cecil Sharp, whose collecting of Morris dances preserved many from extinction, suggested that it might have arisen from the dancers’ blacking their faces as part of the necessary ritual disguise.

The name is first recorded in English in the mid-15th century as Morisk dance, moreys daunce, morisse daunce, i.e. "Moorish dance". The term entered English via Flemish mooriske danse. While the earliest (15th-century) references place the Morris dance in a courtly setting, it appears that the dance became part of performances for the lower classes by the later 16th century; in 1600, the Shakespearean actor William Kempe Morris danced from London to Norwich, an event chronicled in his Nine Daies Wonder (1600).

In the first few decades of the

The name is first recorded in English in the mid-15th century as Morisk dance, moreys daunce, morisse daunce, i.e. "Moorish dance"

20th century, several men's sides were formed, and in 1934 the Morris Ring was founded by six revival sides. In the 1950s and especially the 1960s, there was an explosion of new dance teams, some of them women's or mixed sides. At the time, there was often heated debate over the propriety and even legitimacy of women dancing the Morris, even though there is evidence as far back as the 16th century that there were female Morris dancers. There are now male, female and mixed sides to be found.

Partly because women's and mixed sides were not eligible for full membership of the Morris Ring (this has now changed), two other national (and international) bodies were formed, the Morris Federation and Open Morris. All three bodies provide communication, advice, insurance, instructionals (teaching sessions) and social and dancing opportunities to their members. The three bodies co-operate on some issues, while maintaining their distinct identities. An umbrella body that includes all three, the Joint Morris Organisation, organises joint events and discusses issues that affect all members, such as access to both public liability and personal insurance cover.

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THE UNITED KINGDOM

Windsor castle

TOURISM

Castles of England

A castle is a type of fortified structure, developed in Europe during the Middle Ages. The first castles appeared in France in the 10th century, and in England during the 11th century

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few castles are known to have been built in England before the Normans invaded in 1066; a great many were built in the years following, the principal mechanism by means of which the Normans were able to consolidate their control over the country.

Whilst a few important castles, such as the White Tower in the Tower of London, were built of stone, most early castles were motte-andbailey castles of earthwork and timber, which could be constructed quickly. Some were later rebuilt in stone, but there are a great many castle sites in England where all that is visible today are traces of earthworks.

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Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is strongly associated with the English and succeeding British royal family, and embodies almost a millennium of architectural history.

The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I (who reigned 1100–1135), it has been used by the reigning monarch and is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle's lavish early 19th-century state apartments were described by early 20th century art historian Hugh Roberts as "a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms widely regarded as the fin-

Tower of London

lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built

by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite.

In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a

est and most complete expression of later Georgian taste". Inside the castle walls is the 15th-century St George's Chapel, considered by the historian John Martin Robinson to be "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design.

Windsor Castle was used as a refuge by the royal family during the Luftwaffe bombing campaigns of the Second World War and survived a fire in 1992. It is a popular tourist attraction, a venue for hosting state visits, and is the main residence of Queen Elizabeth II since 2011.

The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It

prison and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the Second World War, damage caused during the Blitz was repaired, and the castle reopened to the public.

Today, the Tower of London is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. Under the ceremonial charge of the Constable of the Tower, and operated by the Resident Governor of the Tower of London and Keeper of the Jewel House, the property is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.

Most early castles were motte-andbailey castles of earthwork and timber, which could be constructed quickly

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