East Anglia: Business leaders urged to grasp export opportunities

From left, Paul Brown, senior audit manager at Grant Thornton UK LLP, Clare Stanley, senior international commercial manager at HSBC, and Martin Keepfer, yeam manager, UK Trade & Investment

By Duncan Brodie Sunday, May 6, 2012
6:00 AM

SENIOR business leaders from across East Anglia gathered to discuss growth opportunities overseas and whether the UK is in fact in the grips of a double dip recession at an event jointly hosted by business advisers Grant Thornton, banking group HSBC Bank and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

According to the latest official figures on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the UK economy has returned to recession after shrinking by 0.2% in the first three months of 2012.

However, Mark Beresford-Smith, head of economics at HSBC, told guests at the “Global Markets” event, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Stansted Airport. that one set of figures may not represent the true picture over the coming months and that it is more likely the UK economy is “flat lining”.

Mr Beresford-Smith also commented on the impact negative media headlines about the economy were having on business confidence and that, due to the paying down of debt, both personal and national, demand is not being stimulated.

With the depressed UK economy in mind, guests were offered advice on finding and maximising new opportunities for overseas expansion, particularly in emerging markets, by Grant Thornton and UKTI.

Paul Brown, senior audit manager at Grant Thornton East Anglia, who co-hosted the event, said: “With the historic major markets of the US and Europe stalling, many firms are now more actively looking to develop other markets including China, Africa and India.

“According to our latest research on international expansion, just under half of the privately owned firms polled said their overseas growth was opportunistic rather than strategic.

“However, of those that did strategically plan expansion, their average profit before tax margin was 10% over two years as opposed to a 6% margin for those that were opportunistic.

“Profits also grew more quickly – 176% per annum over two years compared with 59% – proving that with the right strategy in place, overseas expansion can be a profitable option for UK businesses,” he added.

Guests also heared from Bob Nicolson, managing director of Cambridge-based technology company Aquasium Technology Ltd, who shared his experiences of opening up new markets abroad and overcoming the challenges this brings.

View the original article here

Business Must Grasp Opportunities Of Delivering Global Growth With Managing Scarce Food, Water And Energy Resources - CSR Wire

President Clinton to join business, finance and political leaders for unique two day forum on world's resources

LONDON, Apr. 23 /CSRwire/ - The international business and finance community must take the lead in solving increasing food, energy and water scarcity as population growth and economic development puts greater strains on the planet’s resources.

The call to action was issued today by Re|Source 2012, a new initiative created by the University of Oxford, its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment and The Rothschild Foundation to tackle resource scarcity and highlight the business opportunities of sustainable management.

Sir David King, co-director of Re|Source and former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, said: “The growing demand for food, energy and water by our growing and increasingly wealthy population is creating unprecedented pressures on our finite natural resources.

“The associated risks represent major opportunities for innovative business communities. Managing resources efficiently and effectively in a way that protects the environment and meets rising demand is the only productive way forward.”

The need to better manage the challenges of resource scarcity is now rising rapidly up the agenda for governments, investors and businesses alike, as well as environmental leaders and organisations.  It has become a critical security issue for corporate leaders trying to ensure a reliable supply of water and energy to manufacture products and for governments concerned about energy or food supplies.

The world is expected to grow from seven billion people today to nine billion by 2050 - to meet this growth it will need to produce 70 per cent more food – which will place consequential demands on water and energy. More than 40 of the world’s top 100 economies are companies. Only eight per cent of the world’s fresh water is used by individuals – the rest is used by agriculture and industry.

Sir David, director of the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment at Oxford University, continued:

“Managing issues arising from resource scarcity and management is one of the over-riding issues of the first half of the 21st century. It is not just a matter of empty threats and negativity.

“There are huge advantages and opportunities for business, finance and government in responsible resource management. Companies and investors can enjoy far greater returns and rewards by effective resource management.

“This can be a win-win for everyone if we can engage the financial, business and environmental communities together to tackle these issues.”

To help drive this change Re|Source is bringing together 250 of the world’s most influential thinkers and leaders at Oxford University in July to start a new conversation on managing natural resources, longer-term thinking and aligning people and profit.

They will address key questions including: how will resource scarcity and volatility affect political, business and military planning? How can the financial community change to encourage CEOs and investee companies to rise to these global resource challenges? And how will capitalism evolve in a resource constrained world?

Key speakers include:

President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United StatesPaul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on the investment opportunities in tomorrow’s economiesDavid Nabarro, the UN’s Special Representative on Food Security and NutritionPeter Brabeck, Chairman of Nestle, the world’s largest food company, and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of the Environment and Water Resource in Singapore, speaking on the business and political risks of water securityJeremy Grantham, founder of GMO, one of the world’s largest investment funds, on commodity pricing and volatility and Nobel Laureate economist Amartya Sen on the economics of resource scarcityRt Hon David Miliband MP, former UK Foreign Secretary, on the role of government and Lord Browne of Madingley, former CEO of BP energy and now partner of Riverstone Holdings LLC, on private sector leadershipPlus senior military figures including Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, Climate and Energy Security Envoy of the UK Ministry of Defence and FCO, and high-ranking officials from NATO (to be confirmed)In addition, James Cameron, internationally acclaimed film director, environmentalist and explorer, will give a special presentation at a dinner at the Ashmolean Museum.

Notes to editors:

Re|Source 2012 is hosted by the University of Oxford and its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, in co-operation with The Rothschild Foundation. It will take place on July 12-13. For more information please visit: www.resource2012.org  and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/resource2012

Journalist invites and accreditation details will be sent out closer to the event and you are invited to send requests for information to the media contacts below.

View the original article here

Business Must Grasp Opportunities Of Delivering Global Growth With Managing Scarce Food, Water And Energy Resources - CSR Wire

President Clinton to join business, finance and political leaders for unique two day forum on world's resources

LONDON, Apr. 23 /CSRwire/ - The international business and finance community must take the lead in solving increasing food, energy and water scarcity as population growth and economic development puts greater strains on the planet’s resources.

The call to action was issued today by Re|Source 2012, a new initiative created by the University of Oxford, its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment and The Rothschild Foundation to tackle resource scarcity and highlight the business opportunities of sustainable management.

Sir David King, co-director of Re|Source and former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, said: “The growing demand for food, energy and water by our growing and increasingly wealthy population is creating unprecedented pressures on our finite natural resources.

“The associated risks represent major opportunities for innovative business communities. Managing resources efficiently and effectively in a way that protects the environment and meets rising demand is the only productive way forward.”

The need to better manage the challenges of resource scarcity is now rising rapidly up the agenda for governments, investors and businesses alike, as well as environmental leaders and organisations.  It has become a critical security issue for corporate leaders trying to ensure a reliable supply of water and energy to manufacture products and for governments concerned about energy or food supplies.

The world is expected to grow from seven billion people today to nine billion by 2050 - to meet this growth it will need to produce 70 per cent more food – which will place consequential demands on water and energy. More than 40 of the world’s top 100 economies are companies. Only eight per cent of the world’s fresh water is used by individuals – the rest is used by agriculture and industry.

Sir David, director of the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment at Oxford University, continued:

“Managing issues arising from resource scarcity and management is one of the over-riding issues of the first half of the 21st century. It is not just a matter of empty threats and negativity.

“There are huge advantages and opportunities for business, finance and government in responsible resource management. Companies and investors can enjoy far greater returns and rewards by effective resource management.

“This can be a win-win for everyone if we can engage the financial, business and environmental communities together to tackle these issues.”

To help drive this change Re|Source is bringing together 250 of the world’s most influential thinkers and leaders at Oxford University in July to start a new conversation on managing natural resources, longer-term thinking and aligning people and profit.

They will address key questions including: how will resource scarcity and volatility affect political, business and military planning? How can the financial community change to encourage CEOs and investee companies to rise to these global resource challenges? And how will capitalism evolve in a resource constrained world?

Key speakers include:

President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United StatesPaul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on the investment opportunities in tomorrow’s economiesDavid Nabarro, the UN’s Special Representative on Food Security and NutritionPeter Brabeck, Chairman of Nestle, the world’s largest food company, and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of the Environment and Water Resource in Singapore, speaking on the business and political risks of water securityJeremy Grantham, founder of GMO, one of the world’s largest investment funds, on commodity pricing and volatility and Nobel Laureate economist Amartya Sen on the economics of resource scarcityRt Hon David Miliband MP, former UK Foreign Secretary, on the role of government and Lord Browne of Madingley, former CEO of BP energy and now partner of Riverstone Holdings LLC, on private sector leadershipPlus senior military figures including Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, Climate and Energy Security Envoy of the UK Ministry of Defence and FCO, and high-ranking officials from NATO (to be confirmed)In addition, James Cameron, internationally acclaimed film director, environmentalist and explorer, will give a special presentation at a dinner at the Ashmolean Museum.

Notes to editors:

Re|Source 2012 is hosted by the University of Oxford and its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, in co-operation with The Rothschild Foundation. It will take place on July 12-13. For more information please visit: www.resource2012.org  and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/resource2012

Journalist invites and accreditation details will be sent out closer to the event and you are invited to send requests for information to the media contacts below.

View the original article here

Business Must Grasp Opportunities Of Delivering Global Growth With Managing Scarce Food, Water And Energy Resources - CSR Wire

President Clinton to join business, finance and political leaders for unique two day forum on world's resources

LONDON, Apr. 23 /CSRwire/ - The international business and finance community must take the lead in solving increasing food, energy and water scarcity as population growth and economic development puts greater strains on the planet’s resources.

The call to action was issued today by Re|Source 2012, a new initiative created by the University of Oxford, its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment and The Rothschild Foundation to tackle resource scarcity and highlight the business opportunities of sustainable management.

Sir David King, co-director of Re|Source and former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, said: “The growing demand for food, energy and water by our growing and increasingly wealthy population is creating unprecedented pressures on our finite natural resources.

“The associated risks represent major opportunities for innovative business communities. Managing resources efficiently and effectively in a way that protects the environment and meets rising demand is the only productive way forward.”

The need to better manage the challenges of resource scarcity is now rising rapidly up the agenda for governments, investors and businesses alike, as well as environmental leaders and organisations.  It has become a critical security issue for corporate leaders trying to ensure a reliable supply of water and energy to manufacture products and for governments concerned about energy or food supplies.

The world is expected to grow from seven billion people today to nine billion by 2050 - to meet this growth it will need to produce 70 per cent more food – which will place consequential demands on water and energy. More than 40 of the world’s top 100 economies are companies. Only eight per cent of the world’s fresh water is used by individuals – the rest is used by agriculture and industry.

Sir David, director of the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment at Oxford University, continued:

“Managing issues arising from resource scarcity and management is one of the over-riding issues of the first half of the 21st century. It is not just a matter of empty threats and negativity.

“There are huge advantages and opportunities for business, finance and government in responsible resource management. Companies and investors can enjoy far greater returns and rewards by effective resource management.

“This can be a win-win for everyone if we can engage the financial, business and environmental communities together to tackle these issues.”

To help drive this change Re|Source is bringing together 250 of the world’s most influential thinkers and leaders at Oxford University in July to start a new conversation on managing natural resources, longer-term thinking and aligning people and profit.

They will address key questions including: how will resource scarcity and volatility affect political, business and military planning? How can the financial community change to encourage CEOs and investee companies to rise to these global resource challenges? And how will capitalism evolve in a resource constrained world?

Key speakers include:

President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United StatesPaul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on the investment opportunities in tomorrow’s economiesDavid Nabarro, the UN’s Special Representative on Food Security and NutritionPeter Brabeck, Chairman of Nestle, the world’s largest food company, and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of the Environment and Water Resource in Singapore, speaking on the business and political risks of water securityJeremy Grantham, founder of GMO, one of the world’s largest investment funds, on commodity pricing and volatility and Nobel Laureate economist Amartya Sen on the economics of resource scarcityRt Hon David Miliband MP, former UK Foreign Secretary, on the role of government and Lord Browne of Madingley, former CEO of BP energy and now partner of Riverstone Holdings LLC, on private sector leadershipPlus senior military figures including Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, Climate and Energy Security Envoy of the UK Ministry of Defence and FCO, and high-ranking officials from NATO (to be confirmed)In addition, James Cameron, internationally acclaimed film director, environmentalist and explorer, will give a special presentation at a dinner at the Ashmolean Museum.

Notes to editors:

Re|Source 2012 is hosted by the University of Oxford and its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, in co-operation with The Rothschild Foundation. It will take place on July 12-13. For more information please visit: www.resource2012.org  and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/resource2012

Journalist invites and accreditation details will be sent out closer to the event and you are invited to send requests for information to the media contacts below.

View the original article here

Business Must Grasp Opportunities of Delivering Global Growth With Managing Scarce Food, Water and Energy Resources

LONDON, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

President Clinton to join business, finance and political leaders for unique two day forum on world's resources

The international business and finance community must take the lead in solving increasing food, energy and water scarcity as population growth and economic development puts greater strains on the planet's resources.

The call to action was issued today by Re|Source 2012, a new initiative created by the University of Oxford, its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment and The Rothschild Foundation to tackle resource scarcity and highlight the business opportunities of sustainable management.

Sir David King, co-director of Re|Source and former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, said: "The growing demand for food, energy and water by our growing and increasingly wealthy population is creating unprecedented pressures on our finite natural resources.

"The associated risks represent major opportunities for innovative business communities. Managing resources efficiently and effectively in a way that protects the environment and meets rising demand is the only productive way forward."

The need to better manage the challenges of resource scarcity is now rising rapidly up the agenda for governments, investors and businesses alike, as well as environmental leaders and organisations. It has become a critical security issue for corporate leaders trying to ensure a reliable supply of water and energy to manufacture products and for governments concerned about energy or food supplies.

The world is expected to grow from seven billion people today to nine billion by 2050 - to meet this growth it will need to produce 70 per cent more food - which will place consequential demands on water and energy. More than 40 of the world's top 100 economies are companies. Only eight per cent of the world's fresh water is used by individuals - the rest is used by agriculture and industry.

Sir David, director of the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment at Oxford University, continued:

"Managing issues arising from resource scarcity and management is one of the over-riding issues of the first half of the 21st century. It is not just a matter of empty threats and negativity.

"There are huge advantages and opportunities for business, finance and government in responsible resource management. Companies and investors can enjoy far greater returns and rewards by effective resource management.

"This can be a win-win for everyone if we can engage the financial, business and environmental communities together to tackle these issues."

To help drive this change Re|Source is bringing together 250 of the world's most influential thinkers and leaders at Oxford University in July to start a new conversation on managing natural resources, longer-term thinking and aligning people and profit.

They will address key questions including: how will resource scarcity and volatility affect political, business and military planning? How can the financial community change to encourage CEOs and investee companies to rise to these global resource challenges? And how will capitalism evolve in a resource constrained world?

Key speakers include:

President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United StatesPaul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on the investment opportunities in tomorrow's economiesDavid Nabarro, the UN's Special Representative on Food Security and NutritionPeter Brabeck, Chairman of Nestle, the world's largest food company, and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of the Environment and Water Resource in Singapore, speaking on the business and political risks of water securityJeremy Grantham, founder of GMO, one of the world's largest investment funds, on commodity pricing and volatility and Nobel Laureate economist Amartya Sen on the economics of resource scarcityRt Hon David Miliband MP, former UK Foreign Secretary, on the role of government and Lord Browne of Madingley, former CEO of BP energy and now partner of Riverstone Holdings LLC, on private sector leadershipPlus senior military figures including Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, Climate and Energy Security Envoy of the UK Ministry of Defence and FCO, and high-ranking officials from NATO (to be confirmed)In addition, James Cameron, internationally acclaimed film director, environmentalist and explorer, will give a special presentation at a dinner at the Ashmolean Museum.Notes to editors:

Re|Source 2012 is hosted by the University of Oxford and its Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, in co-operation with The Rothschild Foundation. It will take place on July 12-13. For more information please visit: http://www.resource2012.org  and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/resource2012

Journalist invites and accreditation details will be sent out closer to the event and you are invited to send requests for information to the media contacts below.

View the original article here