Commonwealth beer hosted in Parliament

We were delighted to bring Canberra Ale to Parliament with the help of Windsor MP, Adam Afriyie and Windsor and Eton Brewery to celebrate the Commonwealth Games.

Will Calvert, Director of Windsor & Eton Brewery, tells the story of Canberra’s naming:

“We like the story that immediately after the Coronation in 1953 newsreel footage was immediately couriered to RAF Northolt and then by Canberra jet to Canada so that it could be shown “as live” on Canadian television. Of course it’s also got some Australian connotation. It is crafted using ingredients from around the Commonwealth: maple syrup from Canada and hops from Australia and New Zealand. We hope MPs love our chestnut-coloured hoppy beer .”

MP for Windsor, Adam Afriyie, congratulated Windsor & Eton Brewery as a growing local business:

“The Windsor and Eton Brewery is a welcome employer in Windsor and I’m delighted that they are selling their Canberra Ale in Parliament in November. On my recent visit to their brewery I was impressed by the dedication of the staff and the quality of their products. So I very much wish them continued success and was glad to play my small part in making it possible for MPs to sample the delights of Windsor in a glass!”

Mr. Afriyie is also a strong supporter of Commonwealth and its opportunities for trade:

“Canberra Ale is a great symbol of the strong partnership between the UK and other Commonwealth countries. I hope that in years to come, the UK will further strengthen its ties with the Commonwealth to boost our friendship and trade with these countries, who remain so important to our identity in the world.

“I must also say a huge thank you to Commonwealth Exchange, who have been enormously supportive. They are a fantastic organisation whose commitment to the potential of the Commonwealth is as vital as ever and I wish them success as they continue to emphasise the value of this strong family of nations.”

Tim Hewish, Executive Director of CX, said:

“We want to encourage British small businesses to export to the Commonwealth. We also want Britons to understand why the Commonwealth matters. We thought what better way than through a pint of ale! We approached Windsor & Eton Brewery because we believe its Commonwealth beers is part of this story. We were delighted to be able to work with them and Adam Afriyie MP to bring this about.”

Commonwealth Food and Drink Festival in Parliament

09.12.14 | Commonwealth Food and Drink festival | Houses of Parliament | CPA room | 11.00 to 15.00

Commonwealth Friends,

We are organising a Commonwealth Food and Drink Festival in the Palace of Westminster. It is to celebrate and acknowledge small businesses in London from a Commonwealth background.

We will be joined by Australian, South African, and New Zealand wines, Kenyan tea and coffee, Indian, Malaysian & Singaporean, and Ghanian foods, Jamaican patties, SA biltong, Australian pies, and many many more.

The event is free to attend as is the food on offer. All that is required is to pass through Parliamentary security in the usual manner and make your way to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) room in Westminster Hall.

Bring your work colleagues and friends. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Thanks!

The Commonwealth Exchange Team

"How to solve a problem like a visa" media updates

Today we released our new report in to Commonwealth visas and immigration. You can find out more here, download the report here, and download an infographic summary here.

We've also had quite a bit of media attention both in the UK and in Australia and New Zealand. Here's the pickup so far:

UNITED KINGDOM

The Sunday Times: "Boris: Open up UK to migrants from Commonwealth" (£)

The Sun on Sunday: "Boris calls for ‘more migrants’ – but not from the EU" (£)

Buzzfeed: "12 Reasons To Support More Commonwealth Immigration"

ConservativeHome: "Ralph Buckle: We need more Commonwealth immigration"

BBC: "London mayor Boris Johnson backs UK migration report"

Daily Mail: "London mayor wants to make it easier for Aussies to live and work in Britain, proposing a 'bilateral mobility zone' agreement like the one between Australia and NZ"

Daily Express: "We need more Commonwealth citizens, says Boris Johnson"

The Guardian: "Angela Merkel warns David Cameron over freedom of movement"

"Osborne downplays row with Germany over EU freedom of movement"

The Times: "Brussels to offer compromise over its £1.7bn bill for Britain"

LBC: Our Director Ralph Buckle was interviewed about the report on Lisa Aziz's morning show

CityAM: "Boris Johnson welcomes report calling for more Commonwealth immigration"

Huffington Post: "Why We Should Allow Free Movement Between the UK and Australia"

The Voice: "Britain could benefit from Commonwealth immigration"

PoliticsHome: "Merkel 'rebuffs UK free movement demands'"

Management Today: "Boris Johnson wants immigrants - just not from Europe"

Breitbart UK: "Boris Johnson: Rebalance Immigration Away From EU, Towards 'English Speaking Peoples'"

TNT Magazine: "Making it easier for Aussies to stay in the UK - one step closer  Read more: Making it easier for Aussies to stay in the UK - one step closer"

Migrants' Rights Network: Thinktank calls for bilateral agreements on free movement rights for selected Commonwealth countries

PoliticsWeb: "Boris Johnson wants UK opened up to more Commonwealth migrants"

AUSTRALIA

The Sydney Morning Herald: "Let Australians live and work in Britain: London mayor Boris Johnson backs migration report"

The Australian: "London Mayor Boris Johnson says Britain’s visa policy on Aussies bizarre"

Australian Associated Press: "Australians and New Zealanders should be free to live and work in UK, report says"

The Spectator: "Natural bedfellows"

ABC NewsRadio: Our Director and the report's author Tim Hewish was interviewed on the Evening Show with Laura Tchilinguirian

Sky News Australia: "New push for special Aussie access to UKNew push for special Aussie access to UK"

SBS News and Current Affairs Australia: Tim did a to camera interview - watch here.

SBS Australia: "London's Mayor seeks Aussie expats"

SBS Australia: "New push for Aussies to live and work in UK without restrictions"

The Australian: "Report urges UK visa freedom"

7News: "New push for special Aussie access to UK"

Australian Times: "Boris Johnson backs push for more Australians to live and work in the UK"

6PR Perth Tonight: Tim was interviewed for Perth Tonight with Chris Ilsley

Channel 7 Australia: Tim has filmed an interview for the evening news

International Business Times "London Mayor Backs Equal Rights for Australians and Kiwis in UK"

Nine News Australia interviewed Ralph for the national news bulletins

ABC Melbourne interviewed Tim for Breakfast with Red Symons

News.com.au: "London rolls out welcome mat to Aussies, with plans to make living and working in UK easier"

NEW ZEALAND

The New Zealand Herald: "Editorial: Boris' open door plan makes sense"

The New Zealand Herald: "Boris backs call for Kiwi freedom in UK"

The New Zealand Times: "Boris Johnson: Sparking a Renaissance for Commonwealth Mobility"

Radio New Zealand News: "New push for rights of Kiwis in Britain"

Stuff.co.nz: "Scepticism over free UK visas for Kiwis"

3 News New Zealand: "Push for special Kiwi status in UK, Canada"

"Key doubtful about 'Boris bilaterals' idea"

Nelson Mail & Stuff.co.nz: "London mayor backs free UK visas for Kiwis"

TVNZ: "New push for Kiwis to be given special status to live in UK"

TVNZ: "New UK Visa rules would ease Kiwis' pain - but John Key sceptical"

The Dominion Post: "London mayor backs free UK visas for Kiwis"

Radio New Zealand: Tim was interviewed on the Morning Report. Listen here.

Newstalk ZB: "Moves to make it easier for us to live, work in UK"

Newstalk ZB: "Immigration changes could prove too hot a topic for Britain"

Newstalk ZB: Ralph was interviewed for the Mike Hosking Breakfast with ASB. Listen here.

NZ News UK:  "Australians & New Zealanders should be free to live & work in UK"

The Timaru Herald: "Editorial: UK migration idea double-edged"

Kiwiblog: "Boris backs Kiwis to work in the UK"

CANADA

Yahoo Canada: "Think-tank calls for free travel between Canada, other Commonwealth countries"

CX launches trade teaser guide for Commonwealth markets

We launched this teaser guide at our annual keynote event in October 2014 given by the Minister of State for the Commonwealth, Mr. Hugo Swire in the Locarno Suite in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

Our A5 fold-out teaser guide to Commonwealth markets will accompany our forthcoming introductory trade guides for British SMEs. Our first guide will look at the South African market.

As Tim Hewish, Executive Director of CX told the audience:

"We are fascinated with the Commonwealth and its multiple possibilities - particularly through trade. As you can see from our A3 fold-out guide, which we have launched this evening, we have shown clearly - why the Commonwealth matters in the 21st century. Please do take a copy."

Businesses who are interested in exporting to the Commonwealth and want to learn more can download a copy for free by clicking below. We can also post a hard copy of the guide.

CX hosts Commonwealth Minister at its Autumn reception at the FCO

Last Thursday Commonwealth Exchange was delighted to welcome Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP, The Minister of State for the Commonwealth, to deliver the keynote speech at our Autumn reception.

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The reception was held in the incredibly grand Locarno Suite (dubbed "the Drawing room for the Nation") at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The Minister's full speech can be found here but here are a few of the highlights:

"We have a duty to ensure the Commonwealth continues to evolve, adapt and stay relevant in the 21st Century."

"Commonwealth Exchange... have rightly called for more focus on Commonwealth trade. We can - and must - be more ambitious."

"Together, we belong to a unique network - the Commonwealth family. It has global reach and great diversity. But it also has vast, untapped potential. And I hope tonight we take another step in releasing it."

Our Executive Director Tim Hewish also spoke at the event. He discussed the need to put trade at the centre of our engagement with the Commonwealth. In addition he laid out some of our upcoming projects, and in particular our upcoming visa report which launches a week today.

The final speech came from two Directors of Quirk, a marketing agency who launched in South Africa 15 years ago and now have clients and offices across the Commonwealth.

Thanks to all who attended, to the Minister and Quirk for speaking, and to the FCO for hosting. We hope you all enjoyed it.