#FridayFive from the Executive Director: 31 July 2026

My #FridayFive for Friday 31st July covers two weeks this week (and sorry its late!) as we’ve had a gear change seeing a new UK Prime Minster and new Cabinet, and a reshuffled Cabinet in #Singapore too. As we have accelerated through another few weeks at the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore (BritCham), here’s is a full update on what we’ve been up to:

1.  Supporting Members: Lydia and I hosted one of our regular Breakfast with BritCham mornings – great to share whats in our mind, and hear from members so thanks to all who joined. Was great to link up with Cassaundra Tan and Jun han Lim from Price Forbes.

2.  Happy Birthday Haleon: Lucy Haydon represented the Chamber when she visited Haleon together with H.E Nikesh Mehta, HMTC Martin Kent CMG and Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Country Director Niall Ahern, hosted by Shweta Shukla to celebrate their anniversary of being in Singapore and also to connect the main parts of Team UK in Singapore. 

3.  Incoming Cabinet(s): I can’t remember a week when we’ve seen a new PM and Cabinet in the #UK, and a shuffle of the Cabinet in Singapore within 48 hours of each other. The Chamber was once again quick to respond, and we wrote to all member companies about what this means. I’ve copied a link in the comments for those interested. 

4.  Focus on collaboration: Haslam Preeston and I welcomed Emily and President Stephen Miller from AustCham Singapore as we talked about collaboration between Chambers. A brilliant meeting with shared ambitions around AUKUS, the digital economy, Green economy (particulary with Australian and Turkey co-hosting COP31) and support for SMEs. More to follow, watch this space! Delighted to attend the brilliant CFTE - Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship reception on Thursday, following a finance and fintech roundtable hosted at Standard Chartered Bank. Also met up with Steve West and Mary from Endava. Lucy and I have also had calls with the brilliant team from the City of London Corporation, with Vodafone and Inchcape Shipping Services. Lastly, super brilliant to see Sarah McLeod, Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines – looking forward to seeing you in Manila later in the year. Thank you to Madeleine from EDB who we said bye too.

5.  Towards the UK: I had the pleasure of joining Karen Chia from Berkeley & Jamie Adam from Savilles at MBS at the PropNex Realty Pte Ltd conference. We also held an online trade webinar for Singapore companies looking to expand in the UK, run by Melissa from Lumacore Pro who talked about SME grants for expansion, together with Martin Rimmer on UK tax and, Thomas Tilley on the vibrancy and impressiveness of the UK #tech sector. I came away from both events buzzing about the UK.

Shift Change will be familiar to all those in Singapore, and todays link! Back in four days with another update. And thank you to Theo who left us last week, and helped enormously with some international chamber thinking.