Follow Up: Meet the Members

On 28 January we held our first event for 2026 – Meet the Members. And what a start! Eighteen companies got the chance to introduce themselves to the BBCC network.

Special thanks to:

• Andji Consulting LTD
• Axiom Insurance Company
• BlackPeak Capital
• Discordia
• Forton AD
• HRS
• Iliana IT Services
• Magic Outdoor
• Manikyan Capital
• Marsh
• Prostream
• Slavchev and Vasilev
• Synergo
• Techpark Engineering Ltd.
• TMF Group
• 1202 Print Agency
• The Other Half
• Vialto Partners

We are excited to welcome you all!

After the presentations, guests were invited for a networking cocktail.

Special thanks to our hosts from Novotel for always providing such great atmosphere.

You can view pictures from the event here.

We are excited to share that we’re putting together a group of Bulgarian food and drink businesses to share a stand at the International Food&Drink Event in London this Spring.

This is a paid opportunity for a shared stand for Bulgarian companies to exhibit their products at IFE, the largest business event for food and beverage discovery. Such an opportunity allows Bulgarian brands to present their products to high-quality buyers and new markets.

The event is taking place on 30 March – 01 April 2026 at Excel London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.

For more information, please contact us at office@bbcc.bg by 6 February.

Reacting to the announcement of a new clean energy deal with the EU, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: 

“It is essential for the UK’s energy security and economic growth that we co-operate more closely with our European allies to realise the full potential of the North Sea. 

“The commitments set out in the Hamburg Declaration will deliver on that, allowing our businesses to work on joint projects on renewables, interconnectors and other vital energy infrastructure. 

“But we must not stop there. Action is also needed to ensure the competitiveness of oil and gas extraction and refining in the UK. This is a vital part of our energy mix in an uncertain world where we face multiple geopolitical and security threats. 

“The UK government must ensure that its fiscal and policy decisions in the North Sea provide some much-needed certainty to businesses, workers, and communities across the country.  

“Firms are clear that the current tax regime is not sustainable for another four years. If the Energy Profits Levy remains unchanged, it will negatively impact jobs and investment in the UK.  

“The government must move to the recently announced Oil and Gas Price Mechanism as soon as possible, 2030 will be too late. 

“The full commercial possibilities of offshore hydrogen exports from the UK, and carbon capture and storage also need to be explored. This is already a focus of energy security for many of our European partners.  

“Businesses in the UK are desperate to see lower energy costs. The EU Reset offers an opportunity to bring the UK closer to a large and growing market for the surplus electricity it generates. This would secure increased investment, lower wholesale costs, and continuity of supply. 

“The momentum from today’s Summit and Business Conference needs to be kept up. Economic growth, lower costs for businesses, and tens of thousands of jobs in the North Sea energy sectordepend upon it.” 

More information on the clean energy security pact can be found here.

Source: British Chambers of Commerce

The June 2026 deadline for Directive (EU) 2023/970 is approaching. For many companies in Bulgaria, this is not just a compliance task – it is a fundamental shift in how we approach compensation, talent retention, and internal culture.

HRS are launching a specialised survey to benchmark the readiness of the Bulgarian business landscape. Your insights are crucial for creating an objective analysis of the challenges and best practices across sectors.

Why participate?

• Completion Time: 17 questions | up to 5 minutes
• Deadline: by February 17, 2026
• Confidentiality: Guaranteed anonymity. Data will be used in aggregate form only.
• Your Participation Bonus: Participants who complete the survey will receive exclusive access to an Expert Fact Sheet regarding the implementation of the Directive, including strategic steps for organizational readiness.

Join the conversation and help us map the future of pay transparency in Bulgaria.

Link to Survey 👉 https://survey.zohopublic.eu/zs/tHCBj4

Thank you for your time and contribution!

This survey is conducted by the Research & Consulting Team at HRS Bulgaria.

PwC’s Academy invites you to join the 2026 IFRS training series. Coming up are two trainings designed for financial executives and accounting and reporting professionals responsible for preparing and interpreting financial statements.  

• IFRS 18 – Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements
  Due to the high interest and demand we are happy to announce a new date for our IFRS 18 training course. The standard – replacing IAS 1 from 1 January 2027 – introduces changes in how information is structured, presented and explained in financial statements. Companies need to act early and prepare for performance measures and transparent communication of main business activities.
  Date: 10 February 2026
  More information: https://www.pwc.bg/en/pwc-academy/portfolio/accounting-and-finance/IFRS-18.html   
• IFRS & Sustainability Reporting Update 2026 training, a one‑day expert‑led seminar designed to summarise the latest developments in financial and sustainability reporting that organisations need to consider for their 2025 and 2026 reporting cycles.
  Date: 18 March 2026
  More information: https://www.pwc.bg/en/pwc-academy/portfolio/accounting-and-finance/IFRS-Update-CEE.html  

Both training courses will be held live-online in English and will be led by our PwC expert tutors from CEE. If you have any questions please reach out to the Academy team at: bg_pwcacademy@pwc.com  

Register here: https://www.pwc.bg/en/online-forms/academy-training-courses-registration.html   

United Bulgarian Bank AD (UBB) has signed a Guarantee Agreement with the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) under the InvestEU programme for building two portfolios of total value EUR 335 million, thus expanding the access to funding for enterprises and supporting the realization of sustainable investments in Bulgaria. The document was signed on 18.12.2025 at the BDB Head Office by Mr. Tsanko Arabadzhiev, BDB Executive Director, and Mr. Frank Jansen, Management Board Member and Executive Director SME Banking at UBB. 

By signing the Agreement, the two financial institutions create additional opportunities for supporting competitive, innovative and sustainable projects, as the guarantee mechanisms under the InvestEU programme accelerate the implementation of investments with significant economic and environmental impact on the market in Bulgaria.

„It is important for UBB to be a partner of BDB under the InvestEU programme. The credit guarantee is intended to provide funding under preferential terms for small and medium-sized enterprises and to support economic growth and regional development. The funds under the programme are in accordance with our priority pillars – competitiveness, innovations, digitalization and sustainability“, said Frank Jansen, Executive Director SME Banking at UBB.

This partnership envisages the application of loss-capped portfolio guarantees, which facilitate lending to customers under preferential terms. Within the Agreement UBB will offer funding under two guarantee sub-products, each with an inclusion period until 31.12.2030:

• Guarantee product for SMEs – Loss-capped Guarantee sub-product with a potential for building a loan portfolio up to EUR 300 million. Eligible SMEs are those under the SME Act and small and medium-sized enterprises (with staff number up to 499 employees). Funding can be for both investment and working capital needs (incl. revolving one), with 80% guarantee coverage, a guarantee fee of 0.24% on the loan amount, maximum loan amount up to EUR 8.25 million and tenor up to 120 months. The eligibility scope is a broad one – common goals, sustainability, innovations and digitalization, culture – upon preferential terms for the end beneficiary and while applying the state aid regimes in accordance with the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).

• Sustainable Investments guarantee product – Waste, Effluent and Clean Air Management sub-product with potential for building a loan portfolio up to EUR 35 million. Eligible beneficiaries are municipalities and enterprises (large ones included), implementing or planning to implement projects for construction and demolition waste management, production of recycled construction materials and/or activities of organizations for utilization of packaging waste. Funding can be for both investment and working capital needs (incl. revolving one), with 80% guarantee coverage, a guarantee fee of 0.24% on the loan amount, maximum loan amount up to EUR 8.25 million and tenor up to 180 months, with the eligibility being particularly focused on wastes and circular economy with envisaged preferential terms for the end beneficiary and upon applying the state aid regimes according to the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER).

The InvestEU programme, implemented over the period 2021–2027, is a key instrument of the European Commission for supporting sustainable development, small businesses and innovations. It aims at stimulating investments, green economy, employment and prosperity across Europe.

Crowne Plaza Sofia is offering a veriety of ways to celebrate the romantic holiday. From exquisite dinner to spa weekend, there’s something for every couple.

Make sure to check out the full offer here:

Responding to the latest inflation data, published by the Office for National Statistics, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: 

“Today’s data is a stark reminder that the UK inflation waters remain choppy.  

“With CPI rising to 3.4% in December, it’s clear the path to hitting the Bank of England’s 2% target will have further twists and turns. Hopes of another interest rate cut at the start of February now look very unlikely. 

“Our latest survey shows inflation remains a key concern for businesses cited by 56% of respondents. The threat of more US tariffs in the coming weeks will only increase price concerns among the firms we represent.  

“Business confidence remains weak, and the Budget was a missed opportunity to turbocharge the economy. As firms look ahead to uncertain 2026, they need the Government to deliver on growth. That means action to boost investment, transform productivity and support trade.” 

Source: British Chambers of Commerce

BBCC member Bob Spence has been appointed as part of the acceleration team for FinTech North, working within their OWL Works programme. This is a highly regarded, inclusive business support initiative for early-stage professionals and founders in FinTech across the North of England. OWL stands for Opportunities With Leadership and the programme is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. His role focuses on supporting startups and scale-ups with business development positioning, market entry logic, and commercial traction.

WineMakeryClub proudly issues its new vintage. Following the awarded gold medal of the same varieties, Melnik, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 come with more subtlety, fruit and even greater potential to age.

Only private orders available.

Please reach out to Yasen at itrendafilov@winemakeryclub.com or +359 88 9999481