Follow Up: The Great British Charity Quiz Vol. 5: The Christmas Edition

On 4 December, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Bulgaria (The Award), in partnership with the British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (BBCC) and the British Embassy in Sofia, hosted the 5th Great British Charity Quiz.

H.E. Mr Nathaniel Copsey, British Ambassador to Bulgaria, graciously welcomed guests to the British Residence in Sofia for this special event. H.E. Copsey and Tony McMurray, Chair of the Award’s Honorary Trust entered the role of quizmasters!

The night was filled with laughter, a little bit of competitiveness and lots of interesting quiz questions. Alongside the quiz, guests were welocme to participate in a charity raffle and silent auction featuring exciting prizes, generously donated by partners and supporters of the Award in Bulgaria.

We are delighted to announce that Barry Brand has been elected as the new BBCC Chair and Kamelia Slaveykova as the new BBCC Vice Chair.

Both presented their ambitious plans for the development of BBCC and the benefit of our members. We look forward to working with them both. Congratulations to Gilbert McCaul who will be the BBCC Treasurer.

The British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (BBCC), in partnership with the British Embassy in Sofia, was delighted to welcome a dynamic UK business delegation to Bulgaria this week. The visit formed part of the Green Cities are GREAT 2025 initiative — a flagship regional event dedicated to sustainable urban development, smart infrastructure and climate-positive solutions.

Over two days, the delegation took part in the Green Cities are GREAT Conference, B2B matchmaking meetings, and discussions with Bulgarian municipalities and industry leaders. The mission aimed to foster new partnerships, explore investment opportunities, and support the exchange of expertise between the UK and Bulgaria’s growing green innovation ecosystems.

Participating UK Delegates

We were proud to host representatives from ten innovative UK companies driving change across energy efficiency, air quality, smart monitoring, data intelligence, geospatial planning and aerospace technologies:

• Energy Saving Trust
• We Care 4 Air
• Meteor Communication
• Space Syntax
• DPC (Data People Connected)
• Crowd House Energy
• YardOps
• SAUCE
• Nordic Energy
• ISS Aerospace

Their participation added significant value to the discussions around digital transformation, sustainable mobility, energy transition, as well as the future of smart and resilient cities.

Highlights from the Visit

Throughout the programme, delegates had the opportunity to:

• Present their solutions at the Green Cities are GREAT Conference, featuring expert panels and discussions with Bulgarian and regional municipal leaders.
• Engage in targeted B2B meetings with local companies, investors, and public-sector stakeholders, hosted by the innovative Sofia Tech Park
• Explore collaboration opportunities on clean air initiatives, data-driven city planning, environmental monitoring, and urban sustainability projects.
• Experience the vibrant business environment of Sofia and connect with key players in Bulgaria’s fast-growing green economy.

Despite the rainy weather, the atmosphere was energising and productive, with numerous conversations pointing toward future cooperation and shared projects in the region.

Looking Ahead

We hope the delegation’s time in Bulgaria was both insightful and fruitful, opening doors to long-lasting partnerships. BBCC remains committed to supporting continued engagement between the participating organisations and the Bulgarian market.

We look forward to welcoming the companies back to Bulgaria soon — this time with local partners, joint initiatives, and new opportunities taking shape.

We are delighted to share the success of the Green Cities are GREAT 2025 conference which was held on 26 November. Each year the conference gathers experts in the field and promotes the implementation of sustainable policies and practices to acheive smart and sustainable cities.

In response to increasing global urgency around environmental challenges and climate resilience, Green Cities are GREAT 2025 focused on urban sustainability, clean technology, and green infrastructure, connecting policy-makers, innovators, business leaders, and urban planners from Bulgaria and the UK.

The event was opened by BBCC Chair Barry Brand, followed by welcome speeches from H.E. Nathaniel Copsey, and Vassil Terziev – Mayor of Sofia and official patron of the conference.

This year we were happy to host three remarkable keynote speakers:

Sam Evans, Head of Natural Environment, Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Sam introduced the audience to Greater Manchester and gave an insight into how Greater Manchester manages the impact of climate change, and how the city adapts to those changes. The presentation left an inspiring and eye-opening remark.

Karsten Weineich, Head of Customer Operations of Ubitricity, part of Shell. Karsten’s presentation was on Transforming EV Charging in Europe, highlighting how you can utilise existing infrastructure to create new and sustainable opportunities.

George Marinov, Founder and CEO of EasyPay, ePay.bg, EPAYGO and Infonotary. George’s presentation was on Workflow Beyond Paper, underlining the excess use of paper for simple tasks that could be easily digitalised.

The event also gathered two panels that discussed ‘Climate Resilience and Adaptation’, and ‘Urban Infrastructure’.

The first panel gathered Trayko Mladenov, Mayor of Kostinbrod; Nadezhda Bobcheva, Deputy Mayor of Sofia; and Jacklin Tzocheva, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, Coca Cola HBC Bulgaria. The panel was moderated by Boyan Rashev, Mind Your Future.

The second panel gathered Metody Baykushev, Mayor of Kostinbrod; Nikola Gechev, Director Corporate Sales, Vivacom; Heidi Kagiali, Forestry and Conservation Manager, PEFC; Oscar McDonald, Associate Director, Space Syntax; and Julian Popov, Former Minister of Environment and Water. The panel was moderated by Tim Buisseret, Commercial Attache at Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all speakers and panelists for taking the time to speak on those urgent and important matters regarding sustainable development and practices.

Special thanks to our diamond sponsors Shell and ePay/EasyPay.

Thank you to our gold sponsors Vivacom, CocaCola HBC Bulgaria, PEFC, and MTK.

Thank you to our media partners SeeNews/SeeNext, and ESG News.

Thank you to our wine partner Villa Daros, and our translation partner Mariana Hill Interpretorium.

Shout out to Hilton Sofia for always providing such great atmosphere, and to Roy Hill for capturing the wonderful moments from the conference.

You can check out the pictures from the event here.

The British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (BBCC) spent the last two days at Build London 2025, and we are still energised by the incredible response we received. Throughout the event, we met Bulgarian professionals working across London’s construction sector, British companies eager to explore opportunities in Bulgaria, and international visitors showing genuine curiosity about what our country has to offer.

Build London—one of the UK’s leading construction exhibitions—once again proved to be a powerful platform for showcasing expertise, connecting businesses, and highlighting new opportunities. For us, it was a chance to position Bulgaria on the map as a competitive and forward-looking market in the built-environment sphere.

The level of interest in collaboration exceeded our expectations. Conversations with British contractors, architects, engineers and suppliers showed a real appetite for partnerships with Bulgarian companies, whether through joint projects, subcontracting, or sharing technical know-how. Equally inspiring were the Bulgarian specialists who expressed their willingness to contribute to stronger bilateral links and help bring UK-based experience home.

We were proud to see Bulgaria represented so positively. Our warmest thanks go to Lilia Stoyanovich, from the Commercial Section of the Bulgarian Embassy in London, whose support helped us present our country in the best possible light. We also extend our appreciation to Ligna Group, a BBCC member whose enthusiasm and dedication to promoting Bulgaria internationally never fail to impress.

We leave Build London 2025 with new contacts, new ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose. The potential for British Bulgarian collaboration in construction is significant, and the BBCC is committed to helping turn the discussions from these two days into real opportunities for businesses on both sides.

Тhe BBCC was honoured to host the Invest in Bulgaria Forum, on 12 November. The forum was in partnership with the Bulgarian Embassy in London and H.E. Tihomir Stoytchev, and the British Embassy in Sofia represented by Tim Buisseret, DBT Regional Director, Europe Central & Country Director Bulgaria.

The event opened with a keynote presentation by Mila Nenova, Director of the Invest Bulgaria Agency, on “Bulgaria: The Hidden Diamond of Eastern Europe”. The forum focused on discussions on Bulgaria’s dynamic economic environment, presenting opportunities for cooperation in key sectors such as green energy, microelectronics, technology and infrastructure, as well as deepening UK-Bulgarian business relations.

“This forum highlights Bulgaria’s openness to international partnerships and the country’s focus on long-term and inclusive growth,” said Bulgarian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Tihomir Stoychev.

“Bulgaria’s accession to the Eurozone on 1 January 2026 strengthens investor confidence and makes this forum extremely timely. Bulgaria offers significant opportunities in infrastructure, technology, energy and high-tech manufacturing – sectors that will shape the future of Europe. The forum is dedicated not only to investment, but also to building partnerships that will stimulate innovation, green growth and shared prosperity between our two markets,” added Tim Buissere, Commercial Attaché at the British Embassy in Sofia.

The forum provided a platform for business leaders, investors, diplomats and representatives of government institutions to discuss Bulgaria’s role as a strategic gateway between the European Union and Southeastern Europe, along with its stable economic prospects and growing ecosystem for innovation and investment.

The first panel was on the topic of “The Evolution of Manufacturing in Bulgaria”, chosen given that the sector is among the fastest growing in the country. The remaining two panels were dedicated to the energy transition and innovation for a low-carbon economy, as well as the innovation and talent ecosystem. During the event, stories were also shared by leading private investors in Bulgaria, illustrating the opportunities and challenges facing business in the country. In the context of the discussions, it was announced that British investments in Bulgaria in sectors such as information technology, education and trade amount to 2.67 billion euros.

“Bulgaria is a stable and predictable partner with competitive advantages, a strategic location and talented people. Our goal is to build long-term partnerships with companies that see the potential of our country as a strategic hub for business development in Europe,” said Mila Nenova, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency.

“Bulgaria is establishing itself as a hub of innovation, sustainability and opportunity. On the eve of the country’s entry into the Eurozone, I believe that this forum will strengthen British investor interest in Bulgaria, and in particular in sectors such as energy, technology and microelectronics,” said Miroslava Kostadinova, Chair of the Bulgarian Business Council.

The event, which aims to deepen trade and investment relations, promotes business opportunities, stimulates innovation and connects investors with government and industry leaders. It also highlights Bulgaria’s position as one of the most promising investment destinations in Europe, offering competitive advantages in the technology, manufacturing, renewable energy and digital transformation sectors.
The Invest in Bulgaria 2025 Forum is held with the support of Kamburov & Partners, CMS and MPW, whose partnership reflects the private sector’s confidence in Bulgaria’s growing international importance. With the partnership between the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in London, the British Embassy in Sofia and the BBTC, the forum serves as a vital platform for strategic dialogue and investment cooperation between the UK and Bulgaria.

On 5 November we celebrated Guy Fawkes Night at the British Embassy’s Underground Club, together with BBCC member – the Automotive Cluster.

Guests were greeted by Automotive Cluster Director – Lubomir Stanislavov, BBCC Chair – Miroslava Kostadinova, and DBT Regional Director, Europe Central & Country Director Bulgaria – Tim Buisseret.

Speacial thanks to all who came, and we’ll see you next time!

What an inspiring morning at the British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce’s seminar “AI: In Action – From Strategy to Impact”, held on 7 November at Megapark, Sofia. The session brought together business leaders, innovators and experts to explore how artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzz-word but a real force reshaping strategy, operations and decision-making.

A few highlights:

• Petar Petrov (CEO, Soul&Silicon) kicked things off with a compelling talk on “AI is Everything” — covering the speed of AI’s development, what’s changing in the labour market, concrete implementation steps, and corporate risks.
• Richard Clegg (Partner, Wolf Theiss Bulgaria) followed with a deep dive into “Implementing AI & Data Projects” — exploring legal liability, contracts, compliance and real-world case examples.
• The panel discussion featuring Petar, Richard and Stela Zlatkova (Commercial Director, Lion’s Head) generated rich discussion on how companies can stay ahead of innovation, practical strategies for adoption and navigating risk vs reward.

Why this matters: The conversation went beyond theory — we heard real-world insights into how AI is being integrated across business functions, what to watch out for, and how leaders can take action now. For CEOs, HR, operations and legal leaders alike, the message was clear: the time to move from strategy to impact is now.

A few “take-aways” worth sharing:

• AI is not just a tech project — it needs to be embedded in business strategy, culture and operations.
• Legal, regulatory and ethical dimensions are just as important as the technical ones if AI initiatives are to succeed.
• People still matter: AI may automate or augment many processes, but human oversight, quality control and alignment remain critical.
• Networking & shared learning matter — hearing from peers and practitioners makes a difference.

Thanks to the Lion’s Head and Wolf Theiss for organising a valuable morning of insight and connection, and to our lovely host Megapark.

The British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce was proud to support Bulgaria’s presence at World Travel Market 2025 in London!

In partnership with the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria, our Members and Partners Coordinator, Isabel Videva, assisted Bulgarian exhibitors in showcasing the country’s rich and diverse tourism potential to global industry leaders and professionals.

This collaboration represented an important opportunity to enhance Bulgaria’s international visibility, build new business connections, and highlight the wide variety of experiences our nation offers — from cultural heritage and eco-tourism to wellness, adventure, and gastronomy.

We were delighted to see such strong interest in Bulgaria as a travel destination and look forward to continuing to promote our country on the global tourism stage!

Miroslava Kostadinova commented that the trade exchange between the UK and Bulgaria by the second quarter of 2025 amounts to 2.9 billion British pounds, and it will become more active after 2022. Bulgaria imports services such as tourism, finance and business services from London, and the United Kingdom is among the country’s 20 largest trading partners.

Watch the full interview here.