Responding to the Chancellor’s speech at the Regional Investment Summit, Shevaun Haviland CBE, Director General of the BCC, said: 

“These new investments must drive the partnership between government and business to a new level, as we work together to power up our regions. 

“To boost economic growth, we have to leverage the skills, talent and innovation of every town, city and place.  A thriving network of businesses across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will ensure we can all prosper and hit our goal of becoming the fastest growing economy in the G7. 

“At its heart, growth must be driven by local communities and the firms within them. 

“Business has always understood this. Creating strong regions with powerful links between them creates more opportunities for everyone. 

“Modern and efficient infrastructure is also a key part of this equation – transport networks, energy grids, digital connections and other utilities must effectively service businesses wherever they are located.  

“That cannot happen without an effective and efficient planning system, that is sufficiently resourced and balanced so that this development is properly nurtured. 

“Plans to cut the cost of regulation are also welcome, but firms must be consulted so any initiatives have maximum impact. Now is the time to boost growth, and changes like this can help to unleash the innovation of UK PLC.” 

Steven Lynch MBE, Director of International Trade at the BCC, added:

“The truth is, history won’t remember another summit, but it will remember the engine that actually delivered growth and most importantly regional growth and investment. The Chancellor’s pledge that no region will be locked out of investment and most importantly that the government will slash red tape and regulations, is a really powerful announcement.

“There is now an opportunity to turn promise into progress. There was a clear understanding that the UK government must rebuild growth hand in hand with business, and place innovation and collaboration at the heart of growth.

“At the BCC, we have the reach, the relationships, and the trust of local business to help make this national ambition a reality.”

Chris Fletcher, Policy Director at Greater Manchester Chamber, said:

“Much of what the Chancellor announced today – particularly the intention to reduce business costs by cutting back on legislation and red tape – will be welcomed by the business community, especially if it helps to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure projects. The investment commitments within the UK are also encouraging and should support the government’s broader growth agenda.

“However, with the upcoming Budget looming, many businesses remain anxious about the possibility of further tax increases and subsequent price hikes.

“While streamlining administrative processes is certainly beneficial, most businesses are more concerned with issues such as reducing employment costs to make hiring more affordable and driving steady, sustainable sales growth. Long-term investment is essential for the health of the national economy, and the government’s ambition in this area is commendable. Yet for many businesses, the immediate priority remains managing the everyday costs of operations.”

Source: British Chambers of Commcerce

On 22 October, BBCC held its Annual General Meeting in Novotel Hotel Sofia.

The guests were warmly welcomed by H.E. Nathaniel Copsey, British Ambassador to Bulgaria. The event was opened by BBCC Chair Mrs. Miroslava Kostadinova, who highlighted the main development of BBCC for the past 12 months and expressed her gratitude to the members for their engagement with BBCC’s activities over our 10th Anniversary.

The General Meeting proceeded with a presentation by Desislava Miteva, BBCC Executive Director, of our results from the past year, and our plans for BBCC strategic development , followed by a vote for the presented financial results and 2026 budget. All proposed changes were accepted by BBCC Members. 

The most anticipated part of the evening was the elections of seven board members, who had the opportunity to present their ideas on how they would contribute to BBCC.

As a result of the votes of all present BBCC members, we would like to welcome to the BBCC Board of Directors:

• Barry Brand, Dare to Care More (re-elected for second term)
• Gilbert McCaul
• Hristina Trifonova, Vivacom(re-elected for second term)
• Kamelia Slaveykova, Shell (re-elected for second term)
• Paul Wright, Optim Project Management (re-elected for second term)
• Yordan Vassilev, Danco Industry
• Zlatina Ruseva- Savova, Ruseva-Savova and Co

Congratulations to them! We wish them a productive mandate and we are looking forward to working closely with them.

We would like to thank the other Board Member candidates for their dedication and commitment:

• Aneta Natova, LeadFit Global
• Damyan Damyanski, Damati Group
• Georgi Tonchev, Future Factory Global
• Hristo Popov, Theoremus
• Kristina Atanassova, The Duke of Edinburgh International Award
• Maya Milanova, Flow Logic
• Miglena Ilieva, ILEX Law
• Milka Semova, Hope and Homes for Children
• Stanimir Boychev, Elando

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Miroslava Kostadinova for her service on the Board as our Chair over the last two years and her dedication to BBCC and its members. We would also like to aknowledge and thank Evlogi Georgiev and Georgi Tonchev for their active participation in the Board. We trust they will continue to deeply engaged in BBCC activities going forward. 

Finally, we would like to thank all members for joining the Annual General Meeting. We invite you to look through the photos from the event on our official Facebook page. Make sure you like and follow our social media channel so you stay posted with the latest BBCC news.

At a special reception in Ruse hosted by the British Embassy Sofia, Ambassador Nathaniel Copsey addressed representatives of local authorities, businesses, the media, and the British community. In his speech, delivered in Bulgarian, he paid tribute to the proud past and dynamic present of Ruse — from the “Little Vienna” to its modern role as a centre of innovation, trade, and culture.
The Ambassador reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to working with Ruse — not only in business, but also in supporting local communities, celebrating shared heritage, and building lasting partnerships.
Plamena Gagova, the BBCC’s Regional Ambassador in Ruse, also helped with organising the reception and continues to foster closer collaboration between local businesses and the wider UK–Bulgaria community.

On 8 October, the BBCC and the Dutch Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (DBCC), together with the UK Alumni Club in Bulgaria and the Dutch Alumni Club in Bulgaria, had the pleasure of hosting an exclusive British-Dutch Alumni Networking at Kithchen 59.

Supported by the Embassy of the United Kingdom and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this special evening started with welcome speeches from both countries’ ambassadors, H.E. Nathaniel Copsey and H.E. Arthur den Hartog.

The night was entirely dedicated to networking and the UK and Dutch Alumni engaged in meaningful conversations securing valuable connections.

Special thanks to IT Experts Europe, who sponsored the event; and Kithchen 59 for providing the lovely atmosphere.

The British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce successfully launched its Sustainability Committee with a dynamic and engaging first meeting. The session brought together experts, business leaders, and members committed to advancing sustainability practices in Bulgaria and beyond.

The Committee’s vision, objectives, and expected ESG impact were outlined by Kamelia Slaveikova and Martin Dimitrov, emphasizing the role of the Chamber in shaping meaningful change through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Boyan Rashev provided practical insights into sustainability implementation, sharing real-world examples from both the UK and Bulgaria. His message reinforced the need for bridging global frameworks with local realities.

The discussion highlighted two complementary perspectives:

• Societal – continuous improvement of quality of life while maintaining environmental health.
• Corporate – continuous value creation while meeting evolving stakeholder expectations.

The Committee welcomed case studies from leading companies, each presenting concrete sustainability actions:

• Argent – presented by Simona Tencheva
• Pollenity – presented by Sergey Petrov
• Sirma Group – presented by Stanislav Tanushev
• Vivacom – presented by Evgeniya Pavlova

These examples demonstrated diverse approaches to ESG strategy, from innovation in agriculture to digital transformation and corporate responsibility.

Participants divided into four working groups to explore critical themes:

1. AI in ESG / Investments / Impact
2. Legislation & OMNIBUS
3. Local Practices & Challenges
4. Financing & Investments

Across all groups, participants emphasized the importance of practical examples, local impact, and long-term adaptability. Businesses must align strategies with both European and Bulgarian frameworks while ensuring that employees remain engaged and empowered.

On 27 September we held the 10-th Annual Family Fun & Golf Day. We’re greatful to all our sponsors, partners and participants who made this day memorable and a tremendous success!

You can find pictures from the event HERE.

We would like to thank our diamond sponsors Easy Pay/ Epay and BulStraight, our Automotive Partner Porsche Sofia Iztok, our gold sponsors – Raiffeisen Property Holding International, Baker TIlly, Stanimira Chocolate House / Eyes Open, and Harmony Group.

Throughout the day, the grown-ups were sipping on boutique wines by Georgievi Bros., ice cold beers from Zagorka, and the kids on refreshing vitamin water and juices from Devin. Their loyal support and partnership make such events possible. 

Guests also had the chance to take for a spin four Volkswagen models: Tayron, Tiguan, ID.7, and Taigo.

And last but not least we would like to thank our trusted partner and host Pravets Golf Club.

Our little guests enjoyed lots of fun activities, arts & crafts, and mini-golf. They also got to play with chocolate and decorate chocolate figures with Stanimira Chocolate House.

Snacks and delicious goods were provided by The Bakers Company.

The day ended with the exciting awarding ceremony of the golfers and our annual charity raffle. This year the raffle was in support of Hope and Homes for Children.

Last but not least, thanks to KINGLY, who provided us and our guests with great socks.

Shoutout to 3Frames and Roy Hill for capturing these moments.

Special thanks to all our generous members who provided exciting raffle prizes!

Thank you all for joining us! We look forward to seeing you next year!

We’re happy to share the success of the trade mission to Leeds the BBCC hosted for Bulgarian female entrepreneurs. The group represents some of the most dynamic and forward-thinking leaders in Bulgaria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Day one started with a morning discussion panel at Avenue HQ on the topics of female entrepreneurship, VC funding and influence. Special thanks to Savannah Bensley, Sharon Kaur Jandu OBE, Charlotte Scott, and Helen Gibson MBE for coming together and opening the trade mission with this incredible conversation.

Then, the delegation moved on to a fireside chat at Mills & Reeve, with a focus on the activities of Lifted Ventures, supporting female entrepreneurship in the UK. We are grateful for the insights shared by Jordan Dargue, Vanessa Walton, and Zandra Moore MBE.

The day finished with a fun and crowded networking event by FinTech North!

Day two:
Our partners, David Summerbell and Claire Clark, told us about the Barclays Eagle Lab programme, and the women’s entrepreneur group Claire has been leading.

Next BCC Executive Director Desislava Miteva had the pleasure of discussing female entrepreneurship in Bulgaria, and support for entrepreneurs in the Northern Powerhouse, with the amazing Charlotte Scott.

Day three:
The mission ends back in London, with a panel discussion with our dear partners at the British Chambers of Commerce.

Special thanks to the inspiring women that shared the journey:

Desislava Miteva, BBCC Executive Director
Genoveva Christova-Murray, Ligna Group
Ivelina Atanasova-Genchev, Newtrend Agency
Izabel Stolarska, Carrot Solutions
Kristiyana Gavrailova, Inverso.bg
Margarita Stoichkova, BULDE ltd.
Maria Sivkova, Conversion Century
Maya Milanova, Flow Logic

On 24 September, together with our partners from the CCI France Bulgarie, Confindustria Bulgaria, and Deloitte Bulgaria hosted the annual seminar From Policy to Practice: Update on Tax & Regulatory Changes for 2026.

Business leaders, tax professionals, and experts gathered at UniCredit Bulbank International Center in Sofia and explored the most pressing developments that will shape 2026:

• Global Minimum Tax – first submission is just around the corner
• Preparing for SAF-T implementation
• Navigating tax disputes during audits
• Employee incentive plans through shares/equity
• The euro adoption in Bulgaria

Practical insights, interactive discussions, and valuable networking made this event a true knowledge-sharing platform.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us, your active participation made the event a success. We look forward to continuing the conversation and supporting your business in navigating the regulatory landscape of 2026.

On 18 September we had the pleasure of introducing our newest members to the BBCC network.

We were happy to present our collegues from the Bulgarian Australian Business Council.

The companies who introduced themselves in front of the BBCC Network:

• Antal International
• Baker Tilly
• CAAI
• Crowne Plaza
• EY denkstatt
• Imoteka
• Maconis
• Malone Group
• Sales Spot
• Telelink Infra

Speacial thanks to our host, Crowne Plaza, who provided great ambience for us and our guests.

Thank you to all our members who attended, bringing together our vibrant community for an evening of meaningful connections and collaboration.

You can find pictures from the event here.

The Ambassador’s XI gathered for our annual cricket match in memory of Roger Short, former British Ambassador to Sofia, who was tragically killed in the 2003 terrorist attack on the British Consulate in Istanbul.
A keen cricketer, Roger’s legacy lives on through this spirited game — played in the finest traditions, with sportsmanship, camaraderie, and English tea between innings.
Like Roger’s legacy, the match honoured the ties that bring communities together. Congratulations to the expats’ team who won with 15 runs over the Ambassador’s team.