Week long series of events in March to showcase the Best of British industry and innovation within the magic city
BritWeek Miami, the annual celebration of British culture and industry excellence in South Florida, announces the dates for its highly anticipated return for a second year to the Sunshine State. Following the success of the inaugural BritWeek Miami in 2013, this year’s program of events will take place from March 6th–12th, throughout Miami and Miami Beach, adopting a themed approach centered on ‘design and innovation.’
Developed to highlight the achievements and impact of British business in Florida, BritWeek Miami is in alliance with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the British Consulate-General Miami and a series of strategic media, event and industry partners – each collectively helping to bring a focus on the dynamic and fast growing cultural relationship between Britain and Florida. Founded in California in 2007, BritWeek™ is a recognized 501(c)3 organization, with a strong commitment towards serving the local community.A portion of proceeds resulting from this year’s BritWeek Miami will benefit the Little Dreams Foundation – recording artist Phil Collins’ non-profit charity organization that has recently started its operation in South Florida to help advance the youth and children with an artistic and musical talent.
“The debut of BritWeek Miami last year proved to be a resounding success for everyone involved,” says Justin Jones, Director of BritWeek Miami. “We have built upon these successes to custom design BritWeek Miami this year, so we are able to create a platform that pays tribute to the wonderful contributions of today’s pioneers and business leaders within all aspects of trade, commerce and artistic innovation across the state. UK companies and their affiliates support the largest number of jobs in Florida of any foreign investor. Recent investments by innovative SME Vioearth Inc, through to multinational giant Cable & Wireless, are testimony to how British business is growing statewide at an astonishingly rapid rate, allowing the ideology of BritWeek to thrive year-on-year. BritWeek Miami commemorates the relationships and continued ties between our most celebrated U.S and UK industry allies. We thank all of our partners, sponsors and patrons for their continued support.”
BritWeek Miami will officially kick-off on Thursday, March 6th. BritWeek Miami presents the GREAT Business Innovation Awards Gala will be heldatThe Viceroy Hotel in downtown Miami. The private evening soiree will be the first of four signature events, and will honor the most innovative British companies conducting business in Florida, Floridian companies making a positive contribution to the UK economy, and individuals that have helped further the almost $4 billion bilateral economic partnership. The Innovation Awards will be hosted by Her Majesty’s Consul General, Kevin McGurgan OBE and presented before an elite audience of Floridian and British business, political and civic leaders. Last year’s event was co-hosted by Danny Lopez, Director-General UKTI USA and British actress, Gabrielle Anwar. The ceremony included keynote speaker, five-time Olympic medallist and broadcaster, John Naber, a performance by British artist, Lulu, and the presentation of a special philanthropic award to Heavyweight Boxing legend Lennox Lewis.
The second signature event is the BritWeek Miami eMerge Americas Transatlantic Tech Bash, taking place on Friday, March 7th in Miami Beach. eMerge Americas, created by the Technology Foundation of the Americas, aims to serve as a platform for hundreds of innovative entrepreneurs and startups from throughout the region to network with investors and industry luminaries. The Transatlantic Tech Bash, being held during BritWeek Miami, will serve as a prelude to the main eMerge Americas Conference, scheduled from May 2nd to 6th, 2014 in Miami Beach. Local speakers, UK thought leaders and Tech City Global Innovators will be invited for a series of panel discussions and a live streaming between two Global Tech Centers: Miami and Tech City London.
On Monday, March 10th, Port Miami plays host to the week’s third signature event – The BritWeek Port Miami Business Conference 2014. The conference focuses on the strategic relationship between The City of Miami, CAMACOL, World Trade Center Miami and key international economic powerhouses, to explore Miami’s strategic location as an international business center and ‘gateway’ for UK companies looking to do business in Central and South America and the Caribbean; and to Central and South American and Caribbean companies eyeing UK expansion and broader European opportunities. BritWeek Miami 2014 will focus on Miami as the hub of international trade in the America’s and on innovations in technology and international shipping. A business luncheon with guest speaker is to be followed by a fascinating tour of the Port and Tunnel. In 2013, the Inaugural Business Conference was hosted in collaboration with the British American Business Council and shone the spotlight on Brazil, celebrating the London 2012 Olympics Legacy and looking ahead to Rio 2016.
On Tuesday, March 11th, Catherine Garrido from Manchester Business School will join professors from the University of Miami and University of Florida to host a series of BritWeek Miami Education Seminars at the business school’s Florida campus in downtown Miami. Topics for discussion will include MBA programs in the U.S vs. UK, global trends and the advancements or challenges that undergraduates face today.
The BritWeek Miami Creative Industries Closing Party will act as BritWeek Miami’s finale and closing signature event on Wednesday, March 12th at SLS Hotel South Beach. The BritWeek Visits Miami 2013 inaugural grand finale took place poolside at Soho Beach House on South Beach and was attended by over 200 guests from the world of arts, fashion, design, architecture, film and digital media. This invitation-only, British themed party celebrated the UK creative industries, as well as leading brands and companies representing the worlds of art, music, fashion, design, and film/television production, among others. BritWeek Miami will host its 2014 invitation-only signature red carpet event in celebration of the UK creative industries, attended by a number of British VIPs and personalities from the international film industry, through its newly formed partnership with the Miami International Film Festival.
Additional custom events being held during BritWeek Miami 2014 will include an innovation and architecture event at the new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science; a British Afternoon Tea Party and fashion extravaganza in Miami Beach; a British Art showcase; a Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) British Film Screening hosted by Consul General Kevin McGurgan, and a Cruise Britain event to coincide with the SeaTrade exhibition at The Miami Beach Convention Center.
BritWeek Miami 2014 is sponsored by UKTI, CNBC, AFEX, The Bond, Port Miami, CAMACOL, Greenberg Traurig, Manchester Business School, MDDA, Bentley, Highland Spring and Intelligent Media. BritWeek Miami is made possible with the help of the following strategic partners: Three Dragons, LLC, MIFF, eMerge Americas, Patricia and Phillip Museum of Science,Miami Innovation Center/Right Space, iris Worldwide, Quintessentially AVIATION, MIAMI EVENTS GROUP, Florida Standard, Daszdal Bolton LLP, ORB International and Tanabi.
For further information on BritWeek Miami 2014 sponsorship opportunities, latest news and for a complete event schedule, visit www.BritWeek.org
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About BritWeek™
Founded in 2007 by program Chairman, Bob Peirce, and American Idol Executive Producer, Nigel Lythgoe, BritWeek is a coveted annual event that originated in Los Angeles, California, highlighting British creative connections with the state. With a program encompassing art and design, entertainment, business innovation, technology, fashion, retail, cuisine, sports and more, BritWeek celebrates the creative achievements of Brits in America, and of Brits and Americans working together.
BritWeek™ is a recognized 501(c)3 organization that expanded to Miami in 2013 as the organization’s first host city outside California, presenting an additional program of events each Spring to highlight and celebrate the links between Florida and the United Kingdom. The events promote British creativity, innovation and excellence across multiple industry sectors. Miami is the third host city for BritWeek alongside BritWeek LA, Orange County and San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.britweek.org