The annual flagship forum "Go Global: Success in the UK and Beyond" was held on January 28 in Shenzhen. Hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce South China (BritCham South China) and supported by the UK Department for Business and Trade and the British Consulate-General in Guangzhou, the event gathered over 150 senior executives, professional service representatives, and business leaders from both China and the UK.
Photos provided by the British Chamber of Commerce South China
During the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Going Global Comprehensive Service Center for Chinese Enterprise and BritCham South China, formalizing a strategic partnership to build a systematic support framework for Chinese companies expanding into the UK market.
"Success is increasingly defined by trust, resilience and access to reliable partners. Through 'Go Global', the BritCham South China is expected to provide practical, high-quality support that helps companies move beyond market entry and build sustainable, long-term growth in the UK and internationally," said Mark Clayton, Chairman of the BritCham South China, in his opening remarks.
The sentiment was echoed by Chinese and British officials. Xie Zhen, Director-General of the Investment Promotion Bureau of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Commerce, and Trevor Lewis, Head of Trade and Investment for South China and Deputy Director for Innovation and Industry at the UK Department for Business and Trade, both emphasized the importance of deepening China-UK economic and trade cooperation in the future, particularly through enhanced exchanges in professional services and capability-building.
The newly established partnership aims to create a UK-specific service framework described as "one horizontal pillar with multiple verticals." The horizontal pillar will address the full lifecycle of global expansion, including company incorporation, talent recruitment, and compliance. The vertical pillars will focus on sector-specific collaboration, such as in the fashion or gaming industries.
Kris Tsui, Executive Committee Member of the BritCham South China and Chairman of the China Outbound Working Group, elaborated on the framework, "With 30 years of deep roots in Guangdong, we are uniquely positioned to serve enterprises going global. Together with the 'Go Global' Center, we will implement robust pre-screening mechanisms to ensure Chinese companies are connected with professional, compliant, and reliable UK partners."
The forum featured deep-dive sessions from experts across key sectors. Richard Li, Managing Director of HSBC South China, highlighted the need for financial partners with global networks to navigate cross-border complexities. Chris McComb, Director of Strategic Engagement for Asia Pacific at Law Debenture, stressed that successful expansion hinges on international-standard governance, with Hong Kong serving as a critical bridge.
From a tax perspective, Sylvia Wu, Partner at PwC, advised turning compliance into a strategic advantage through proactive planning. Amars Mehmi, Chief Growth Officer of UK creative agency Juice, emphasized that overseas brand success requires deep cultural insight instead of replication of domestic strategies. A case study from Zoey Zhang, Public Affairs Director of HONOR, illustrated its global ecosystem collaboration under the principle of "open innovation".
A panel discussion titled "Building for Resilient Growth: How Chinese Enterprises Can Navigate the New Realities of the UK Market" brought together leaders from Juice, Law Debenture, WeRide, and Amazon Web Services. The consensus identified trust as the non-negotiable foundation and operational resilience—across technology, governance, and values—as the essential engine for sustainable growth.
