Team Finland UK’s newsletter 1/2020
Welcome to our Team Finland newsletter! This newsletter covers some highlights of our past and future events. The whole of Team Finland UK team had a busy start of the year, with several trade promotion, cultural, country branding and networking events. We are now adapting to a new way of working, with the exceptional situation with coronavirus and UK’s departure from the EU earlier this year.
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Coronavirus situation in the UK – changes also to the work of the Team Finland UK
On 11th March, World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, spreading around the world. Many countries have been seriously affected, and also the Finnish and UK governments have decided on various measures and restrictions to address the outbreak. Please follow the updates and guidance by the Finnish(Link to another website.) and UK governments(Link to another website.), and see this article on our website for more information: Coronavirus situation in the UK – Customer service at the Embassy of Finland and compilation of guidance. At the end of March, Ambassador Markku Keinänen published a message on behalf of the whole Embassy for the Finnish community, noting how the situation requires adaptation and enduring uncertainties from every one of us. You can find the message (in Finnish, Swedish and English) here: Message from Ambassador Keinänen(Link to another website.).
The exceptional situation has affected the work of the Embassy and the whole Team Finland UK team as well. Several events from this spring and early summer have been postponed or cancelled, and all teams are mainly working from home. Many of our projects have been adapted so we can continue them remotely or online. We are monitoring the situation closely, and as soon as it is safe and possible, we are looking to organize several trade promotion events later this year – focusing on digital, consumer and health themes.
UK’s withdrawal from the EU and transition period
The UK’s withdrawal from the EU entered into force at 11pm on 31st January 2020 (UK-time). The withdrawal agreement provides for a transition period until the end of 2020, during which the relationship between the EU and the UK will continue under the EU’s current rules, as if the UK were still a member of the EU. For businesses, this means that the UK will remain part of the single market and Customs Union and will comply with EU’s international agreements as before. The only significant exception is that, during the transition period, the UK will no longer participate in EU decision-making or in the activities of EU bodies.
The EU and the UK will negotiate their future relationship during 2020. The intention is that the EU and the UK agree on cooperation arrangements, among other matters. Further information on the future relationship will be provided as the negotiations proceed. However, it is clear that the future relationship will be more distant than EU membership. In addition, the schedule for the negotiations is tight, and some sectors may fall outside the scope of an agreement starting on 1 January 2021. Businesses in particular should be prepared for this possibility. More information at the Finnish Prime Minister’s Office: Information about Brexit(Link to another website.) and our website: Brexit and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
New Press Counsellor at the Embassy
Heli Suominen joined the Embassy of Finland in London as Press Counsellor in mid-March. Heli leads the communications activities of the Embassy, including media relations, country branding and cultural activities, aided by the Embassy Press Team.
“I am very much looking forward to cooperation with Finnish organisations in the UK and all friends of Finland. I hope I can contribute to making Finland even more interesting in the UK and to share with the world the best Finland can offer. Communications play a crucial role in this”, Heli says.
Prior to her assignment in London, Heli was a producer and journalist at Finland’s Public Broadcasting company YLE. Her career also includes responsibilities as senior advisor at consulting group Miltton and journalist and correspondent at the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper as well as financial journalist at the Reuters news agency.
Finnish Institutes launch a fast paced Open Call as a response to COVID-19 crisis
The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes network responds to the effect of the COVID-19 crisis in cultural sector. Amongst the crisis, the mission of the Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes remains unchanged. The network launched a fast paced open call for international arts projects that don't require physical contact. Although mobility and physical encounters must now be restricted, the Institutes want to support the international networks and cooperation. Please read more information on the project here: Together Alone – Open Call.(Link to another website.)
Business Finland arranged a webinar on emerging demand on global markets due to Covid-19
On Friday 3rd April, Business Finland arranged a webinar on emerging demand on global markets due to Covid-19. The webinar was coordinated by Terhi Rasmussen, Business Finland Copenhagen, and focused on European countries, including UK, as well as Australia. The material can be found in Business Finland Covid-19 page in Finnish: Webinaaritallenteita Kiinan ja terveysalan koronatilanteista(Link to another website.).
Covid-19 has created a global surge in demand for products to support the healthcare systems trying to tackle the crisis. The demand and needs are very similar everywhere in the world, however, there might be some differences in focus, or some special needs emerging from different countries. For example, here in the UK, there is currently – amongst other ‘typical’ needs due to Covid-19 – a special need for rapid sanitising technologies. More information see: Covid-19 Need for Rapid Sanitising Technologies for Ambulances in UK(Link to another website.).
Focus on Sustainability: Building Sustainable Solutions – Working Towards a World That Lasts Forever
On Thursday 5th March, FBCC partnered with their Patron member Outokumpu to organize Focus on Sustainability: Building Sustainable Solutions – Working Towards a World That Lasts Forever event at the Ambassador’s residence. The successful event brought together more than 80 people from the industry including key decision makers in infrastructure, architecture and politics.
The event focused on sustainability and using sustainable solutions in building process and how stainless steel can solve many current issues in water distribution, architecture and infrastructure. The guests were left with a deep understanding of the importance of a long-term outlook when it comes to sustainability in building and infrastructure. The FBCC was proud to work with Outokumpu(Link to another website.) on this event. Please read more on the event from the website of the Finnish-British Chamber of Commons.(Link to another website.)
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