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The
British Chamber of Commerce was started in 1994 by a group of
young British business people wishing to promote exchange with
their French counterparts. Although "British", the Chamber seeks
to encourage not only British and French companies and sole
traders - already well represented in the area but also other
nationalities present on the Côte d'Azur who can join us and
take advantage of the business facilities and contacts we can
offer.
jml Property Service who run jmlvillas.com and Cote d'azurrental.com
are members
jml
Training are members Click
here for information on jml training
The
interests and activities of the BCC arise directly from those
of its members, whose input and involvement is actively encouraged.
Its major strength lies in the professional qualities of its
members, whose detailed and practical knowledge of both the
Anglo-Saxon and the French ways of doing business covers a wide
range of activities.
With
an ever-expanding membership amongst the Anglophone businesses
of the Côte d'Azur, the aims are:
1. To help people living in or visiting the region to find a
networking platform amongst English-speaking businesses.
2. To assist business newcomers with the creation and development
of their new business providing our expertise and experience.
We can put you in touch with a team of competent professionals
in all aspects of business, from accounting to banking, legal
advice to advertising. We've all started from scratch and built
enterprises that have proved successful. We can help you do
the same!
3.
To organise events, workshops and seminars covering all practical
concerns of daily business. These sessions are also an ideal
opportunity to meet other members and business people to discuss
common interests.
As
part of the BCC network, you will belong to a dynamic business
community that will help promote your activities, both internally
amongst other members, and externally throughout the region.
Tell the BCC what you do and the BCC will tell the Côte d'Azur!
For
more information click on the logo below
The
New Committee for 2009
Mike
Lorimer steps down as President of the BCC - January 2009
BCC
Business Person of the Year Award 2008
BCC
Business Person of the Year Award 2007
La
Chambre de Commerce Britannique de la Riviera
The
New Committee for 2009 (in alphabetical order information from
BCC website)
Leigh
Bodin-Bitouzet:
American. I first arrived on the Cote D'Azur in June 2000, working
as a yacht chef. I continued to work on yachts along the Cote
D'Azur for the next five years. In 2006, after being disappointed
with the work prospects on shore, I decided to open my own event
management and catering firm, Fusion Event Management. I am
now enjoying some time off to spend with my lovely 8 month old
son. The BCC plays a vital role in uniting our international
business community and it is with pleasure that I offer my knowledge
and experience as an event coordinator to the BCC.
Nigel
Brotherton: Born in York, gained a business degree, and
set out on a long career with British retailer WH Smiths, eventually
retiring as Retail Logistics Director in 1999, to "sort of"
consult a little and play golf a lot. I have just set up our
own French company "FineWineWorks" to offer formal wine training
through the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Throughout my career,
I have enjoyed being involved in the work of public bodies and
was Chairman of the British Institute of Management in Swindon
as well as director of the Swindon Development Agency and The
North Yorkshire Moors Park Authority. I feel sure that my experiences
with these bodies plus a huge enthusiasm for making small and
medium sized businesses succeed, (including ours!), will help
me to position the BCC as a highly respected business and enterprise
promoter here on the Cote d'Azur.
Yvonne
Coers: Born in Holland, living since 1997 in the South of
France. I worked as a receptionist in luxury hotels and as a
hostess and cook on private yachts. I have been responsible
for the holiday rentals in real estate agency Eden Rives where
I met my partner Thierry. At the moment I am occasionally working
as a freelance hostess, taking painting classes, making clothes,
refurbishing and painting furniture and working out several
times a week. For the BCC Riviera I use my professional experience
to organise the back-office (administration, accounting, invitations
and event preparations).
Jacquie
Côté: Pisces, from Winnipeg, Manitoba - Canada. After meeting
my soul mate in Costa Rica back in 2005, we are now engaged
and currently living in Antibes. We arrived in the Cote D'Azur
in June 2006 and I opened my own business in personalized art,
Deseo Design, in 2007. Within the past six months I also started
selling an environmentally friendly product, called "Clean Water
Solutions" to the yachting industry and just recently started
as a freelance sales consultant for the Mediterraneum Editions.
I have several years experience volunteering for a social committee
back in Winnipeg, where I was responsible for the budget, organization
and management of several different events simultaneously. I
have missed organizing new and fun-filled events and bringing
people together to enjoy good times. I am really looking forward
to helping out as an event coordinator for the BCC
Tim
Ellis: Born in the UK, but first half of my life spent in
Hong Kong. Have lived in Val d'Azur (nestled just north of Sophia
Antipolis) for around 7 years with my French wife and two dual-nationality
daughters. I've been offering marketing-oriented consultancy
services for a number of years from here, yet most of my customers
ended up being pan-European. Before that was a company director
in UK for 10+ years, several years of that as MD of a direct
marketing company. 2009 looks to be an exciting year as I'm
setting up a new direct marketing company that uses some cool
technology to help bridge the gap between companies and their
customers - as well as joining the BCC as a keen believer in
the natural value and benefits of networking, especially in
our great international setting.
Wolfram
Gunther: Born in Frankfurt, Germany, I came in 2003 to Sophia-Antipolis
for working for local law firm before joining FiDAL as international
tax lawyer in 2007. I am particularly involved in explaining
and bringing advice to foreigners who would like to settle down
on the Côte d'Azur, either to start up business or just for
enjoying life-style. Thus, I would like to contribute my experience
to the BCC making it more efficient for those already running
their business or thinking about to do so.
Ab
Kuijer: Capricorn.
Born in Amsterdam, living in Cagnes sur Mer. Father of 3 kids,
married with Fab. That makes AbFab kind of a mission statement.
Founder/ceo at JuniorSenior Communication agency with offices
in Paris, Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam and still expanding into
emerging markets. I started my businesslife as owner and manager
of several radiostations, a publishing house and a tv production
company. I do something back for society by organising business
and charity related network events in my non-profit role as
Ambassador for InterNations Côte d'Azur and as President of
British Chamber of Commerce. I like to share my entrepeneurial
experiences of the last 25 years and help BCC Riviera to develop
its position to be of a greater value to existing and start-up
companies at the Cote d'Azur.
Christiane
Perroud: Pisces ascendant pisces. Head of Barclays International
Provence/Cote d'Azur Centre since 2001, targeted local events
by promoting brand awareness, business development, tailored
solutions for new international clients i.e. accounts, mortgages,
investments, savings, tax and civil regulation advices. Prior
to setting up from scratch the Barclays International Centre,
branch manager in Barclays Menton and Barclays Cagnes sur Mer.
I am trying to speak English and Italian quite fluently, and
I am working in the banking industry since 1983. Started business
life in the far- off past by selling houses. Obtaining an Executive
MBA/HEC diploma in 2001, and an International Asset Management
diploma (D.U. gestion Internationale du patrimoine) Clermont-Ferrand
University, in 2008. I am pleased to help the BCC as a "French
Liaison Officer", and to pass-on some financial information
at the occasion of BCC presentations.
Sabine
Weber:
I am born in Munich, Germany, and live in Monaco for 8 years
now. After having been a freelance Marketing Consultant in Monaco
I joined Mediterraneum Editions in 2003 and am responsible for
Marketing and Sales. Mediterraneum Editions is the number one
publisher for foreign language media in the region and always
dedicates editorial space to the BCC in our English publication
THE RIVIERA TIMES. I speak German, English, Italian and French
and would like to help the BCC to develop commercial partnerships
as well as contacts with new members or sponsors.
Jacquie
Wilkinson: Born
and educated in the north east of England. Commercially trained
in buying and retail management within the Burton Group(Top
Shop /Top Man /Debenhams.) Left the UK in 1988 and opened the
first Bodyshop franchise in France(Nice Etoile) and eventually
a second boutique in 2004 (Cap 3000). I sold both businesses
to the l'Oreal group after the take over of The Body Shop International
in 2007. Recently I have been involved with a start up company
in Sophia Antipolis, developing an idea of communication between
retailer and consumer through mobile phones. I enjoy networking
and feel that with my experience in company ownership in France
plus the many contacts made through local retail associations
I can contribute to the development of the BCC.
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Mike
Lorimer steps down as President of the BCC - January 2009 -
New president is Dutchman Ab Kuijer.
At
the AGM of the British Chamber of Commerce of the Riviera held
at the Novotel, Sophia Antipolis last night, outgoing president,
Mike Lorimer, opened proceedings by presenting a cheque for
€1.100 to Valerie Haxton, Group Chairman of The British Association
of the Alpes-Maritimes and Var region. The money had been raised
by the membership at recent functions and is a significant contribution
to the Association's charitable works.
After
reporting that the 2008 season had seen a number of very successful
events, culminating in the highly publicised Business Person
of the Year Gala Dinner and Dance. Mike went on to thank the
members of the committee for their dedicated and effective contributions
to such a successful year. At this point, Wolfrum Gunther, Treasurer
reported that the Association remained financially very strong,
even though there had been a planned but small deficit on the
12 month income and expenditure account.
Mike
finally told the members that both he and his wife Liz were
stepping down as President and Secretary respectively after
being involved in the running of the chamber for 6 years both
as committee members and, for the last 4 years, with Mike as
President. "We have had a great time being involved in the day
to day running of the BCC", Mike said, "But it is now time for
new blood and energy to grapple with the challenges facing our
membership in these recessionary times" He went on to say that
he was delighted to be handing over the top job to Vice President,
Ab Kuijer, whom he was confident would lead the BCC on from
strength to strength.
Ab
responded by thanking Mike and Liz for all their hard work over
the last 6 years and commended them for leaving the BCC in an
extremely strong financial and influential position. Ab then
presented the outgoing President with 2 tickets for a well deserved
break in Amsterdam, Ab's home city.
The
AGM then went on to elect its committee for 2009. The election
confirmed Ab in his position as President and then went on to
re-elect Leigh Bodin-Bitouzet (Events), Wolfram Gunther (Finance),
Christiane Perroud (Advisor), Sabine Weber (Commercial) and
Jacquie Wilkinson (Sponsorship). Also, newly elected as committee
members were: Nigel Brotherton (Public Relations), Yvonne Coers
(Operations), Jacquie Côté (joint Events) and Tim Ellis (Digital
Media & Web Marketing)
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BCC
Business Person of the Year Award 2008
The
judges for the BCC Business Person of the Year Award have nominated
the following shortlist:
- Peter
Bennett - Bluewater Yachting, Antibes
-
Ole Bjerregaard - Bo Concept owner and MD
-
Caroline Brittain - Brittain's Home Stores, Valbonne
-
Hiro Iizawa - Domaine St Endreol
-
Florence Lafforgue EBICA School, Sophia Antipolis
- Peter
Mackley - Riviera Organisation
- Koen
Vanden Hoeck - Powerplate
Judges
were
Mike Lorimer, President BCC Rivera; Sabine Webber, Director
Riviera Times; Rob Rutter, Vice President Merryl Lynch, Monaco;
and Paul Kavanagh, Managing Director Rivera Radio.
The
winner Hiro Iizawa from St. Endreol as the new Business
Person of the Year was announced at the BCC Rivera Gala Dinner
at the Palais de la Mediterranee, Nice on Saturday 29th November,
with the presentation by Henk Potts the well known broadcaster
for Barclays Wealth in London. Hiro has overseen the successful
development of the ever expanding Les Domaines de Saint Endreol
in the Var, with new conference facilities, over 200 houses,
luxury hotel, golf and spa resort.
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BCC
Business Person of the Year Award 2007
The
Winner of the 2007 Business Person of the Year wass Richard
Green of Riviera Homefinders
Runners Up were Carolyn Brittain of Brittain’s Home Stores and
Hayley Rhiannon of Orange Design
The
judges for the Riviera Business person of the year 2007 were:
Stelios (Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou )- founder of EasyJet and
serial entrepreneur Rob Rutter - President of Merrill Lynch
and British Association of Monaco Mike Lorimer - President of
British Chamber of Commerce Paul Kavanagh - and his team, Director
of Riviera Radio
La Chambre de Commerce Britannique de la Riviera
française est une association à but non lucratif dont l'objet
est de faciliter le contact entre les personnes en charge de
promouvoir les entreprises et services anglophones sur la Côte
d'Azur et les personnes qui les recherchent.
Malgré
son nom, l'association est loin d'être un Club Britannique,
c'est une association internationale avec des membres issus
du monde entier. Dans sa 12ème année d'activité elle donne la
possibilité de faire du networking avec des professionnels dans
un esprit international.
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Advertise
your French Holiday Home Property at jmlvillas.com and the
advertisement is FREE at cotedazurrental.com
(for South of France Properties) PLUS FREE
ADVERTISING
on villa-rental-france.com and euro-villalocation.com
CLICK HERE for Details - No Commission or booking fees
for owners or renters
jml
Property Services are members
of the National Landlords Association in the UK and British
Chamber of Commerce Côte d'Azur - France
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