BCCD welcomes HRH Prince Michael of Kent

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HRH Prince Michael of Kent and a delegation from The Genesis Initiative flew into Copenhagen on Monday 3 October from London City Airport on a British Airways flight. A red carpet was laid out to honour HRH at the Copenhagen Marriott hotel, where the Prince and the delegation stayed.

The group was in Denmark at the invitation of the British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark. HRH Prince Michael of Kent is Patron of The Genesis Initiative and supports their aims of improving conditions for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

HRH Prince Michael of Kent travelled throughout the visit in this Vanden Plas Princess provided by Allan Eimert, International Ambassador, Genesis Initiative (Photo: Hasse Ferrold)

First on the agenda was a special lunch for BCCD members & guests, exploring the topic The Genesis Initiative - Supporting SMEs in the UK and Europe. Around 60 people took the opportunity to meet the delegation and learn more about the organisation in the Everest Ballroom at Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers.

HRH Prince Michael of Kent at the BCCD lunch on 3 Oct 2011, with Mariano A. Davies, President, BCCD (left) and Peter Rasmussen, British Airways (right)  (Photo: Hugh Mayo)

David Doyle, European Advisor to the Genesis Initiative in Brussels explained how the organisation's structure helps it to deliver improved conditions for SMEs in the UK. David also discussed Genesis' policy on Europe, where they aim to build the dialogue with the EU Commission and Parliament on SME issues.

Moonpal Singh Grewal described the Genesis Entrepreneur Group, of which he is Chairman and explained why he, as an entrepreneur, saw value in The Genesis Initiative. Richard Smerdon backed this up with some practical results that have been achieved from discussions with government e.g. on SMEs obtaining more public contract work. (see Richard Smerdon's notes from the meeting)

The Genesis Delegation clockwise from top left: Moonpal Signh Grewal, Chairman of the Genesis Entrepreneur Group; Dr David Doyle, European Advisor to The Genesis Initiative in Brussels; Richard Smerdon, Lawyer and Rapporteur to the Genesis Senate; Niels Ladefoged, Entrepreneur (Photos: Hugh Mayo)

On Monday evening HM Ambassador Nick Archer, Patron of BCCD, hosted the BCCD Sponsors Dinner where HRH Prince Michael of Kent gave a talk on the role of SMEs in stimulating innovation and business renewal (Photo: Hasse Ferrold)

The delegation packed several meetings into their schedule including DI, the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency, and the Danish Federation of Small & Medium Sized Enterprises.

HRH Prince Michael of Kent paid an informal visit to HMS Albion to see the Defence and Industry Day onboard during his stay.

The visit also included a lunch for representatives of many top Danish companies at Kromann Reumert, where HRH shared his considerable expertise and knowledge about trading with Russia.

The final call on the programme was to Better Place, where the delegation heard about the new initiative for electric vehicles and a network of battery changing stations being developed in Denmark. The Prince took a test drive and was impressed by the performance, although he felt the car was a little too silent