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Why Do Business In The UK

Despite enduring the COVID-19 pandemic like much of the world, the UK has successfully maintained its appeal as a global investment destination. According to Ernest and Young (EY), UK recorded 985 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in 2023, up 6% from 2022 and ranking it second in Europe. The UK’s share of all European FDI projects grew to 17.3% in 2023, an increase on the 15.6% seen in 2022. Companies choose to expand or move their businesses to the UK because it’s an ideal location to be in. More companies locate their European headquarters in the UK than anywhere else in Europe.

The UK has:

  1. Strong Economy – The UK has a strong and diverse economy, and according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it’s the fifth largest in the world. It is home to a range of industries, including finance, manufacturing, and creative services.  Source here.
  2. Access a Skilled Workforce – The UK has a highly educated and skilled workforce, with around 44% of the population aged between 21 – 64 holding a university degree. Source here.
  3. Business support – The UK government offers a range of support services to businesses established in the country. They include financial support and grants, tax incentives and reliefs, business advisory and many more. Fore more information visit House of Commons Library.
  4. Strategic Global Location – While it is not part of the European Union (EU), the UK remains geographically close to Europe, providing access to one of the largest consumer markets in the world. This is made possible by the UK and EU’s Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) that provides for a significant level of openness for trade in services and investment in many sectors. Read more.
  5. Innovation and Technology Hub – The UK is ranked 4th among the 132 economies featured in the Global Innovation Index 2023. Many of the world’s biggest and most dynamic companies – including Google, Facebook, Amazon, Coca-Cola – have chosen the UK as their European headquarters. Source here.
  6. Stable Legal and Political Systems – The UK has a well-established democratic governance ensuring consistency in policies and regulations, fostering confidence for investors and companies to grow, innovate, and operate securely in global markets.
  7. Strong Financial Sector – The UK has one of the most open, innovative and dynamic financial services sectors in the world. It accounts for 11% of the global fintech industry and is home to an estimated 2,500 fintech firms, with 6 of the top 10 fintech companies headquartered in London. Source here.
  8. Friendly business Environment –  Investors can access a market of more than 60 million people, diverse suppliers and partners, and benefit from a range of programmes to help businesses of all shapes and sizes grow, including a £100 billion infrastructure spending commitment. Source here.

You can find more information about doing business in UK published by the UK Government here.

Useful Links

  1. Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
  2. British Chambers of Commerce – find your local chamber
  3. Ease of Doing Business to UK – World Bank Group
  4. Doing business in the UK – HM Government
  5. A guide to doing business in UK – Private Sector
  6. Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA)
  7. UK Parliament
  8. Commonwealth Business Communications

Travel to the UK

Flights
We are in the process of agreeing competitive discounts for British Chamber of Commerce members from British Airways – who are one of our key partners.

Passport and Visa
Check if you need a UK Visa here.

Apply outside the UK
You must apply online for a Business Visitor visa.
You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at Visa Application Centre as part of your application.

Apply outside the UK: Visit the UK Visa Application Centre in Nairobi
 
VFS Global is the official partner of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Please note that once you have completed and paid for your visa application on GOV.UK, you will be directed to the VFS Global website to book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre, so your biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) can be captured.

Please note that you can opt for additional value-added services from VFS Global, designed to make your application process more comfortable and seamless. Click here for more information on this.

Their UK Visa Application Centre is located on Principle Place, School lane. Click here to view the map and their operating times.

About David Beer

David Beer has been the CEO of TradeMark Africa (TMA) since 2022. TMA is Africa’s leading aid-for-trade organisation, focused on reducing the cost and time of trading across borders in Africa, and boosting exports. He has led the expansion of TMA to 18 countries across the continent, aiming to close the gap between governments and the private sector in removing trade barriers.

David brings over 20 years of senior international experience in diplomacy, multilaterals, and economic development. Throughout his career, he has served in Uganda, Sudan, Burundi, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ghana, holding senior leadership positions, designing and managing innovative programmes, and driving diplomatic and influencing strategies.

Prior to joining TradeMark, David served as the UK’s High Commissioner to Malawi, having previously been the UK’s Development Director there, managing up to $100 million of aid programming per year. He was also the UK’s Development Director in Burundi and led Economic Development work in Ghana. Additionally, he has advised UK Executive Directors to the Boards of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

David Beer is a graduate of Oxford University.

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About Guy de Rohan Willner

Guy de Rohan Willner is a highly accomplished technology entrepreneur, investor, and business leader with extensive experience in digital infrastructure, data centres, and high-growth technology ventures across Europe, Africa, and global markets. He is the Chairman and Co-Founder of IXAfrica, where he plays a key role in advancing data centre development and digital ecosystems in Africa. He also serves as Senior Advisor for Digital Infrastructure at Helios LLP and holds board positions at Elea Digital and other international organisations.

Willner previously co-founded IXEurope PLC, where he served as CEO and successfully built the company into a leading European data centre provider, overseeing multiple acquisitions before listing on the London Stock Exchange and ultimately selling the business to Equinix Inc. His earlier leadership role as President Europe at Equinix further strengthened his reputation in the sector.

With a background in engineering from Oxford Brookes University, Willner combines technical expertise with strategic vision. He brings decades of experience in scaling businesses, investment strategy, and market expansion, making him a respected leader in the global digital infrastructure space.

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About Karen Basiye

Karen Basiye is a keen Sustainability Thought Leader, practitioner, and Corporate Environment Manager with 15 years of experience. She has worked at the National Environment Management Authority and Safaricom, developing expertise in Leadership, Governance, Strategic Thinking, Sustainability Reporting (Global Reporting Initiative and United Nations Global Compact), Social Policy, Corporate Environmental Management, Environmental Management Systems including ISO certification, Environmental Policies, Environmental Risk Management, Compliance Assessment, Energy and Climate Change Policies, Strategies for Sustainable Development, Integrated Product Policies, Sustainable Consumption and Production, and integration of Sustainable Development Goals into company strategies.

Karen holds a Joint Master of Environmental Science, Policy and Management degree from Lund University (Sweden), University of Manchester (UK), Central European University (Hungary), and University of the Aegean (Greece) and a Bachelor of Environmental Science degree from Kenyatta University.

Currently at Safaricom, Karen serves as the Director of Sustainable Business, Social Impact, and The Foundations. She is passionate about the interplay between People, Purpose, and Profits.

She has served on various University Councils, the Governing Council of KEPSA as Vice Chair of the Environment Sector Board, and as a Strategic Advisor on multiple Boards. She has been recognised as an SDG Pioneer by the Global Compact Kenya.

Contact: Tel: +254722540162 | Email: kbasiye@safaricom.co.ke or kbasiye@gmail.com

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About Robert Hutchinson

Robert Hutchinson is a seasoned strategic leader and risk management professional with over 20 years of experience guiding organizations through complexity, uncertainty, and change. He currently serves as Group Head – Corporate Risk Management at Castor Vali Africa Limited, overseeing business strategy, client engagement, and regional growth. Robert also serves as a board member at BCCK, providing insight on corporate governance and risk.

Robert advises boards and executive teams on identifying and managing risks to enable responsible, scalable investment across Africa, with particular focus on infrastructure, climate risk, and societal resilience. He has supported multinational clients and development finance institutions in fragile and conflict-affected environments, including Sudan and Ethiopia.

Previously, Robert was Business Resilience Director for PwC Africa, leading enterprise risk management, physical security, and crisis coordination across 16 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. His earlier career includes senior consultancy roles in natural resources and distinguished service in the British Army, where he achieved early promotion to Major and served in operational and strategic intelligence roles.

Combining deep African market insight with international risk expertise, Robert mentors emerging leaders on decision-making, resilience, and team development, helping organizations navigate uncertainty and achieve lasting impact.

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About Joyce Kibe

Joyce Kibe joined the Bank in 2021, bringing with her extensive expertise in marketing, communications, consumer insights, innovation, and strategic planning. She is recognised for her strong commercial acumen, skilful stakeholder engagement, and ability to transform data into actionable strategies that drive extraordinary business results.

Joyce has 22 years of professional experience, having held leadership roles across Kenya, Nigeria, the UK, and Zimbabwe. Her career includes tenures at British American Tobacco and East African Breweries, where she consistently delivered award-winning marketing strategies and measurable business impact.

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About Titus Mukora

Mr. Titus Mukora is a seasoned transfer pricing expert with over 16 years of specialised experience in the field. Prior to focusing on transfer pricing, he worked as a legal associate and general tax consultant, building a strong foundation in corporate taxation and compliance.

Titus has conducted numerous transfer pricing studies across multiple industries and territories in Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa. He has also undertaken transfer pricing engagements for companies in Australia. His expertise spans compliance, structuring, and defense work, providing actionable solutions to complex tax and business challenges.

Currently, Titus focuses on integrating transfer pricing into corporate business strategies, supporting companies from a compliance, transaction, and supply chain perspective. His work ensures that businesses navigate regulatory requirements effectively while aligning tax strategy with operational and strategic objectives.

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About Patricia Ithau

Patricia Ithau is a passionate advocate for Africa’s human capital, dedicated to transforming the continent’s fortunes on the global stage. She believes in building role models in the corporate and entrepreneurial space, connecting resources to help enterprises overcome challenges and seize opportunities to realize their full potential.

Her career spans 25 years across three global companies – Unilever, Diageo/EABL, and L’Oreal – where she honed her expertise in identifying consumer and commercial insights, developing brands, and growing businesses. In the last 8 years of her corporate career, she focused on establishing new organizations and entering new markets as Managing Director of Uganda Breweries Ltd, Managing Director of EABL International, and the inaugural Managing Director of L’Oreal East Africa Ltd. At L’Oreal East Africa, she grew the business to $25 million in revenue, employed over 270 people, manufactured 40 million units per year, and successfully completed one of the first acquisitions of a local business in the market.

Patricia pivoted her focus to scaling and transforming SMEs, the largest job creation sector in emerging economies. She is currently the Regional Director for the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies – Seed, supporting SME growth across East and Southern Africa. Over the last five years, the program has scaled more than 200 small to mid-size companies, delivering measurable impact.

She serves on the boards of ABSA Bank Kenya Ltd, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Jambojet Ltd, and Vivo ActiveWear Ltd, contributing her expertise in enterprise growth. Patricia also supports development funding and social sustainability investment as a board member of TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) and as a Trustee on the Board of the Vodafone Foundation, UK.

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About John Rogers

John Rogers leads the East Africa business for Turner & Townsend – a global professional services firm operating in the real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources sectors. He is a member of the Turner & Townsend Africa Board and chairs the East Africa Board. Before joining Turner & Townsend, he was the Managing Director for MML (formerly Mentor Management Limited), an Actis-owned company, and in 2018 oversaw the merger between MML and Turner & Townsend.

Since joining Turner & Townsend, John has expanded the company’s footprint to 7 countries in East Africa and is leading entry into new markets. He is a commercially astute, engaging, and results-driven executive with more than 15 years of construction experience across the Middle East, UK, and Ireland. John has led multicultural teams through project development, procurement, and realization in both private and public sectors, working with governments, industry authorities, asset owners, investors, capital programmes, and supply chain partners.

Through leading teams to deliver outstanding project outcomes, John has helped organizations, economies, and societies realize lasting benefits. Notable projects he has led include the Nexus Green Solar Water Pumping Systems funded by UKEF, East Africa Breweries Limited Biomass Steam Plants in Kenya and Uganda, the Nairobi Gate Industrial Park, the Kenya Roads Annuity Programmes (Lot 15 and Lot 18), and the Tilenga project, part of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline project. He is passionate about data, technology, and raising standards in construction in Africa, driving productivity, safety, efficiency, and sustainability. John believes that leading digitally provides the opportunity to set the pace and positively transform the industry.

John brings a wealth of knowledge from diverse geographies and roles. His board involvement focuses on connecting organizations and programmes to leading practices, supporting opportunities for successful investment, and unlocking innovation and global best practices.

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About Ms. Anne Muraya

Anne Muraya is the CEO of Deloitte East Africa. She oversees the firm’s operations in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi and Zambia. She also represents the region in the Africa Executive Committee which is responsible for setting the strategic direction and focus areas of the Africa business and overseeing the implementation of the strategy.

Anne leads a team of brilliant professionals across the region and considers herself their chief cheerleader. She views her role as switching on the lights so that the strategy is clear and everyone understands why they do what they do. She believes in nurturing and enabling staff so that they can solve complex problems for clients, and grow into the leaders of tomorrow.

Before this role, Anne was the East Africa Audit Leader and Managing Director for Responsible Business and Public Policy for Africa. She has built a wealth of experience serving clients in the banking and financial services, manufacturing, agriculture and retail industries. As a partner, she was also the National Professional Practice Director for the East Africa practice, leading technical consultations on audit methodology and IFRS.

Anne has also served on the Deloitte Global Advisory Council, where she was chosen as one of 30 partners worldwide to serve as a sounding board for the Deloitte Global CEO. Anne was a member of the Professional Standards Committee of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). In 2020, she was inducted into the College of Fellows of ICPAK in recognition of services rendered to the profession.

One of the ways Anne pays it forward is by mentoring girls and women.

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