14 July 2021
This webinar has been postponed to Wednesday 14 July 4:30-5:30pm.
Sponsored by
Part of the SME and Start-up Series
Supported by the China Committee and SME and Start-up Committee
Speaker:
Andrew Oliver, Managing Director, ProfileAsia
Gráinne O’Reilly, Executive Principal, EtonHouse International Schools China
Jeremy Sargent OBE, Founder & Managing Partner, JSA China Legal Consultancy; Founder & Proprietor, The Happy Monk Bar/Restaurant
Moderator:
Neal Beatty, Partner & General Manager, Control Risks
Entrepreneurs and the GBA – demystifying entering the Mainland market
Entrepreneurs often set up shop in Hong Kong because it feels pretty familiar – the legal system, business environment, widespread use of English, and even the technology platforms people use. As part of that decision process, there is often the vague notion of using Hong Kong as the launchpad to the Mainland, with its enormous scale and opportunity. However, the reality can be much more daunting than most SMEs expect, and a significant percentage of SMEs give up on the idea and look elsewhere in APAC.
However, with the increased focus on the Greater Bay Area (GBA) from both the Hong Kong and Mainland governments, it seems like now is almost as good as a time as any to revisit those plans, and explore the potential for exporting your product or service over the border and across the bay, to the wider GBA market in Guangdong.
With this in mind, the Chamber's China Committee and SME and Start-up Committee have organised this webinar to explore how you can do it, through discussion, insight and lessons learnt from three real-life entrepreneurs who have succeeded in launching and running small businesses in the GBA (and beyond).
Details on how to join will be sent via email by 5pm the day before the webinar.
About the speakers
Andrew is a Managing Director and the Co-Founder of Profile (A Wilson HCG Company), based in Hong Kong. In addition to managing the broader business, he is the co-head of our Regional Financial Services practice. Andrew has over 25 years of executive search experience, of which over 20 are in Asia. Profile has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai Beijing and Tokyo, they plan to open an office in Shenzhen in late 2021. Half of their employees are based in China.
Prior to establishing Profile in 2005, he was at a leading UK executive search firm in Hong Kong, responsible for the overall management of the financial services and legal teams. Prior to moving to Hong Kong, Andrew spent four years at a search firm in London. Andrew started his career in the audit and corporate finance divisions at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Andrew received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Nottingham University.
Mrs. Gráinne O’Reilly is the Executive Principal at EtonHouse International Schools China. Grainne graduated from the University of London with a Major in Education. She is a start-up Specialist responsible for 13 successful school start-ups internationally, and a Principal of 10 schools in UK and around the world. Grainne is the Founding Principal of the British School of Houston – now entering its 21st year with graduates accepted at Cornell, West Point, Penn State, Texas A&M University of Texas, UCLA, Durham University, Bath University, St. Andrew’s University, London School of Economics, University of Edinburgh, University of Aberdeen, University of York and University of Warwick. She is the Regional Director of British Schools of America, as well as the Managing Director of Orbital Education, South Korea. Grainne was nominated to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth for Services to Education in the U.K.
Jeremy’s interest in China began after a brief trip to Guangzhou in 1978. In 1990, Jeremy graduated from Leeds University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese. A decade later, Jeremy returned to China to open the first mainland China office for a London-based law firm.
In 2007, Jeremy established JSA, a legal consulting practice in Guangzhou which helps international clients navigate China’s legal and business landscape. In 2010, Jeremy opened The Happy Monk, an award-winning bar/restaurant concept with a team of 180 full-time employees and five busy downtown locations.
Jeremy is currently Chairman of the British Chamber Guangdong, a member of the Beachhead Advisory Board of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Honorary Legal Advisor to the British Consulate-General Guangzhou.
Jeremy enjoys on-going learning and completed an Executive MBA at London Business School.
In 2011 Jeremy was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition to his services on behalf of British businesses and legal services in China.
About the moderator
Neal is a Partner and General Manager of Control Risks’ Hong Kong office. In this role, he is responsible for client relationships in Hong Kong, developing new business with multinational clients, and advising on areas of business risk that impact their operations in Hong Kong, Greater China and the Asia Pacific region.
Pricing
- Small Business, Start-up & Non-Profit Member: Free to attend
- Member: HK$140
- Non-Member: HK$250
Terms & Conditions
- Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
- Cancellations must be made in writing 24 hours prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
- This event is closed to the media.
- The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon signal or the Black Rain Storm warning is in force.
- By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
- For further information please email phoebe@britcham.com
- All payments for this event need to be settled by credit card through PayPal. Please note you do not need a PayPal account to complete payment.