As part of our ongoing efforts to offer our members and partners expertise from leading UK professionals, excellent networking opportunities, and best practice examples, we organised a Business Delegation to London from 27–29 November 2024. The delegation brought together Slovenian business leaders and company representatives for an opportunity to engage with some of London’s most prominent institutions and companies.

The delegation focused on the topic of Employer Branding, offering participants exclusive behind-the-scenes access and interactive sessions led by top experts on a range of topics, including leadership, talent acquisition, recruitment strategies, employer branding, company culture, boosting employee happiness and productivity, as well as the evolving role of AI in shaping the future workforce.

Throughout the delegation, we were joined by the delegation from the National Council, led by its President Marko Lotrič. One of their engagements also included a visit to the House of Lords, the second chamber of the UK Parliament, where they had the opportunity to meet with Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, who presides over the House of Lords.

Delegation Highlights

London Business School: The delegation was welcomed by Dean Sergei Guriev and attended an interactive session with Professor of Organisational Behaviour Dan Cable. Professor Cable explained how neuroscience connects authenticity with engagement and productivity. He also shared the power of positive psychology, strategies for motivating employees, and balancing organizational rules with creativity.

PwC: At their stunning riverside office overlooking Tower Bridge, PwC hosted a session on leadership, upskilling, and the important role of employer branding in building strong company culture. They brought to attention how top organisations and leaders strategically shape collective behaviours that drive performance, and the importance of aligning people selection with brand and cultural goals.

City of London Corporation: We learned more about the history of the City of London and its unique structure alongside the 32 boroughs. The discussion then focused on the impact of AI on the workforce, examining its potential to reshape entire industries and redefine job roles. Key topics included sustainability skills, preparing the workforce for low carbon economies, and how women are pivoting to digital roles in response to the growing demand for tech talent. Additionally, the work of the Financial Services Skills Commission was presented, as well as the recent paper on Transition Finance in the UK, which explores the role of finance in supporting the green transition across sectors.

Pearson: At the world’s leading learning company, the delegation learned about Pearson’s ontology, an approach to predicting workforce trends using data science. The session highlighted strategies for predicting the growing impact of automation and AI on employment and skills development.

Squire & Partners: In the heart of Brixton, the delegation visited The Department Store, a revitalized Edwardian building transformed by the renowned London architectural bureau Squire & Partners. At the venue, we hosted a panel discussion on brownfield revitalization with our members Trimo and Riko, and featured an exhibition by a rewarded Slovenian graphic designer Radovan Jenko. Distinguished speakers included Marko Lotrič, President of the National Council, and Dr Asta Vrečko, Minister of Culture. Read more here.

Business Conference at the London Stock Exchange: The iconic London Stock Exchange was the venue for the business conference “Next Steps in Strengthening UK-Slovenia Relations”, organised by the British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and SPIRIT Slovenia. Bringing together prominent government representatives, industry leaders, and financial experts, the event focused on boosting trade and investment between the two countries. A key highlight of the conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SPIRIT Slovenia and the West London Chambers of Commerce, representing a shared commitment to further deepening bilateral economic ties. Read more here.

A&O Shearman: A recap session of the panel discussion on enhancing and developing capital markets through pension reform with Law Firm Rojs, Peljhan, Prelesnik & Partners, where we received further information on Slovenia’s three-pillar pension system and the challenges of the upcoming pension reform: the underdevelopment of Slovenia’s capital markets, driven by reliance on bank loans and high transaction costs, as well as the potential for pension reform to strengthen the second and third pillars, promote growth in capital markets, and introduce measures such as automatic enrolment and enhanced tax incentives for long-term investments.

Christmas Gala: The delegation concluded with a Christmas Gala at the prestigious Institute of Directors. Over 170 guests from business, politics, and diplomacy celebrated the Chamber’s most anticipated annual social event. The evening successfully brought together leading policy makers and business leaders, opened doors to new business opportunities, and strengthened existing relations between Slovenia and the UK. Read more here.