Event report • Events • The Chamber
The UK-France Business Forum: 5th edition
UK-France Business Forum 5th Edition: Key Business-Led Recommendations for Bilateral Growth and a UK-EU Reset
The fifth edition of the UK-France Business Forum convened in Paris on 16th and 17th October, bringing together more than 40 companies from both countries to discuss priorities for UK-France economic collaboration and to outline recommendations for the 2025 UK-France Summit.
The Forum plays a key role in our advocacy work to create a growth-enhancing trade and investment environment on both sides of the Channel and offers the Chamber an opportunity to shape the agenda of the anticipated UK-France Summit in 2025.
With the momentum of new political leadership in both countries, Forum members explored opportunities to enhance bilateral relations in critical areas like energy, digitalization, talent mobility, and defence. Given the UK-France border’s role as a critical gateway for trade and movement, members emphasised that a streamlined UK-EU relationship is essential to maintaining efficient cross-border flows.
Key Recommendations for Bilateral Collaboration
Forum members emphasized the importance of strengthened UK-France cooperation in renewable energy, talent exchange, and industrial alignment:
- Energy Partnership: Forum recommendations included establishing a UK-France Clean Energy Task Force to identify joint projects in hydrogen, offshore wind, and biomethane, and to drive joint R&D initiatives that reduce hydrogen production costs and accelerate commercialisation.
- Talent Exchange: Given the drop in student and youth exchanges post-Brexit, Forum members called for a bilateral agreement to reinvigorate exchange programs, building on frameworks like the Volontariat International en Entreprise (VIE) and Erasmus+. This would help bridge skills gaps and foster stronger cultural and professional ties.
- Border Technology: To maintain smooth trade and travel, members proposed a UK-France Dialogue on Border Technology. This dialogue would aim to align digital solutions, such as biometric pre-registration systems and enhance border infrastructure, supporting economic growth and operational fluidity.
Recommendations for a UK-EU Reset
The Forum also discussed key business priorities for a UK-EU reset to secure long-term economic growth, including mutual recognition of industrial standards, energy market alignment, and simplified talent mobility. Members highlighted the importance of a UK-EU approach to border technology to ensure smooth cross-border movement and advocated for joint funding mechanisms to support startup growth in technology and energy sectors.
Looking Ahead to the 2025 AI Action Summit
Forum members were updated on the preparations for the upcoming AI Action Summit, which will be hosted by France in 2025. This summit will shift focus from AI safety to exploring AI’s positive societal impacts. The French government is calling on businesses to showcase public-interest AI projects and participate in working groups on AI governance and sustainable AI infrastructure.
As we look toward 2025 and beyond, the UK-France Business Forum is committed to strengthening economic relations and ensuring that business voices shape a collaborative future for both nations. We hope to bring the Forum back together in London in 2025.
In the meantime, we encourage members to connect with the Chamber, get involved in our advocacy work, contribute to ongoing discussions, and learn more about how we are shaping the agenda.
READ THE LETTER TO THE AMBASSADORS
We invite our members to get involved with our advocacy work. Please visit our website to learn more about our work and take our latest UK-France Insights Survey. If you have specific expertise in hydrogen or AI in business operations and you wish to contribute to our working groups, then please contact cpennetier(@)ccfgb.co.uk.
