Dear Members and Friends of the BLCC,
The first quarter of 2026 at the BLCC has been one of the busiest ever, as long as I can remember. On 5th February, 250 guests celebrated 25 years of Golden Bridge Trade & Investment Awards in central London. It was the biggest (and the best, according to some veterans) Golden Bridge to date. You can read more about this spectacular edition with fantastic winners in this newsletter.
The next day, we received the splendid news that we had finally purchased our new office in London, as our old offices are soon to be converted into a restaurant and kitchen. This move is a very exciting chapter in our 136-year history. We secured a 999-year leasehold. This means we can now offer our members security and stability regarding their UK address. Located in the vibrant tech and creative district of Shoreditch, our new facilities provide a modern co-working environment and meeting spaces in a unique canalside setting.
This week also sees the third edition of the Eurostart Venture Awards take place in London. For the first time, the event will span two days, reflecting its continued growth. Early-stage university start-ups from Belgium, Luxembourg, and the UK will pitch at the Luxembourg Embassy, competing for cash prizes to support their ventures. The following day, more established spin-offs will take part in our Raising Capital event at the Belgian Ambassador’s Residence, connecting directly with venture capitalists and investors.
Looking more broadly, recent developments in the UK’s relationship with the European Union are also noteworthy. The Financial Times reported that Prime Minister Starmer intends to bring forward elements of EU legislation in the upcoming King’s Speech. This is quicker than anticipated and will bring a wave of EU legislation to the UK. This alignment is the first reconnection of Great Britain with the EU single market since Brexit and means that the UK will accept certain EU rules and regulations. This will bring many advantages to our BeLux members and could lead to a slow but gentle reversal of the economic damage caused by Brexit.
Within our network, I am pleased to announce our new partnership with Get In Touch. This Belgian startup is providing us with a handy WhatsApp event tool, which was tested for the first time at our Golden Bridge Awards and our First Tuesday in March.
Last but not least, I am also happy to announce that Olivia Williams, who was our intern in February, has now started working at our new office in Angel/Shoreditch, as our London Office Executive. You will be able to meet her when you visit our office. I therefore would like to take this opportunity to invite you and your colleagues to come and see us soon. We are only one stop from St Pancras Eurostar. Olivia will ensure that existing and new members can onboard seamlessly at our new London HQ.
I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter, and I look forward to seeing you in Shoreditch.