Hear from the Founder

The Mandarin aphorism “万变不离其宗” (wàn biàn bù lí qí zōng) , the idea that ten thousand changes cannot alter the core essence, captures the very heart of doing business in China. 

My time in Beijing from 2006 to 2019 taught me so much as an entrepreneur but I retained my essence of being British.  

When I founded the British Business Awards (BBA) in Beijing  in 2008, I coined the strapline: “Celebrating British Innovation, Enterprise, Endeavour.”  

My goal was to recognise and celebrate the shared spirit of British business owners alongside their Chinese shareholders, employees, and partners. 

Nearly 20 years later, as we look at the landscape in 2026, China has changed almost beyond recognition. Yet, it has retained the essential characteristics that make it such an inviting, dynamic, and challenging market.  

Similarly, the hallmarks of great British businesses have remained constant, even as the mechanics of commerce have been completely reshaped by economic, political, and technological transformations. 

With each passing BBA cycle, we see the individual people and companies evolve, but the constancy of purpose and the deep commitment to the UK-China business relationship remain exactly the same.  

That the BBA has endured nearly 2 decades is a testament to the British Chamber of Commerce, successive Ambassadors who have been Patrons, all of the supporting organisations, sponsors, judges and of course the entrants.  

Truly a wonderful example of enterprise, innovation and shared endeavour. 

As the saying goes, “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.”