Supported by the British Council, UK Trade & Investment and VisitBritain, UK membership association, English UK held a fair in Greece last week, to help build business opportunities for members in south and east Europe.
The fair brought together 30 English UK member centres and agents from Greece, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia, Romania, Cyprus, Croatia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and the United Kingdom.
Also attending the fair were representatives from the British Council Greece and Cyprus and from UK Trade & Investment in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia.
Nargiza Makatsaria of ELL. Ltd in Georgia remarked, “This was a brilliantly organised fair. It was great because educators and agencies spent three days together and really got to know each other – there’s no better way to network.”
The programme of social events, seminars, and one-to-one appointments in an elegant resort, with spectacular views of the Saronic Gulf, gave educators and agents the opportunity to really get to know each other and develop long-lasting productive partnerships.
With an engaging seminar programme on the second day involving an interactive networking session, delegates had the opportunity to discuss and share their ideas of what studying English in the UK means to them as a brand and to put names to faces in a game of business card bingo.
After appointment sessions, delegates enjoyed an evening of culture at the award winning Acropolis Museum, home to masterpieces of ancient Greek civilization and art. This was followed by dinner at Dionysos, a classic landmark restaurant offering spectacular views of Athens and the Acropolis.
Delegates were also welcomed by Her Majesty’s Ambassador himself
Delegates were also welcomed by Her Majesty’s Ambassador himself, Dr David Landsman OBE, who spoke of the importance of English as an international language and the quality of a British education at a farewell gala dinner hosted at his residence.
Delegates praised the overall organisation and programme, convivial atmosphere and business networking opportunities of the fair. Steve Phillips from Internexus Regents College commented: “Another wonderful English UK Fair with a good mix of agents looking for a range of programmes.”
