MAABN Summer Party at Château Ricard

June 22, 2012

Once again, the MAABN is delighted to invite you to its summer party taking place this year on Friday June 22 at the lovely Château Ricard in Marseille’s 14th arrondissement.

Join us for a relaxing evening under the stars, with good food, fine wine and a chance to win fabulous prizes in our tombola. The evening will be attended by the MAABN Co-Honorary Presidents U.S. Consul Phil Richards and British Consul Simon Taylor.

And to mark the 2012 London Olympics, the MAABN will be celebrating the Olympic spirit in its own inimitable way…

RESERVATION IS MANDATORY WITH ADVANCE PAYMENT ONLINE (SEE BELOW).

Members €30 (Couples €50)

Non-members €40 (Couples €70)

Please note that payment must be made by Friday June 8 latest.

Payment

Summer Party 2012

Member Single €30.00 EUR Members Couple €50.00 EUR Non-Member Single €40.00 EUR Non-Members Couple €70.00 EUR

Venue: Château Ricard, 60 Chemin des Bessons, 13014 Marseille

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Hosted at the Château de la Pioline, Les Milles

(Please note in your diaries – this Language Apero is on a Thursday, not Tuesday, due to the May 8 public holiday)

The Real Land Group (www.real-land.com) was established in 1997 and has built a solid reputation as a specialist office developer in the UK and Southern France.

Today, all new operations are in France -where recent developments account for more than 30,000 m² of office space – with the 2012 programme due to provide almost 12,000 m² of new offices in the Bouches-du-Rhone and Var départements.

Typical development project values range from €5 M to €20 M

The group’s success has been achieved by creating a uniform, quality product, usually within established business parks, and by working with a closely-knit and trusted network of local and international professionals.

The group holding company is registered in London but all operations in France are managed from the French head office at La Ciotat.

Where
Chateau de la Pioline
260 rue Guillaume Vair
Les Milles
13146 Aix en Provence

View Larger Map

Marseille-Provence, European Capital of Culture in 2013
What will be the impact on US and GB tourism to the area?

Conference/debate Tuesday 15 May 2012

The Anglo-American Community, strongly anchored in Marseille-Provence, represents an extensive network of professionals and companies in many different areas of activity. One such area is tourism, with Anglo-American involvement in the hotel and restaurant trades, transport (from the cruise business to airlines to local services), tour operators, travel agencies and e-tourism. Another is the world of the creative industries and cultural events.

Marseille-Provence, European Capital of Culture 2013 will attract numerous visitors from abroad, many of them English-speaking with large contingents from the USA and Great Britain. Some will have been here before, others will be first-timers here for the 2013 programme. They will be flying in, driving in or arriving by high-speed train; they will be staying in the region’s hotels, eating in Provençal restaurants and generally using local amenities. They will be attending the many exhibitions and events being put on in different parts of the territory throughout the year.

The MAABN, together with the British and American consulates, is raising the debate around a number of important questions:

• What is the 2013 programme and how will it appeal to the Anglo-American community?
• What is the history of US and GB tourism in the area?
• In what ways will 2013 bring in new Anglo-American visitors? What promotional actions are planned?
• How is the city and the surrounding territory organising itself to receive these tourists?
• Will the airport introduce new services in 2013, both in terms of destinations and reception/welcome?

The MAABN is delighted to welcome speakers from:

• The Marseille-Provence 2013 European Capital of Culture team
• The Regional Tourist Board for the PACA region
• The Bouches-du-Rhône Tourist Board
• The Marseille Tourist Board
• The CCI Marseille-Provence and its Esprit Client team
• Marseille-Provence Airport

British Consul Simon Taylor and US Consul Philip Richards will also be present along with other guests.

 Practical information:

 Conference: In English, with Q&A  in English or French

Date & time: Tuesday 15 May 18.30 – 21.00 - Un cocktail dînatoire suivra le débat

Venue: La Bo[a]te, 35 rue de la Paix Marcel Paul, 13001 Marseille
(parking: Cours d’Estienne d’Orves)

Admission: Members € 10, non-members € 20 (payment at the door). The conference will be followed by a cocktail dînatoire.

RSVP mandatory (places are limited) to: contact@maabn.fr

 

The Marseille-Provence region’s representative of

The MAABN (Mediterranean Anglo-American Business Network) was founded in Marseille by company directors, consultants and economic development agencies and has developed an international platform promoting corporate exchanges and business networking in the Marseille-Provence region.

The MAABN has the support of both the US and British Consulates in Marseille and is the Marseille-Provence region’s representative of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry and AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce in France). The MAABN organises a monthly English speaking business networking event, the “Language Apero”, as well as conferences throughout the year.

The MAABN also supports and promotes a number of its sponsors’ and partners’ corporate and cultural events across the region.

For more information: www.maabn.fr / contact@maabn.fr

Visit http://themaabn.ning.com and discover the only English speaking business community webspace in Provence.

Many of our members believe that a direct link between Marseille and Heathrow would provide better access to Central London and easier connections to international destinations served by Heathrow.

We would like to evaluate the demand for such a direct link and need your help.

If you wish to support this project, we thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to fill in an online questionnaire. Your answers will help us strengthen the business case for a direct link between Marseille and London Heathrow.

Thank you for your time.

Set up in 1998 by the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the local authorities, PROVENCE PROMOTION is the economic development agency for the Bouches-du-Rhône département, bringing together all the main institutional and economic players in the Bouches-du-Rhône.

Headquartered in the Docks de la Joliette building in downtown Marseille, PROVENCE PROMOTION has a team of 25 staff providing free support -in the strictest confidence-  to companies and individuals seeking to invest in the area.

PROVENCE PROMOTION has set up four marketing programs designed to encourage new business creation:

- Start in Provence, for new ventures in innovating fields;

- Go Between, for investors looking to purchase or set up partnerships with companies in Provence;

- Home Sweet Home, a national award-winning initiative for French expatriates wishing to return home and invest in Provence;

- Provence Premium, a support scheme for major international corporations.

PROVENCE PROMOTION is also the local partner of the Invest in France Agency (AFII), which has offices in 22 countries mainly in Europe, Asia and North America.

Provence Promotion is today acknowledged as an agency specialized in providing marketing-integrated solutions  for domestic and overseas investors.

Where
La Boate
35 rue de la Paix
13001 Marseille

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The presence of the Scottish artisans’ delegation had been jointly arranged by the British Consulate in Marseille and the Mediterranean Anglo American Business Network (MAABN), the regional representative of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Focussing on the theme of “tradition and modernity”, 19 top Scottish artisans showcased their know-how in the fields of design and cooking. The French public was also able to sample Caledonian culture with the Caulbums Ceilid’s mix of traditional music, dancing and singing.

Videos of the Scottish artisans’ work, filmed by Liam Dickson, can be found here.

To view the video of the official opening, featuring British Consul Simon Taylor and the exhibiting artisans :

11ème édition d’Artisans 13 par conseilgeneral13

For even more, see “Scotland at Artisans 13” on Facebook!

If you would like further information on the individual Scottish artisans present at the event -and order some of their outstanding handicrafts or produce- visit their websites below:

. Liam Dickson – photographer and film-maker:  http://liamdickson.com

. Joyce Paton – milliner and women’s clothing designer: www.joycepaton.com

. Alan Moore – Ten30 – women’s fashion designer: www.ten30.co.uk

. Rabbie Denim – hand-made-and-stitched jeans designer:  www.rabbiedenim.com

. Hannah Eccles – jewellery designer: www.hannahecclesdesign.com

. Catherine Aitken – bag designer: www.catherineaitken.com

. Lee Muir – Re-cycled Cycle – recycled bicycle designer: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.290239021051344.69437.274164102658836&type=3#!/recyclecycles/info

. Kimberley Armstrong & Lindsay Watson – Sugar Glass – contemporary glass designers: www.sugarglass.co.uk

 . Beverly McColgan, hairdresser and make-up artist: www.beverlymccolgan.co.uk

Throughout the three days, all creations were worn or exhibited by model Heather McKay of www.modelteam.co.uk.

. John Quigley – Scottish chef:  www.red-onion.co.uk

. Campbells Prime Meats: www.campbellsmeat.com

The Caulbums Ceilidh, featuring the very talented singer Sylvia Barnes, virtuoso guitarist Sandy Stanage and champion Highland dancer Olivia Black, warmed the hearts of the Marseille audience with their unique blend of singing of the highest quality, the best of Scottish dance music and world championship-standard Highland dancing and piping.

. The Caulbums Ceilidh: iainpipes@yahoo.co.uk

Iain MacDonald: bagpipes – John Gahagan: fiddle / tin whistle -
Fraser MacLellan: accordion – Sandy Stanage: guitar -
Sylvia Barnes: vocals – Olivia Black: dance

The public were also present in numbers at the official Scotland stand where Fraser Gordon, Scottish tourism guide in traditional attire, presented the modern and magnificent country of Scotland.

With special thanks to the students of Lycée Hôtelier de Bonneveine and the Lycée International Georges Duby for their help during the event.

Artisans 13 partner links:

Join the free & informative evening about tax efficient solutions & investments

Our expert Financial Adviser will explain the fantastic opportunities available to you as a UK or US expatriate living abroad with a frozen pension back in your home country or the country you lived in before. Through QROPS and ATES, clients now have the ability to unlock your frozen pension and start enjoying the benefits of having an offshore pension.

Thanks to deVere’s strategic alliances with leading financial institutions, we are now able to offer exclusive investments for Americans living in France!

At the informative seminar you will learn more about how to protect your wealth whilst living abroad, with bespoke tax-efficient solutions.

International investors and expatriates employ us to find the right financial products that best suit their medium to long-term requirements for insurance, investments, savings and pensions.

Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2012 at 18:30hrs

City: Aix-en-Provence

Venue: Château de la Pioline, 260 avenue Guillaume du Vair, Les Milles, 13546 Aix-en-Provence

Speakers:

• David Erhardt
  (STM Group Pensions Director)

• Georgi Koutsoumbos
  (JP Morgan Sales Consultant)

• Richard Bayle
  ( deVere Group Area Manager)

• Brigitte Rupp
  (deVere Financial Consultant)

SCOTLAND AT “ARTISANS 13″

Click for full-size pdf

Scotland is to be the guest of honour at “Artisans 13″, an annual event organised by the Conseil Général des Bouches-du-Rhône and the Chambre des Métiers et de l’Artisanat and taking place at the Hôtel du Département in Marseille on 13, 14 & 15 April.

The presence of the Scottish artisans’ delegation has been jointly arranged by the British Consulate in Marseille and the Mediterranean Anglo American Business Network (MAABN), the regional representative of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Since 2007, the Conseil Général has been supporting the MAABN as part of its economic policy aimed at promoting foreign investment in the Bouches-du-Rhône, encouraging new companies to set up in the département and enhancing its attractiveness.

A special MAABN Language Apero will be held on Friday 13 April from 5 to 7 pm. Admission is free and all MAABN members are invited to attend.

Focussing on the theme of “tradition and modernity”, 19 top Scottish artisans will be showcasing their know-how in the fields of design and cooking. The French public will also be able to sample Scottish culture with the Caulbums Ceilidh, who mix traditional music, dancing and singing.

French visitors will discover a host of original and talented Scottish artisans who combine tradition -through their choice of fabrics or materials- and modernity with their trendy creations.

The artisans include a milliner (Joyce Paton), a photographer (Liam Dickson), a women’s fashion designer (Alan Moore – Ten30), a hand-made-and-stitched jeans designer (Rabbie Denim), jewellery (Hannah Eccles), bags (Catherine Aitken – Brazen), recycled bicycles (Lee Muir – Recycled Cycle) and contemporary glass (Kimberley Armstrong & Lindsay Watson, Sugar Glass).

A hairdresser and make-up artist will showcase and offer her services to visitors (Beverly McColgan).

All creations will be worn or exhibited by a model throughout the three days (Heather McKay).

John Quigley, a famous Scottish chef will demonstrate his cooking talents at specific times during the event. Scottish breakfasts will be served every morning and Scottish products by Campbells Prime Meats will be available to take away.

The Caulbums Ceilidh, featuring the very talented singer Sylvia Barnes, virtuoso guitarist Sandy Stanage and champion Highland dancer Olivia Black, will warm the hearts of their Marseille audience with their unique blend of singing of the highest quality, the best of Scottish dance music and world championship standard Highland dancing and piping.

The public will also be able to visit the official stand, where the official guide Fraser Gordon, in traditional attire, the British Consulate and the M.A.A.B.N. will be delighted to present the modern and magnificent country of Scotland to you.

To find out more about the Scottish participants, visit their websites:

- Alan Moore, Ten30 - : www.ten30.co.uk

- Joyce Paton : www.joycepaton.com

- Robert Watson, Rabbie Denim : www.rabbiedenim.com

- Hannah Eccles, Brazen : www.brazenstudios.co.uk

- Liam Dickson : http://liamdickson.com

- Catherine Aitken : www.catherineaitken.com

- Lee Muir, Recycle Cycle : http://harristweedride.wordpress.com/category/bicycles

- Kimberley Armstrong & Lindsay Watson, Sugar Glass : http://barrasartanddesign.com/sugarglass

- Beverly McColgan :www.beverlymccolgan.co.uk

- Heather McKay : www.modelteam.co.uk

- John Quigley, Red Onion : www.red-onion.co.uk

- June Murdoch, Campbells Prime Meats : www.campbellsmeat.com/about_campbells/index.cfm

- The Caulbums Ceilidh :

• Iain MacDonald: bagpipes; John Gahagan: fiddle / tin whistle; Fraser MacLellan: accordion; Sandy Stanage: guitar; Sylvia Barnes: vocals; Olivia Black: dance.

For the full event programme, click here

 “Scotland at Artisans 13” on Facebook 

Artisans 13 partner links:

See the President’s New Year message for more details or go directly to the membership subscription page here.

In 2010 and 2011, the MAABN joined forces with the British Consulate to organise two conferences on the development of international education in the Aix-Marseille area.

The conferences, which took place in the presence of Jean-Paul de Gaudemar, Rector of the Academie d’Aix-Marseille, Kathy Riley, the then-US Consul General, and British Consul Simon Taylor, were well-attended by representatives of all the leading schools (both public and private), universities and businesses and development agencies (Provence Promotion) with stakes in the organisation of successful bilingual education programmes.

Lively debate took place involving audiences of English-speaking expatriate families and organisations, resident English-speakers, French families and both French and foreign-owned companies working with the English-speaking world.

A lot of interest was raised by the conferences. Indeed, further to the first conference on the subject of primary and secondary international schooling, Jean-Paul de Gaudemar asked the MAABN to conduct a survey of its members to obtain a clearer picture of the concerns businesses and families have regarding international education.

The survey was conducted online throughout 2011 and attracted 129 responses, of which 98% were from families residing in the Aix-Marseille area. It revealed that:

♦ 75% of the 220 children concerned are aged between 6 and 18, with 40% of these between the ages of 11 and 15;

♦ 34.5% live in Marseille, 63.5% in the Aix area;

♦ 59% of families and 80% of businesses say they feel they lack information on the bilingual education facilities available;

♦ Although 90% of families are interested in their children receiving a bilingual education, 60% say their children aren’t currently getting one;

♦ 75% say they do not know the difference between the different types of high school qualifications available (European, IB and “international option” Baccalaureates) and 65% do not know the difference between a “European section” and an “international section” in French lycées;

♦ 51% of families consider transport difficulties to the schools in question to be a major concern;

♦ 68% are concerned about the quality of the teaching staff;

♦ 59% cite cost as a major issue (this would apply particularly to the primary/elementary sector where there is no public school currently offering a bilingual section);

♦ 50% of businesses claim to have encountered problems recruiting staff because of a lack of bilingual teaching facilities available for their families.

Both conferences highlighted the need for bilingual teaching programmes to satisfy the needs of the local business community, whether through training a bilingual workforce (with young people attending university-level classes taught in English and ready to enter the job market with written and spoken English on their CVs), or through better availability of international sections in schools, thus making the region more attractive to highly-qualified personnel and their families.

It was made clear in both conferences that great strides have been made, and continue to be made, in the provision of international programmes at university and grande école level, as well as at secondary school level, in particular at the lycées in Luynes and Manosque and the collèges in Aix and Les Pennes Mirabeau. Private schools such as the IBS and EPIM continue to provide quality bilingual education to a growing number of children at primary and secondary levels.

However, it should be pointed out that none of the public schools in the area provide bilingual classes at primary level. Furthermore, the City of Marseille still does not provide any English-speaking secondary-level bilingual education whatsoever. The MAABN feels that this is a key issue that makes Marseille less attractive to overseas investors and one that should be addressed by opening an international section in both a collège and a lycée, along the lines of those in place in Aix, Luynes and Les Pennes Mirabeau. Failing this, providing better transportation to the establishments hosting the existing sections in Les Pennes Mirabeau and Luynes would be the minimum  for bilingual education to be made accessible to those families living in Marseille.