UK Israel Business

UK Israel Business is a not-for-profit, London-based bilateral chamber of commerce founded in 1950.[1] Its stated mission is to foster growth, investment, innovation, and collaboration between the United Kingdom and Israel by connecting companies, investors, and policymakers through strategic platforms and tailored forums.[2]

The organization provides member companies with commercial connections and facilitates investment in both countries.[3] Its activities also include organizing investment delegations and technology conferences.[1][6] A 2020 profile described UKIB as overseeing a network of more than 2,000 companies and 10,000 businesspeople, reflecting the scale it had reached across seven decades of operation.[3]

The Jewish Virtual Library's UK-Israel Trade overview credits UK-Israel Business as its source and presents material under headings including Israeli memberships, practicalities, Israeli activity in the UK, and British activity in Israel.[7]

Hugo Bieber served as UKIB's chief executive from June 2013 and remained in the role through at least 2020.[3] During his tenure, UKIB's initiatives included investor delegations and the Innovate Israel conference.[4][6] Describing Israel's innovation ecosystem during the 2017 delegation, Bieber characterized the country as "a hive of world-leading start-ups" and suggested that "a potential 1,400 opportunities will be created from this trip alone."[4]

In February 2025, Jewish News reported that Shira Goldblum was appointed UKIB's executive director, replacing Dor Bershadsky.[2] Goldblum's responsibilities were described as leading UKIB's next phase of growth and strengthening UK-Israel business ties, drawing on prior experience with Fortune 500 companies, investors, governments, and organizations including Start-Up Nation Central.[2] Danny Kessler was identified as UKIB's chairman at the time of the appointment.[2]

One of UKIB's core activities is organizing structured investment delegations from the United Kingdom to Israel. In November 2017, UKIB backed what was described as its largest delegation to that point. A BICOM report counted 35 UK business leaders from 30 companies, while CTech described 36 attendees representing multibillion-dollar family offices, private-equity funds, venture-capital funds, corporations, and private investors.[1][5] The CTech account said that the visit lasted two and a half days and was led by Bradley Fried, deputy chairman of the Court of the Governors of the Bank of England.[1]

Twelve of the participants had previously joined UKIB delegations during the preceding 18 months, indicating a pattern of repeat engagement.[1] The group was scheduled to meet 41 Israel-based companies and venture-capital firms, including OrCam, Jerusalem Venture Partners, OurCrowd, Check Point Software Technologies, Wix.com, Vintage Investment Partners, Microsoft Ventures, Intel's Ingenuity partner program, and Grove Ventures.[1] Target sectors included artificial intelligence, agricultural and soil-related internet technologies, automotive technology, big data, marketing technology, drones, digital health, fintech, robotics, and cybersecurity.[1]

In a separate 2017 statement about bilateral economic activity, Bieber reported that 57 Israeli companies had created 1,700 jobs in the UK over the preceding two years and invested £266 million in the British economy.[8] UKIB's assistance to member company OurCrowd culminated in OurCrowd opening a London office in March 2018—its tenth worldwide location—in the Mayfair district, headed by Lina White, formerly of Goldman Sachs.[9]

In 2017, UKIB organized the first Innovate Israel conference in London, in partnership with the Israeli Embassy's Trade and Economic Affairs division and the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute.[6] The event brought together approximately 30 Israeli start-ups, more than 40 high-profile speakers, and nearly 500 delegates from the UK investment and technology communities.[6] UKIB and its partners facilitated approximately 200 one-on-one meetings between start-ups and potential investors, partners, and customers.[6]

The conference produced a memorandum of understanding between the British Venture Capital Association and Israel Advanced Technology Industries, formalizing relations between the two industry bodies.[6] Speakers included technology entrepreneur Yossi Vardi, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, Brent Hoberman, Errol Damelin, Jimmy Maymann, Mark Read, Dov Moran, and Yahal Zilka.[6] Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Shalom Simhon attended the event.[6]

In February 2015, UKIB initiated and organized an Israel Investor Summit held at the London Stock Exchange, in cooperation with the law firm Epstein Rosenblum Maoz.[10] The event aimed to encourage Israeli technology and biomedical companies to view London as an alternative to Wall Street for raising capital and to challenge perceptions that Israeli companies were unwelcome in London's capital markets.[10] Sponsors included Deloitte, Pinsent Masons, Shore Capital, and StockWell Communications; the London Stock Exchange and Bloomberg served as event partners.[10]

The summit featured chief executives of five Israeli companies already listed in London: Matomy Media Group, Marimedia, Crossrider, Plus500, and XLMedia.[11] Panels covered digital advertising and the next generation of Israeli initial public offerings. At the time, 17 Israeli companies had raised approximately $2.1 billion in offerings outside Israel during 2014—a ten-year high—with six of those listings in London.[11]

Bieber noted at the summit that the number of Israeli companies listing in London during the preceding year was nearly equal to the number listing on Nasdaq, with six added to London's market compared with 11 floated in New York.[11] Discussions highlighted London's advantages for Israeli issuers, including market size, liquidity, international exposure, and geographic proximity for roadshow preparation, while acknowledging that New York could offer higher price-to-earnings multiples.[10]

Brexit generated both uncertainty and opportunity for the UK-Israel economic relationship, and UKIB was actively involved in the policy debate. A December 2017 BICOM report on Britain-Israel trade after Brexit documented a UKIB delegation of 35 UK business leaders from 30 companies that travelled to Israel in November 2017 to assess investment opportunities and discuss strategies in light of the United Kingdom's planned departure from the European Union.[5]

The same report noted that Israeli business activity in the UK had increased in the year following the 2016 referendum. During those twelve months, 32 Israeli companies invested £152 million and created 888 jobs in the UK—increases of 28% in the number of investing companies, 33.5% in investment, and 12.8% in jobs compared with the year prior.[5] Technology, cybersecurity, and research and development were identified as areas of UK-Israel cooperation comparatively less dependent on EU agreements.[5] The report also cited the UK-Israel Tech Hub, established in 2012 as a government-sponsored initiative, as having created more than 80 business partnerships by 2017.[5]

Despite the positive short-term investment figures, UKIB published four policy requests directed at UK and European officials during the Brexit process: a regulatory framework ensuring a smooth transition and continued access to the EU market; a visa system welcoming skilled Israeli experts to the UK; a comprehensive bilateral UK-Israel trade agreement; and a rapid customs process, particularly for fresh food and time-sensitive goods.[4]

UKIB also publicized findings from an Ipsos MORI survey conducted for UK-based overseas chambers of commerce. Among 17 Israeli firms with UK operations, 65% said they were not very confident that a favorable Brexit deal would be reached by March 2019, and 53% expressed a fairly negative outlook on their UK investment plans.[5][12] The companies identified access to the EU market, regulatory alignment, availability of skilled workers, and future UK trade deals as important negotiation issues.[12]

The BICOM report cautioned that the potential growth of bilateral trade and investment could be harmed without arrangements continuing trade terms then covered by the 2000 EU-Israel Association Agreement. It also warned that prolonged uncertainty over regulation and access to the European market could lead some companies to reconsider operating from the United Kingdom.[5]