Ambassador Emma Aparici emphasized the role of Spanish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), "the soul of our country's economy," highlighting their key function in the progress of Spanish-British trade relations.
Following the Ambassador's speech, Juan Carlos Machuca, President of the London Chamber of Commerce, John Carroll, CEO of Navigator Global, a Santander Group platform, Gonzalo García de Andrés, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of Spain in London, and Tim Courtney, Director of Services and Trade for the EU at the UK Government's Department for Business and Trade, addressed the audience. Their speeches highlighted the important role of Spanish SMEs in the vast and diverse network of economic and trade relations between Spain and the United Kingdom.
This year's Santander SME winners were La Maritxu, a family business established and founded in London by three Basque sisters, specializing in cheesecakes; and Chemfix, a Yorkshire-based company that manufactures adhesive products for building construction and maintenance.
The Santander SME Awards were created to recognize small and medium-sized enterprises whose work contributes to strengthening ties between Spain and the United Kingdom.