Dorien Mertens

Minwen Cui

Looking to use my professional experience to become a remote Virtual Assistant.

Andrea Leib

UK prime minister Keir Starmer has travelled to Germany to begin negotiations for a new deal between the two countries as part of the Labour government's efforts to "reset our relationship with Europe".

As negotiations with German chancellor Olaf Scholz begin, the agreement is expected to cover areas including market access for businesses, science, innovation and technology, clean energy, trade across the North Sea, and supply chain resilience.

According to the BBC, the discussions on market access are believed to cover areas such as helping companies certificate products, and providing more information about tenders.

While in Berlin, Starmer will tell Scholz and German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier that he is focused on ensuring the UK "moves beyond Brexit to rebuild relationships with key partners and improve the lives of hardworking people in both countries". 

He will also meet German business leaders including Christian Bruch, chief executive of Siemens Energy, which employs more than 6,000 people in the UK, and Theodor Papperger, chief executive of Germany's largest defence and security company, Rheinmetall. 

Germany is Europe's largest economy and the UK's second biggest trading partner, accounting for 8.5% of all UK trade.  

Downing Street said it hopes the new bilateral treaty will be agreed by early 2025.

After Germany, Starmer will travel to Paris for the Paralympics opening ceremony. He will also meet French business leaders, including major investors into the UK economy, before discussions with president Macron at the Elysée Palace. 

, the Labour Party pledged to boost small business exports by publishing a new trade strategy that removes the barriers for firms of all sizes, and "make Brexit work by improving on the Conservatives' thin deal". 

A small business guide to exporting to Germany

A small business guide to exporting to France

Enterprise Nation's Go Global international trade advice hub

I&apos;m a <a href=&apos;https://danmartinuk.com/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>freelance content creator and event host</a> who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I&apos;m also Enterprise Nation&apos;s Local Leader for Bristol.
I have 20 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from famous names like Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden to the founders behind brand new start-ups.
I&apos;ve worked for a range of leading small business publications and support groups, most recently as head of content at Enterprise Nation where I was responsible for the prolific output of content on the company&apos;s blog and social media. I now freelance for Enterprise Nation as the website&apos;s <a href=&apos;https://www.enterprisenation.com/business-news&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>news reporter</a> and as the host of the <a href=&apos;https://www.enterprisenation.com/podcast&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Small Business sessions podcast</a>.
I&apos;m based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community in my role as Enterprise Nation&apos;s Local Leader for Bristol. I also have strong connections with other major business organisations in the south west region.
In total, I&apos;ve hosted over 100 events including conferences with an audience of hundreds for international brands like Xero and Facebook and live web chats from inside 10 Downing Street.
With my partner, I co-run <a href=&apos;https://www.lifestyledistrict.co.uk/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Lifestyle District</a>, a lifestyle blog focused on culture, art, theatre and photography.

Freelance content creator & event host

Keir Starmer starts new treaty talks with Germany in effort to 'reset' UK's relationship with Europe

The negotiations in Berlin are part of the Labour government's efforts to "reset our relationship with Europe".

I am a seasoned digital marketing expert with over 17 years of experience helping small businesses achieve remarkable growth through SEO, Google Ads, and Content Marketing strategies. I have demonstrated my ability to deliver profitable client results with a proven track record of ranking websites in highly competitive markets in Ireland, the UK, and the US.
As the founder of BeFound SEO, an SEO Agency, we offer a wide range of services, including SEO strategy development, SEO audits, local SEO, link building, and content audits. My passion also includes building and promoting my websites. The results from this have been the driving force behind the success of my agency.
My expertise in SEO, web content, and Google Ads is not only evident in my client work but also in my informative blog posts and case studies. By sharing my knowledge and insights, I aim to empower small business owners to make informed decisions about their digital marketing strategies.
If you&apos;re looking to take your small business to the next level, Leslie Gilmour and her team at BeFound SEO are ready to help. Contact her today to discuss how a tailored SEO strategy can help your business grow and thrive in today&apos;s competitive online landscape.

Managing Director

Strategies for Irish entrepreneurs to thrive globally

Harness the robust Irish economy to build and expand successful enterprises on a global scale.

We've all heard those iconic phrases: 'Taking back control', 'Voted Leave', 'It's time for real change', 'Oven-ready Brexit deal' and the classic 'Get Brexit done'. 

We lived through an era so divisive it made the Hatfields and McCoys look like a garden party. Families disagreed, friends bickered and social media turned into a battleground. But through it all, here in the UK, we managed to disagree without falling out completely. We're a resilient bunch, aren't we? Let's agree to disagree, as they say!

The UK, our beloved rebel nation, has always prided itself on marching to the beat of its own drum. We're the ones who left the empire (well, Union) after all. We’ve been trained to think Federation is bad and freedom is good! Rule of law is boo and free trade is great! Our individual thinking away from Europe makes us special.

Now, let's talk about 'Taking back control'. The new EU AI Act came into force on 1 August. And what does taking back control mean in this context? 

Well, it means we can happily ignore it for services within the UK. But for those of us who have business dealings with our European friends (remember, we're not part of the club anymore), we need to pay attention. The Empire — oh, sorry, the Union —wants to create the right conditions for AI development to benefit Europeans. And let’s not forget, we’ve quit, so don’t ask about UK interests.

 has taken on the Herculean task of digesting the over 90,000 words of the EU AI Act and created a concise summary for everyone. It’s been read 1.5 million times — clearly, it’s a hit!

And for your convenience, here are the parts broken down:

To give you more context, let’s go over each of the parts in a bit more detail:

Understanding the definitions and scope is crucial. This part covers what exactly falls under the AI Act's purview. From machine learning algorithms to expert systems, it's essential to know if your AI application is affected. Make sure you get the nuances right to avoid any unwelcome surprises.

This is where the fun begins. These are the big no-nos. Using AI to influence behaviours subliminally or exploiting vulnerabilities are just a couple of the prohibited actions. It's worth a detailed read to ensure your innovations are on the right side of the law.

Let’s delve a bit into the prohibited AI systems. 

You might be wondering, what are some examples of prohibited AI systems? Well, here are a few:

High-risk systems are those that can significantly impact safety or fundamental rights. If your AI is used in critical sectors like healthcare, transport, or law enforcement, pay extra attention here. The compliance requirements are stringent but necessary.

Providers of AI systems must adhere to a set of requirements to ensure their products are safe and compliant. This includes proper documentation, risk management and quality assurance processes. It’s like doing your homework before presenting it to the teacher.

Deployers, those who actually use the AI systems, have their own set of rules to follow. This part ensures that the deployment of AI systems is done responsibly, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability.

General-purpose AI models, those not designed for a specific task, have unique considerations. This part addresses the challenges in ensuring such versatile systems comply with the regulations.

Part 7: Compliance and conformity assessment

This is where the rubber meets the road. Compliance and conformity assessments are crucial to ensure your AI systems meet all the necessary standards. Think of it as your final exam before graduation.

Finally, governance and enforcement cover how these rules will be implemented and monitored. This includes the roles of various regulatory bodies and the penalties for non-compliance.

So, there you have it. A whirlwind tour of the EU AI Act. It's a lot to digest, but it's crucial for staying ahead in the AI game. Remember, compliance is not just about avoiding fines — it's about building trust and ensuring your innovations are both safe and ethical.

Finally, if you haven’t read it yet, or don’t plan to, or are not aware of the EU AI Act, you really should. Compliance is key and as they say, may the rule compliance and enforcement be with you.

Worked in a &apos;B&apos;ig &apos;T&apos;elecom company for a number of years as a Business Consultant, Head of service, Service director, Business Manager and then Principal Technology partner. I love learning and change, have rich AI, digital transformation experience. I am now running my own AI consultancy. We can advise how to build you AI chatbots, integrate with CRM, or help you with SEO, digital marketing.
Loved my time in Big Telecom, joined the Global Devision. Transformation is ineviable. Working with SMEs, what is clear to me, they think big idea, and big tech are not something they can afford, adapt or use, but I think this is unture. The barrier to entry to the complex AI world is very low. More service are now provided over the cloud, this mean you do not need to run data centre, you can develop a website, link with an AI chatbot with CRM capability and bill customer, all that for not even half the price of an iPhone!
I love football, badminton, and squash. Start from playing and now watching, 2 Cats and a Dog, life is beautiful!

The new EU AI Act: Empire strikes back!

What are the compliance and enforcement items to look out for?

Accountants and business advisers

<div class="ck-content" data-wrapper="true" dir="ltr" style="--ck-image-style-spacing: 1.5em; --ck-inline-image-style-spacing: calc(var(--ck-image-style-spacing) / 2); --ck-color-selector-caption-background: hsl(0, 0%, 97%); --ck-color-selector-caption-text: hsl(0, 0%, 20%); font-family: Segoe UI; font-size: 11pt;">
Offer a wide range of accounting services that allow you to focus on other aspects of your business.
</div>

The 1-2-1 Programme

<div class="ck-content" data-wrapper="true" dir="ltr" style="--ck-image-style-spacing: 1.5em; --ck-inline-image-style-spacing: calc(var(--ck-image-style-spacing) / 2); --ck-color-selector-caption-background: hsl(0, 0%, 97%); --ck-color-selector-caption-text: hsl(0, 0%, 20%); font-family: Segoe UI; font-size: 11pt;">
Whether you’re a business owner looking for an exit or a start-up looking to get a foothold, we're here to help.
</div>

I am an experienced business adviser providing advice on international trade, business development &amp; marketing. I have worked for blue chip companies, owned &amp; managed my own companies, and advised hundred&apos;s of small to medium sized businesses in the UK and overseas.
I provide strategic advice and can help with &apos;hands-on&apos; implementation. I have a core list of private and public sector clients I have worked with for years. Our sector strengths include food &amp; drink, textiles, beauty products, manufacturing, e-commerce, creative industries and sports.
For more information and case studies, check out my website at https://smas.ltd or contact me via the Enterprise Nation platform.

Director

International Trade Advice by Stewart Miller 

Having problems with exporting to the EU because of Brexit? Has all the online information available made you even more confused?

Stewart Miller has advised over 50 UK small to medium sized enterprises on Brexit-related matters. The basic service includes a telephone review followed up with a brief report with actions required.

Brexit Advice Service

Support for small businesses

Advice and insights covering how small businesses and the self-employed can deal with the impact of Brexit.

Access the latest advice

Connect with an adviser

Ask a question

Latest advice

Connect with Brexit advisers

Services for your business