Ambassador underlines key to Chinese companies' success in UK

Good performance and deep involvement in the local community are important for Chinese companies to develop in the United Kingdom, said Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang during his visit to the UK arm of Beijing Construction Engineering Group International, or BCEGI, in Manchester on Thursday.

BCEGI, an international property developer and construction company established by Beijing-based BCEG in 1990, set up its UK company in October 2013 with Manchester as its headquarters.

Since 2013, BCEGI UK has been an equity and construction partner at the Airport City project at Manchester Airport, and has completed construction of a pedestrian and cycle bridge as well as the Ibis Budget and Holiday Inn hotels at the airport, according to Yu Dongwen, lead director of BCEGI UK.

It's also a construction partner at Middlewood Locks scheme in Salford, Greater Manchester with projects covering commercial and mixed-use developments including apartments.

According to Yu, besides high quality of BCEGI's projects, another reason that makes the company welcomed by the UK market is its active involvement in the local community. It has been serving local people with its expertise by holding workshops at various events.

For example, the company attended the World of Work event at The Albion Academy in Salford on Jan 26. During the event, the company's design managers and apprentice engineers spoke to students about design and technology areas within the construction industry, and gave a lecture about apprenticeships at the company.

During UK's National Apprenticeship Week in February, the company held workshop at Wigan & Leigh College and University Centre, as part of the institution's Meet the Employee events, which were aimed at students and school leavers. During the events, staff from the company talked to students and their families about BCEGI, its apprenticeships and work experience pathways.

BCEGI UK has also been a competitive team attending Manchester Airport's annual Dragons' Den competition.

In December 2019, about 30 schools from the UK's North West region participated in the competition, where teams were asked to act as a company and make Christmas gifts at a cost of no more than 5 pounds ($6.55) with the help of a mentor. All the profits made during a limited time were donated to local charities. The Stretford Grammar School, with a mentor from BCEGI UK, made more than 2,400 pounds and donated it to St. Ann's Hospice.

"BCEGI UK has relied on its own capacity, adapted to local situations, recruited and nurtured international talents to secure a solid footing in the UK market and win widespread recognition from its partners and local communities," commented the ambassador, after learning about the company's development.

"What the company has achieved has not just brought itself more opportunities for further development, but also shaped a good image for Chinese companies in the UK," said Zheng, who also visited Middlewood Locks project sites.

"I hope BCEGI UK would work harder to hone its competitiveness, continue to fulfil its corporate social responsibility to become better, and make new contributions to economic and trade cooperation between China and the UK as well as the wellbeing of people in the two countries."