Beginnings: The BABC
The British-American Business Council Inc. was founded in 1995, with British Government Support from the British Consulate in New York City. The BABC was formed primarily as a business development not-for-profit 501(c)6 with a board of directors from the corporate sector in the Pittsburgh region.
From 1995 to 2005, the British Consulate in New York City was represented on the Board of Directors. From 1995 to 2000, a full-time Executive Director managed the organization. In 2000, the Executive Director position became part-time with a part-time assistant.
2003 Annual British-American Transatlantic Business Conference
The high point of the organization was in 2003, when the BABC Pittsburgh coordinated and hosted the Annual British-American Transatlantic Business Conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Station Square. 33 chapters of the BABC network (UK 7 and USA 26), UK and USA-based corporate leaders, government officials, and business leaders attended the four-day conference.
The 330 attendees included the British Trade Ambassador, HRH Prince Andrew, who delivered a keynote opening speech, followed by an address by Sir Thomas Harris, Britain’s Consul General, based in New York City.
2004 to 2012: Quieter Years
From 2004 to 2009, the maturation of transatlantic business resulted in a slowdown of business development activities. From 1995 to 2009, the BABC had major support and participation from regional companies and businesses with British business interests – Westinghouse, GSK, Mellon Bank, Marconi, Buchanan Ingersoll, K& L Gates, Reed Smith, and others. From 1995 to 2009, the BABC Pittsburgh chapter focused on business development with few cultural events. From 2009 to 2012, the organization was intact but relatively inactive. By 2012, the BABC was managed by one part-time contracted staff member.
Rebranding as British-American Connections Pittsburgh Inc.
In 2012, a group of former board members met to discuss the future of the organization and decided to redefine and rename the organization as the British-American Connections Pittsburgh Inc. With a new board of directors, the BACP’s renewed purpose was to develop and coordinate cultural and educational events focusing on the history, traditions, and culture of Britain. Programs would be designed to appeal to regional anglophiles and those with existing UK links, such as business, study, service, career, genealogical, etc.
2015: Britsburgh is Born
Britsburgh, a brand of BACP Inc., was adopted for the First Annual Britsburgh Festival in September 2015. Events were held to celebrate and commemorate the history, traditions, and culture of Britain, usually with an educational and social component.
From 2015 to 2020, the organization grew significantly, adopting an event focus with no paid staff or contractors. The BACP is a volunteer organization producing events and partner events year-round, with a concentration of programs and events during the Annual Festival week in September.
In 2016, membership, a website, social media, and a newsletter were developed and utilized for Britsburgh-produced and partner-produced events.
2020: A Shift to Virtual
March 15, 2020 – the last in-person event, a tea at the Omni William Penn, was held one day before the PA COVID-19 lockdown. Due to COVID-19 concerns, only 65 of 135 registrants attended. In the Spring of 2020, Britsburgh switched to all virtual Zoom programs, a shift from 25 years of all in-person events.
Nearly 30 virtual events, including 11 Annual Festival events, were held with attendance ranging from 7 to 70 people per event. Volunteer board members provided event planning, marketing, and presentations to 90 to 130 members and thousands of digital followers. Some social media advertising, mostly for the Annual Festival, was purchased as deemed necessary.
2022: Back in Business
As recently as 2022, most programs were still virtual, with a few in-person (mostly masked) events for members and followers. The first in-person event since March 2020 was in August 2022. After two years and five months, Britsburgh was back in business, membership picked up, and attendance at events continued to grow.
Although COVID-19 was challenging, Britsburgh continued to provide events for members and supporters. The Annual Britsburgh Festival continued throughout the pandemic, as did the Burns Supper Annual Fundraiser. Who ever heard of a virtual supper? Britsburgh pulled it off!
Growing with the Programs
Plans to expand and improve programs, to continue to offer more varied opportunities to engage with more regional anglophiles and those interested in the regions’ connections with Great Britain, and to develop a new digital presence are ongoing.
The 2024 – 2025 program year commenced on October 1st, 2024, with a strengthened and enthusiastic executive team, which is looking forward to serving up new (and some delicious) programs.
Events range from the history of Gin to 100 years of the BBC, a UK travel social, quizzes, teas with a topic, annual Burns Suppers, and the enormously popular Annual Festival, now in its 11th year. We hope to see you there!
