A 16-member economic-development delegation that included Mayor Donna Deegan met with more than 75 businesses during their week in London tied to the Oct. 1 Jacksonville Jaguars game against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium.
A big focus was creating a direct flight from Jacksonville International Airport to London.
The city responded Oct. 23 to an Oct. 1 public records request about the visit.
The city said it did not receive the final itinerary from JAX Chamber until late last week.
The itinerary shows that the 16 delegates included representatives from the transportation, port, tourism, health care and financial services industries as well as the chamber and three people from the mayor’s office.
They met “to share Jacksonville’s unique business advantages and identify business expansion opportunities,” according to an Oct. 4 JAXUSA London Sales Mission 2023 memo for Sept. 23-Oct 2.
Mission details include:
Sept. 25
Presentations from George Dibb, Institute for Public Policy Research; Marco Forgione, director general of the Institute for Export and International Trade; and a U.S. Embassy representative.
• Private meeting with Lord Dominic Johnson, Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade, with Deegan; Melissa Ross, city director of strategic initiatives and press liaison; and JAXUSA President Aundra Wallace, to discuss a Florida Trade Memorandum of Understanding, the need for direct JAX to London air service, and fintech opportunities.
• Lunch with the Association of British Healthtech Industries with Deegan, Ross and three delegates to discuss industry and Jacksonville as a potential expansion location.
• Roundtable and lunch at Rise London with Barclays. Rise, created by Barclays, calls itself a global community of the world’s top innovators working together to create the future of financial services.
Rise operates fintech hubs around the world. Seven delegates attended and met with fintech CEOs, founders, and the CTO of Rise London to discuss business, present an overview of fintech in Jacksonville and present Jacksonville as an expansion option.
• Deegan had a private meeting with U.S. Ambassador Jane Hartley followed by a tour of the U.S. Embassy. Hartley was sworn in as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on May 27, 2022.
• JAXUSA and Visit Jacksonville hosted a private reception for 100 business, policy leaders and company founders at the U.S. Embassy. Deegan presented remarks.
Sept. 26
• Life sciences delegates traveled to Birmingham for three private meetings with health technology companies.
• The fintech delegation had a roundtable and luncheon at the British American Business Association, meeting with 15 CEO/founders, policymakers and advisers.
Deegan presented opening remarks. They discussed business, presented an overview of fintech in Jacksonville and presented Jacksonville as an expansion option.
• The fintech delegation had a private meeting with a London-based technology company to discuss Jacksonville as an expansion location.
• Deegan, Ross, Wallace and three delegates privately met with a multinational financial services company to discuss Jacksonville as an expansion option.
Sept. 27
• The life sciences delegates in Birmingham had four private meetings with health technology companies.
• The fintech delegation had six private meetings with London-based technology companies to discuss Jacksonville as an expansion location.
• Deegan, Ross and Wallace met for a Sky News interview at the The City Studio at CNBC.
• Deegan, Ross and JAXUSA Vice President of Business Development Greg Anderson had lunch with Institute for Free Trade Director Robert Armstrong to talk about JaxPort opportunities, fintech, and direct JAX-London air service.
• The Jacksonville delegates attended a JAXUSA reception hosted by Alastair Lukies, founder and CEO of Pollinate and a leader for the UK’s global fintech, and Sir Conor Burns, Minister for Trade Policy at the Department for International Trade.
It was attended by more than 30 health tech, fintech and advisers. Deegan gave opening remarks. Pollinate helps launch services in the payments and financial services sector.
Sept. 28
• The fintech delegates met with four senior management leaders from a worldwide financial services firm at the corporate headquarters.
• The life sciences delegation participated in a roundtable with West Midlands Health Technology.
• Deegan, Ross, Wallace and two delegates attended a Parliament meeting and tour hosted by Burns at the Department for International Trade. They discussed a Florida memorandum of understanding, the need for a direct flight to Jacksonville and business expansion.
• Deegan, Wallace and Visit Jacksonville CEO Michael Corrigan had lunch with Sir David Higgins, board chair of Gatwick Airport, to discuss the need for a direct flight from Jacksonville to London.
Sept. 29
• The delegation attended the Jacksonville Jaguars lunch and partnership networking. Deegan participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Jaguars.
Other panelists were Jaguars President Mark Lamping; Tony Boselli, former Jaguars All-Pro left tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer; and Maria Gigante, Jaguars vice president of UK Operations.
Oct. 1
• The Jaguars beat the Falcons 23-7 at Wembley Stadium.
• Deegan met with London Mayor Sadiq Khan before the game.