The Foreign Office and British Chambers of Commerce launched the Diplomatic Advisory Hub at Sound Leisure’s factory in Leeds on 5 March.

The hub will serve the more than five million SMEs operating in the UK, all of whom will have access to the new service, including advice on understanding new regulation, responding to geopolitical shocks, and anticipating trends in global trade. 

The service embeds diplomats into British Chambers of Commerce to provide businesses with guidance on understanding regulation, responding to geopolitical shocks and anticipating global trade trends.

Former ambassador Richard Oppenheim leads the hub, bringing diplomatic experience across the Middle East, Japan, UN and Commonwealth roles.

Foreign Office Minister, Seema Malhotra, said: 

”We are stepping up our support to businesses through our newly launched Diplomatic Advisory Hub, which will bring together the British Chambers of Commerce’s extensive business network with expert advice from British diplomats. The Hub has hit the ground running, briefing more than 600 businesses this week on the evolving situation in the Middle East and what it means for them.”

Richard Oppenheim, Director of the Diplomatic Advisory Hub:

“I’m delighted to be leading this powerful new support network for businesses.

“As a former UK Ambassador, I know how crucial strategic advice is to British SMEs wanting to trade around the world.

“The Hub is both a front door and a feedback loop. It’s a front door for businesses to tap into geopolitical advice, and a feedback loop so that what businesses are seeing in supply chains and boardrooms flows back to our diplomats and policy makers.”

Learn more on the British Chambers of Commerce webpage: https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/diplomatic-advisory-hub/

Why this matters for Leeds

Leeds businesses gain direct access to Foreign Office diplomatic intelligence on regulatory changes, supply chain risks and market opportunities—expertise previously reserved for larger corporations. Sound Leisure hosting the national launch demonstrates Leeds’ profile as an exporting hub, while the chamber partnership ensures Yorkshire SMEs navigate the geopolitical uncertainty with professional diplomatic guidance.