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2012 is beginning to shape up as The Year of The Brits! We have had a year of history in the making -- from music success, fashion revolutions, and strong tourism benefits. Prime Minister David Cameron created the This is GREAT Britain campaign with the hope of enhancing the current economy. The GREAT, as it is fondly referred to, is a campaign which uses the 2012 Olympics as a platform to promote the U.K. abroad, shape international perceptions, and help deliver long-term trade for Britain.

 

The GREAT Campaign invites the world to look at what Britain has to offer and how Britain is still a leading country, producing goods for trade, and not just importing. It capitalizes on Britain’s areas of excellence, focusing on key reasons why people should invest in and visit the U.K. The campaign has enrolled some of the world’s most recognizable faces as Ambassadors to help gain support and promote This is GREAT Britain on a global level.

 

We all know that the 2012 Olympics is what is really bringing sport to Britain this year, but sporting greatness in Britain goes much further back than 2012. The U.K. was the birthplace of some of the world’s most popular sports, including football, rugby, cricket, golf, and tennis. Dame Kelly Holmes fronts Sport is GREAT Britain; In her promotional video, she talks about her past experiences as an Olympic champion and how sport empowers people of all ages and abilities, bringing people from all different backgrounds and lifestyles together to enjoy something they all have in common. Other sporting inspirations supporting the campaign include soccer player David Weir, current MP and former Olympian Sebastian Coe, and decathlete Daley Thompson.

 

Food is GREAT Britain celebrates the best of the best in British grub. An industry that attracts people to Britain every year, it is no wonder that six of the most celebrated chefs in Britain are all taking a moment to support the campaign that is in association with the Sustainable Restaurant Association, which helps thousands restaurants around the U.K. become more sustainable and aids customers to make better choices when dining out. When people think of Britain, the first thought that springs to mind even before "Big Ben" is usually "Fish and Chips". Britain is home to delicious traditional pub food but also offers extraordinary dishes from around the world. From French to Thai dishes, Britain has everything you could want!

 

London has always been hailed as one of the shopping capitals of the world, so it was fitting that the very first Ambassador of the whole campaign was legendary fashion designer Sir Paul Smith. Sir Paul doesn’t just talk fashion but paints a positive image of Britain as a whole. He explains that people have a misconception that nothing is manufactured in Britain anymore, but, as matter of fact, nearly every facet of a Formula One racing car is produced in Britain. And if it wasn’t enough to have Sir Paul on board, the stunning and world-renowned Victoria Beckham is also on board as an Ambassador. An iconic fashion designer and music star, Mrs Beckham shares her thoughts on empowering women, how she only employs British workers, and how her memories of Camden Market have inspired her fashions today.

 

"In Britain, we don’t feel like we have to conform", said Victoria, as she describes the people who revolutionized fashion, and how they are all British.

 

Like fashion in Britain, the music pool is also full of talent. Britain, as songstress Jessie J stated recently, "is smaller than Texas", which is a reason why artists from around the world respect British music so much. Will.i.am explains how it’s “dope to be big in America, but in the U.K. it actually means something”. From Glyndebourne to Glastonbury, the U.K. hosts the world’s greatest music festivals, and it was also home to The Beatles, the #1 selling artists of all time.

 

Need more convincing? Find out why Britain is so GREAT in a very short 3 minutes!

 

 

 

 

- Anysha Panesar, YH Staff