To find out more about Coface in the UK & Ireland tel: 01923 478111 
Annual trade credit insurance industry dinner raises £15,000 for education charity
The annual Trade Credit, Bond and Political Risk Insurance Dinner - hosted by leading credit insurer Coface - has raised over £15,000 for education charity SkillForce.
The event - held at the Bloomsbury Big Top in Coram’s Fields, central London, on Thursday 24 November - celebrated the contribution of the trade credit insurance industry to British and international trade; an industry that secures over £200bn of UK domestic and international trade against non-payment of trade debts.
A total of 400 guests - primarily credit insurers and trade credit brokers - enjoyed dinner and dancing, as well as being treated to sporting anecdotes from Garry Richardson, BBC Radio sports presenter, and Phil Tufnell, former international cricketer and TV personality.
The guests were then invited to bid in a charity auction for items that included tickets to premier sporting events and a polo day in the presence of one of the Royal Princes. In total, over £15,000 was raised for the activities that SkillForce undertakes.
SkillForce works with 10,000 young people throughout 150 schools in England and Scotland, who are in danger of leaving school without the skills and qualifications they need to succeed in life. Many SkillForce staff are ex-service men and women who use their extensive life experience and leadership skills to help pupils stay engaged with education and improve their future employability.
Peter Cross, chief executive, SkillForce, said: “SkillForce is helping to improve the prospects of thousands of young people through showing them the value of education and helping them to realise their potential as valued members of their communities. We are delighted with the money raised from the annual dinner and we are very grateful to the generous support we have received.”
Xavier Denecker, managing director of Coface UK and Ireland, said: “Coface is very pleased to have hosted this event which acknowledges the role of credit insurers, brokers and their business partners in protecting UK domestic and international trade from defaulting customers. The professionalism of this occasion reflects the confidence and trust which are so important in the current tough economic environment. To have raised money for SkillForce, a charity which addresses a particular education need, gives us all an extra source of satisfaction.”
Ends
For information about Coface and press enquiries, please contact:
Stephanie Ardaens
Tel: +44 (0)1923 478142
Email: stephanie_ardaens@coface.com
Website: www.cofaceuk.com
About Coface
The Coface Group, a worldwide leader in credit insurance, offers companies around the globe solutions for trade receivables management. In 2010 the Group posted a consolidated turnover of € 1.6 billion euros. 6,400 staff in 66 countries provide a local service worldwide. Each quarter, Coface publishes its assessments of country risk for 156 countries, based on its unique knowledge of companies’ payment behaviour and on the expertise of its 250 underwriters.
In France, Coface manages export public guarantees on behalf of the French state.
Coface is a subsidiary of Natixis whose share capital (Tier 1) was 16.8 billion Euros at the end of December 2010.
In the UK and Republic of Ireland Coface has been a leading provider of credit management service since 1993 - it’s objective being to enable businesses to trade securely at home and overseas. Operating from offices in London, Dublin, Watford, Birmingham, Leeds and Cardiff allows Coface to provide a local service.
The company’s credit insurance offer integrates credit assessment, collection services and cover for unpaid debts. Multinational businesses can protect their worldwide subsidiaries through Coface’s international network.
The company also provides access to domestic and international business information and a collection network at home and overseas. Coface is also a recognised operator in the London political risk market.
www.cofaceuk.com and www.coface.ie
About SkillForce
SkillForce is an educational charity that works in partnership with more than 150 schools in England and Scotland to help young people realise their individual potential and academic ability. It makes a profound difference to their lives – tackling exclusions, increasing academic performance and boosting confidence amongst the pupils it works with.
SkillForce has been working in partnership with schools to improve the performance of young people since 2000. Many staff are ex-service men and women who use their extensive life experience and leadership skills to help pupils stay engaged with education and improve their future employability.
www.skillforce.org
