This week marks a significant moment as the largest British trade delegation ever to visit the United States arrives in Los Angeles. The group, which includes leaders from 230 companies, is here for “Greater Together LA,” a summit focused on enhancing trade and investment ties with America.
Following closely on the historic state visit of Their Majesties The King and Queen to the East Coast, which celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Greater Together LA event highlights the role of innovation, capital, and enterprise in driving future prosperity for both nations.
California serves as the perfect backdrop for this gathering. Known for its forward-thinking spirit, the Golden State is intertwined with Britain’s story of innovation. For the past two years, the United Kingdom has been California’s leading foreign investor, with British enterprises generating more than 130,000 jobs in the state by 2025.
To American investors, our message is straightforward: Britain is ready for business. In a world filled with uncertainties, the UK stands as a reliable haven for capital and innovative ideas.
Ranked as the world’s sixth-largest economy, the UK is home to $13.5 trillion in capital and hosts the second-largest financial hub after New York. Global business leaders consistently rank the UK as the most appealing investment destination in Europe, and four of the top ten universities globally are located within its borders.
In the first three months of 2026, the UK economy grew faster than that of any other G7 country. Planning reform; regulatory simplification; sustained investment in infrastructure and skills; and a renewed focus on attracting the world’s top talent are turning innovation into productivity, and productivity into growth.
The UK and US have one of the most integrated economic relationships in the world: $430 billion in annual trade, growing at 4% last year; $1.7 trillion invested in each other’s economies; and millions of jobs supported on both sides of the Atlantic. Britain is the largest foreign investor in 21 US states. The United States, in turn, is the single biggest investor in the UK.
Our tech ecosystem is now valued at $1.3 trillion. From AI and quantum computing to life sciences and clean energy, British and American talent is combining to push the frontier of what is possible. A new UK–California agreement signed this year strengthens cooperation on clean energy technology.
But Greater Together LA is not just about investment. It is also about culture and people, the unexpected connections that spark innovation.
Simon Cowell, Cindy Rose, Mira Murati, Sir Jony Ive, Sir Paul Smith, Sir Lucian Grainge, and astronaut Major Tim Peake will all be in the room alongside the CEOs of British Airways, American Airlines and News Corp.
Greater Together LA will feature a celebration of the UK’s Film and TV industry; the British Council’s showcase of world-class British universities; and exclusive experiences with the Premier League and British Music Embassy (BME).
Connectivity between the UK and the US is unmatched. We have the highest transatlantic airline capacity, nearly double that of the next closest country pair, and over 250 flights operating daily between Britain and America.
Back in 1776, the year of the US Declaration of Independence, a British economist named Adam Smith published another revolutionary work, “The Wealth of Nations.” His insight was simple and enduring: When ideas, goods, and people move freely, we all get richer.
And that’s why the British are heading West this week, following the King and Queen’s East Coast visit: to strengthen our two countries’ enduring bonds of prosperity, creativity and friendship for decades to come.
When the UK and US combine our talent, our capital and ambition, we don’t just watch the future unfold. We write the script.
Starting in California.
Sir Christian Turner is the British ambassador to the United States, following a distinguished career in a variety of diplomatic roles.