Organised by Matthew Offord MP and Filip Slipaczek, the event took the form of a panel discussion with questions from the audience, followed by a mixer at Portcullis House, across the road from the Palace of Westminster.

The Polish ambassador Witold Sobków spoke briefly about how the opening of the UK labour market to Poles in 2004 benefited the country’s economy. The panel, moderated by Mr Slipaczek, included Clive Davenport, chairman of the Federation of Small Business’s Trade and Industry Policy Unit, Michael Dembinski, the BPCC’s chief advisor, Matt Smith, director of Centre for Entrepreneurs, and Michael Krajewski, founder of Polsteel Ltd.

Mr Smith mentioned the CfE’s report on migrant entrepreneurs, which showed that by the end of 2013, over 21,000 Polish entrepreneurs had set up nearly 22,000 limited liability companies in the UK. The size and diversity of Polish entrepreneurs in the UK was mirrored by the number that had come to the House of Commons to take part in the event.

At Portcullis House, after brief addresses from Dr Offord and Ambassador Sobków, there was plentiful time for networking and exchange of business cards. Indeed, many participants then headed off to nearby pubs to continue talking business right up to closing time!