New VIP fast-track hailed at Expo

Embassy Network

The 2025 Embassy Event expo attracted a capacity crowd of embassy staff involved with VIP visits and events

Held at the brand new Park Hyatt London Thames, more than 160 diplomats from over 80 missions attended the Embassy Event Exp to hear from senior UK government officials about new policy and procedures for the facilitation of their inward delegations to the UK.

Fast Track Lane
In the VIP Visits and Major Events session, protocol officers welcomed news of the introduction of a Fast Track Passport Lane (FTL) at Heathrow, something diplomatic missions have been calling for due to high volumes of diplomatic traffic, which has sometimes resulted in delays at the airport for visiting delegations.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has been working on a trial FTL with London Heathrow and UK Border Force which will allow VIPs visiting the UK on official business easier passage through the airport. Attendees at the Expo received further detail on which VIPs would be eligible to use the FTL and how it would operate.

Protocol staff also received an overview of arrangements for the various categories of VIP visits and details of the Inward Visits Protection Policy.

Also on the expert panel were officials from the Agrément and Credentials Team at the FCDO who briefed protocol staff on arrangements for the arrival of new heads of mission and details of their presentation of credentials to HM The King. Procedures for departing heads of mission were also covered.

Embassy Network Director Elizabeth Stewart introduces presenters for the VIP Visits session: Paul Howarth (Head of FBIS Engagement, Home Office); Dan Brown (Deputy Director, Visits and Events, FCDO Protocol); Kate Worsfold (Head of Protective Security, FCDO); Joshua Laws-Millett (Head of Arrivals and Departures, FCDO); Andrew Mackenzie and Laura Curran (Exempt Policy, Home Office), and Sofina Connett and Alia Karim, (Agrément and Credentials, FCDO)

 

Exempt Policy
Home Office officials gave a presentation on policy relating to VIP visitors who are exempt from immigration control, which includes Electronic Travel Authorisation. Protocol Officers received guidance on ways in which VIPs could provide evidence of this exempt status.

They also heard further detail about the introduction of the VIP Delegation Visa for government officials accompanying a Head of State or Minister on an official visit to the UK.

Introducing diplomats to opportunities in Scotland were Mark Boyce (Head of Scotland House, London); Paul Wood (Deputy Head, Scotland House London and Head of Economic Diplomacy); Sarah Crompton-Donnelly (Public Diplomacy Officer – EU and International Relations); and Lynsey Cullen-Gibson (Deputy head of International Communications and Brand Scotland Policy)

 

Devo-Diplomacy – Spotlight on Scotland
The afternoon also included a session on Devolution Diplomacy, aimed at encouraging inward delegations to the UK’s regions and devolved nations, which this year focused on Scotland. With elections to the Scottish Parliament taking place in 2026, diplomats received a timely briefing from Mark Boyce, Director of Scotland House London, about the devolved powers of Scottish government – ranging from justice and policing, to economic development, education and training as well as culture, tourism and sport.

Trade attachés received a briefing from Paul Wood, Head of Economic Diplomacy at Scotland House London, on the many business opportunities in Scotland, from traditional sectors such as financial services, tourism, food and drink to future-facing sectors as space, renewable energy, health and life sciences, data and digital technologies and advanced manufacturing.

Innovation is a cornerstone of Scotland’s economy, thanks to its strength in higher education and research. Sarah Crompton-Donnelly, Scotland House’s public diplomacy officer for EU and International Relations, briefed attachés about opportunities for strengthening education and cultural ties with Scotland. Almost 74,000 international students study at Scottish universities, and education attachés also learned about the Scottish Education Exchange Programme (SEEP), which facilitates student exchanges and supports Scottish universities to forge international partnerships between institutions.

Cultural attachés were introduced to the many opportunities for cultural engagement with Scotland, from the world famous Edinburgh Festivals as well as the cultural offerings of Scotland’s four UNESCO-accredited Creative Cities – Glasgow (UNESCO City of Music), Edinburgh (UNESCO City of Literature), Perth (UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art), and Dundee (UNESCO City of Design).

Scotland will also feature on the world stage as host of a number of major sporting events, including  the Island Games (2025), the Commonwealth Games (2026), Grand Départ of the Tour de France (2027) and the Euros (2028). Lynsey Cullen-Gibson, deputy head of International Communications and Brand Scotland Policy, touched on how missions in London might use these major events as a platform to enhance their engagement with Scotland.

Diplomats and protocol officers meet service providers in the exhibition area

 

Networking
An important feature of the Embassy Event Expo is the exhibition area, where protocol officers are able to meet a wide range of hospitality and event service providers who can support them in forthcoming visits and events.

The busy afternoon ended with a prize draw and sundowners overlooking the setting sun over the Thames.

Diplomats unwind with sundowners at the networking reception