Florida's Only Source for Everything British

WHAT FABB DOES--HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
We only market British Businesses based in Florida  A British business is defined as a business in Florida with at least one British owner.  OR a UK Based business with a branch operating in Florida.  Most British-owned businesses [see #2 below] in Florida are small, often entrepreneurial in nature and often sole proprietorships.  To the hordes of job-seeking Brits who contact the British Bureau often asking us for a "magic" list of Florida British companies hiring Brits, NO SUCH HIRING LIST EXISTS. There are no large British companies in Florida employing British staff. To clarify, there are major UK Companies with offices in Florida, but to circumvent US immigration hassle most of them employ American staff or bring over key British personnel on contract from UK. The British Consulate General in Miami maintains a list of those for trade purposes.   

FABB HISTORY The British community in Florida has become huge. About 400,000 Brits live here permanently or temporarily. I.4 million British tourists visit Florida every year. Since the late 1970's, when the first Brits came over to Central Florida to see the newly built Disney World, they have been flooding into the Sunshine State. Delighted by what they found, thousands settled here, started businesses, bought homes and spread throughout the State. The British Ambassador to the USA recently stated that 1 out of 40 Brits come to Florida from Britain each year. By the early 1990's, Ft Lauderdale and Orlando had become the area where most Britons took up permanent residence . According to US Government 1990 Census Figures, Broward County had the most British-born residents. Small British- owned businesses all over Florida flourished. This was reflected in the many British pubs opening up across the state----to serve the burgeoning British community. Brits must have their pub, wherever they live in the world! By 2003 Sarasota had developed a considerable British community. Brits have also settled in large numbers in Jacksonville and now in Miami...attracted by the Magic City's international ambiance.  When Patricia moved the FABB office [and her home] to Miami in 2002, the Miami Herald did several features on FABB and the British Bureau. But back to the beginning.....In August 1997 British-born attorney Michael Towner from Liverpool, and Londoner Patricia Kawaja, owner of the British Bureau of Florida, formed a partnership to launch FABB. Both were Ft Lauderdale residents, well-known and active in the South Florida British community. In July 1999 the partnership was amicably dissolved and Patricia administrates the Association alone. Mike remains a lifetime member with a business in Boca Raton and his early contribution was invaluable. FABB continues to go from strength to strength-----we have British members in all Florida cities, the UK, France, Greece, Spain, Cayman Islands and elsewhere with more joining all the time. Patricia Kawaja's work with FABB and the British community has been featured in countless newspaper articles and TV programmes,  here and in the UK.  [See Media testimonials and work page on this website]. 

FABB MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES Florida and UK members in all professions. [Go to membership directory on this site].Since early 2002, with the unprecedented demand from UK Brits to emigrate here, a major part of FABB's work is now steering UK-Based Brits through the whole legal and business process of moving here.  To reflect the times, since early 2006 FABB has become primarily internet-based, with few actual functions. Most members gain more business via the FABB office and FABB website than by attending functions in person.