Florida's Only Source for Everything British

THE BRITISH BUREAU [305] 371-9340 
Owner Patricia Kawaja
email queries to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

NOTE FROM PATRICIA KAWAJA:  Below is some of the Media/PR/professional writing work over the years. TV PRODUCERS wishing to hire me as a consultant contact me directly. Give me the vision for your programme. I then supply you with British Florida elements to complete your production, key British people across Florida to interview, Florida statistics on Brits, background info on the British community in Florida, British locations etc. If it's British in Florida I can access it. Each TV programme has a different focus of course, so one producer might need my to find "Brits who have just settled in Florida, " or "British people who have bought property in Orlando" or "successful British entrepreneurs in Florida."

NOTE TO UK and FLORIDA MEDIA/ TV PRODUCERS/ REPORTERS-WRITERS :

I'm swamped with enquiries from reporters writing articles about Brits moving to Florida, or Brits buying homes here etc. Need a trailer to store press clippings amassed since 1991--all articles about my work with Brits in Florida. The UK media focuses heavily on Florida.  Anyway, you have my permission to use any source info on this website free of charge, and/or contact any FABB members in our British Business directory for quotes so long as you credit/mention THE BRITISH BUREAU and website www.BritishFlorida.com in your programme or article. 

SINCE 1991 The British Bureau has maintained the only British contacts database in Florida---all cities, all areas. We massive resources and Florida's largest British contacts database/files on everything British you could want as content for your programme---NOT on this website]. We have a headhunting service to find the Brits you need to feature in your programme or article. To use this service/access our contacts/hire me as a consultant, as many UK producers and publishers have done, there is a consultancy/research fee per programme for my custom specialised services. [It's not huge--relax!].

RE CONSULTANCY FEE: TO TV PRODUCERS MAKING PROGRAMMES ABOUT BRITS IN FLORIDA Over the years, I have saved TV producers a considerable amount of research and phone time. Since 1994, virtually every UK TV station making programmes about Brits in Florida has approached me [as have dozens of newspapers and magazines]. Since 1993 I have been consultant for: BBC [several times], London Weeked TV, Carlton TV, Yorkshire TV, Channel 4's A Place in the Sun programmes, Scottish TV, Granada TV and numerous times by network stations and publications in Florida and elsewhere. Each has contacted me as the Florida source for all things British. I have an exclusive network of 20,000 British contacts, in all professions, of all ages, in all cities in Florida. Whichever type of Brit you need to feature on your programme I can locate the right person. Or the ideal British location etc. The official Florida film liaison centres [American-staffed] do NOT have these specialised British Resources, neither do Florida's 2 British Consulates. So, producers save yourself time and money by using The British Bureau.

MY WORK OR SOURCE MATERIAL HAS BEEN FEATURED IN THESE PUBLICATIONS and elsewhere [since 1991] : Miami Herald many times, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel many times, Boca Raton Magazine, London Telegraph Newspaper, London Daily Mail, Newsweek, Forbes Magazine, Florida Trend Magazine, GOING USA Newspaper UK many times, South Florida Business Journal 3 times, Miami Daily Business Review, Union Jack Newspaper [Florida columnist since Nov. 1992], Florida Brit Magazine [columnist for 2 years 1990-92 till magazine folded, Miami New Times and others.

--Patricia Kawaja, British Bureau [305] 371-9340 email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

2008

• Feb. 2008 Bloomberg Report  TV programme in Washington DC called me about Tony Blair's visit to Miami.
• May 2008 Called by producers of UK TV show No Place Like Home seeking Brits who want to move back to UK. Since Florida Brits dread the thought of having to move back to UK show will be hard-pushed to find subjects I advised them.

2007

• December 11, 2007 Contacted by ITV planning a programme about Brits in Florida having property problems. 
• November 29, 2007 The Travel Channel contacted me as a location source for series segment to be shot in Miami.
• October 2007 ITN News called me from Washington Bureau as source on story about Brits struggling with property/mortgage issues in Florida.
• July 25, 2007 ITV in London contacted me for research assistance on their planned programme about Brits building a home in Florida.
• June 6, 2007 Orlando Weekly Magazine used The Britsh Bureau as a source on feature on Brits emigrating to Florida.
• April 20, 2007 Granada TV in UK first called me for a programme about British women in Miami.
• March 29,2007 The Sunday Times of London called me as source on a story they were planning about Brits owning property in Miami.
• Feb. 15, 2007 Flashback TV in UK contacted me for assistance on a programme about Brits in Florida, in development.
• Feb.14, 2007 producer from ITV called me for help on a programme they are planning.
• Feb. 8, 2007 The BBC Midlands contacted about a programme, searching for a Florida Brits from the Midlands.
• Feb. 3, 2007 Daily Express called me from UK for assistance on story about Brits in Orlando area affected by the deadly tornadoes there.
• January 11, 2007 BBC Radio contacted me for assistance on programme about British families who have recently moved to South Florida.
• Jan. 2007 UK's The Guardian newspaper quotedme/mentioned British Bureau/FABB in a series of articles called Expats Around the World.
• Am currently [since Oct. 1992] the Florida editor for Union Jack Newspaper, the only national publication for the British community in the USA. Part of my work for UJ consists of compiling the Florida circulation/distribution list for the ppaer, so I have exclusive knowledge of where Brits live and work in Florida.

• Dec 13, 2006 Disney Channel contacted me to assist with search for British Kids in the USA to appear in a new Disney Channel Show.
• December 12, 2006 FOX NEWS Orlando called me aboutas source on a UK news story.
• December 24, 2006. UK Daily Mail contacted me for assistance on story about Tony Blair's visit to Miami [Dec.26-Jan.3]
• December 2006 FOX NEWS New York called me to be on be on a programme about the Royal Family.
• December 26, 2006 Miami Herald contacted me as a source for their story on Tony Blair's visit to Miami.
• December 5, 2006 The Telegraph Newspaper London. Writer contacted me for asssistance with a real estate article about Brits living in the Keys.
• December 29, 2006. John Doe Entertainment Miami contcted me to assist with finding a British actor for a Lee Cooper jeans commercial.
• November 23, 2006 Contacted by Cheetah TV in London about a series for the Discovery Channel involving Brits in the Florida auto business. They used my services as consultant/researcher.   
• October and November 2006 different producers from ITV phoned me about assisting on a programme they were planning about Brits in Florida.
• October 17, 2006 The Sun Newspaper in London called me on story about Brits in Florida.
• October 18, 2006 Spectra Media in London called me for figures on Brits in Florida.
• September 2006 The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel newspaper ran a full page article on my British Bureau, headline:  Kawaja Helps Brits Moving to US'
• September 1, 2006 Florida News Network radio called for on-air interview about a British film coming out.
• September 2006. Comcast TV featured me as one of their 5 minutes-long NEWSMAKERS segments for my work with the British community iin Miami.
• August 2006. The British Government's Institute for Public Policy, the UK's largest official Think Tank, working with the BBC contacted me to supply data for a new research project on ‘Brits Abroad.’ They said it was the most concerted and comprehensive effort made yet to map the scale and nature of British emigration. The whole project was supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and they were planning to disseminate the research findings in collaboration with the BBC.
  
• August 10, 2006 Contacted by Fox News Channel 35 Orlando as source for their story.
• JULY 2006 The BBC featured me on the BBC1 Breakfast News [about Brits in Florida buying businesses].
  
• JUNE 2006 OVERSEAS PROPERTY CHANNEL produced by Rapid Broadcast TV contaced me about appearing on their show, talking about the Miami lifestyle of Brits.
• June 2006 The prestigious WASHINGTON POST newspaper featured the British Bureau's work in an article about Brits buying businesses in Florida.
• June 8, 2006 BBC World Radio flew their reporter over to Miami and taped an interview with me for 2 hours, to be broadcast worldwide by BBC. [It's for a series they are planning about expats around the world]. Interview was about The British Bureau and they used this website as a primary source to locate other Florida Brits to interview.
• June 21, 2006 LIVING ABROAD Magazine [UK] requested collaboration on finding British families in Florida to feature.
• May 2006 The UK's A Place in the Sun Magazine wanted to run a feature on my work with British in Florida. They scheduled a reporter to come out to Miami to interview and photograph me.   
• May 30, 2006. The Washington Post--the most respected newspaper in America called me as source for an article on Brits buying property in Florida.
• January 2006 Keo Films of London hired me as consultant for their documentary series A LIFE IN FLORIDA. London Weekend TV made its series Miami Uncovered in 1998 and used my services several times. I found them a perfect British-owned location, a British-run hotel on South Beach which allowed them to film there free without pulling permits. They used that as "base camp" for their 8 week shoot and told me what I saved them on arranging that ideal location was worth my fee many times over.

2005

• May 2005 Producers of the movie MIAMI VICE [starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx] contacted British Bureau twice for assistance on finding British extras for movie. The film was made on the streets of from 2005-2006.
• September 2005: Producer from the Channel 4 UK TV show HOLIDAY AROUND THE WORLD, to assist with Florida segment.
• October 2005 the BBC phoned to use me as a source on their programme on how Hurricane Wilma was affecting Brits.
• July 2005--Top UK production company Shine TV hired me as consultant on their programme BUILD A NEW LIFE BY THE SEA [in Florida].
• July 2005 Appearance on ABC News Channel 10 Miami.
• December 2005 FOX Soccer Channel [USA] contacted me about planning an event for Brits soccer fans in South Florida.

2004

• February 2004. Did PR/promotion to the British community for the Palm Beach Jewellery and Antiques Show at the Palm Beach Convention Centre. 
• April 2004 NEW HORIZONS MAGAZINE----fullcolour glossy magazine, published in UK and Florida, for Brits buying property in Florida. Wrote lengthy feature about my work, due for publication around May 2004. Then magazine folded!
• July 2004 Producer from the BBC's White City TV Centre UK contacted me for information on British in Florida
• September 14, 2004 Comcast TV featured me as one of their Newsmakers on a broadcast showcasing the British Bureau work in Miami.
• September 2004 The NEW TIMES newspaper of Miami did a feature on the British Bureau called Cool Britannia.
• September 2004 BBC Question Time programme [on location in Miami] contacted me as source and research for aprogramme to be shown on BBC World.
• October 1, 2004 Channel & WSVN interviewed me on the important Dimbleby Biography about Prince Charles. Miami Herald and Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel also called me for comments on same subject.
• October 2004, The Telegraph [London], one of the world's most prestigious newsppaers, published my fullpage article about the British community in Miami.

• NOVEMBER 2003 Met with WLRN Public TV/Radio in their Miami office Miami abour promoting their BBC Wold Service and other British programming to Miami British community. Also outlined how I could attract more local British listeners to their station.
• FEBRUARY 2003 The Miami Herald did another major feature on my British Bureau and work with the British community in Florida.

2002

• November 2002 The BBC in Manchester contacted me as a source on a planned programme about British nurses in Florida.
• July 2002 BBC Researcher from Escape to the Sun called me as a source for a planned programme.
• May 2002  BBC produicer from BBC1 Development Unit contacted me as source on planned programme about Brits buying real estate in Florida.
• April 2002 A California TV producer phoned. "Patricia, we are looking for a needle in a haystack. We need to find a private house, somewhere in the USA which has a British pub INSIDE. We want to shoot the show there. We will fly to any state, but cannot find the right house. You are our last resort." I found their needle in Florida. A British-owned house where the owner had built a complete replica of a British pub to enertain his Britpals. Producers said it was exactly what they needed, flew out a crew to Florida and aired it on national USA TV. "
• March 2002 A Place in the Sun UK TV programme produced in London, shot in Florida contacted me a source for their programme about UK Brits moving to Tampa.
•  

2001

• MARCH 2001 The UK newspaper GOING USA [now called Emigrate USA] did a feature on the Florida Association of British Business [FABB] which I run, called BRITS STAND UNITED IN FLORIDA. Used me as a source and for quotes.
• March 9, 2001 Miami Daily Business Review newspaper featured me as a major source in their 4 page consumer feature called Brits in a Bind.
• May 11, 2001 The Palm Beach Daily Business Review did a photo-feature on FABB's Business Card Exchange in Delray Beach.
• July 9, 2001 the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel did a 2 page colour photo spread in the Your Business section, featuring my work with FABB and the British business community.

2000

• September 22, 2000. The South Florida Buisness Journal sent areporter to do afullcolour feature on one of my FABB meetings in Boynton Beach [Palm Beach County].
• July 2000 BBC producers at BBC Bristol in UK contacted me as source on planned programme about Brits living in Miami.
• May 2000 The top casting agency in the world, based in Hollywood, CA called me to assist them in casting a British boy as....Harry Potter! Eventually of course, the part went to Daniel Radcliffe.

1999

• March 7, 1999 The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel used me as the source on a major colour feature about tbe Welsh community in South Florida.
• March 1999 BBC's The S Club used my research services for programe made on location in Ft. Lauderdale
• August 13, 1999 WPBT TV [PBS station Miami] I did a one-hour live TV pledge on that station at their request, targeted at their viewers of British programming.
• June 30, 1999 The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel newspaper did a fullpage feature on my expanding FABB [Florida Association of British Business] into Palm Beach County, with a Palm Beach chapter, meeting in Lake Worth/Palm Beach and Boca Raton.
• June 20, 1999 TV appearance on FOX News New York as commentator on Prince Edward's Wedding.

1998

• January 1998. Boca Raton colour glossy magazine used me as their primary source and featured the British Bureau in the 7 page colour spread about the British in South Florida.
• Januray 1998 Discovery Channel in New York consulted me for a planned programme about the British community in the USA.
• March 1998 Headhunting work for UK company Zoom Equipment, They were setting up office in Miami and wanted to hire British staff.
• May 29, 1998. Ft.Lauderdale Airport Marketing Department called me in for a meeting there with British Midland Airlines representatives from UK. They consulted me on whether there would be a demand from the South Florida British community for a new route to UK. They had me survey FABB's British business members for their opinions, plus I provided other stats and overviews for them.
• July 1998 The New Times Newspaper, Ft Lauderdale published a feature on The British Network.
• October 1998-May 1999. I was the Florida Editor for Mad Dogs and Englishmen magazine, published in Los Angeles. This was a high quality, colour glossy magazine--an intellectual and original look at all things British. It folded after a few issues, sadly--ran out of money.
• November 1, 1998 The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel used me as the main source and quoted me in a colour feature about the British community in South Florida.
• December 1998 BBC Entertainment at BBC TV Centre in London hired me a consultant on their programme The Other Half. 1999: "Patricia, we couldn't have done it without you." Helen Trowbridge, producer BBC’s THE OTHER HALF. They used my headhunting services to find them Florida contestants for their BBC reality show.

1997

• Sept. 1, 1997 Sun-Sentinel quoted me in article about Princess Diana's death.
• September 1, 1997. The Miami Herald used me as a source on its story about Diana's death.
• September 7, 1997 Ft. Lauerdale Sun-Sentinel newspaper used me as source for article on Princess Diana's funeral.
• September 7, 1997. The Miami Herald used me a source on their article about Princess Diana's funeral.
• November 10, 1997 ABC News Channel 10 Miami interviewed me about English nannies.
• August 25, 1997 The Miami Herald Business Monday did a cover feature on my launch of the Florida Association of British Business [FABB], of which I'm President, called DOING BUSINESS THE BRITISH WAY.
• December 5, 1997 The Ft. Lauerdale Sun-Sentinel newspaper featured my British Network function in a photo-feature spread.

1996

• May 13, 1996 The Tampa Tribune newspaper used me as a source and quoted me in article about British fans watching FA Cup Final in west Florida pubs.
• July 1996. Wrote a column for Atmosphere, Sir Freddie Laker's inflight magazine, on the Florida--London routes.
• August 1996 I was featured on BBC1's programme FLORIDA FOLK about British immigrants who have made a successful transition to Florida.
• September 8, 1996 The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel newsppaer did a fullpage Community Close-up feature on my work with the British community, titled Kawaja Helps Brits Move to the USA.
• October 1996 Florida Trend Magazine used me as a source for their article on British pubs across Florida.
• December 5, 1996. The Miami Herald used me as as source in their Food section [about English fish and chips].

1995

• January 30, 1995 The Sarasota Herald Tribune newspaper used The British Buureau/Patricia Kawaja as their main source and quoted me in a feature about British pubs in Florida.
• February 1995. Marketing work for Demographic Profiles, a New York company targeting the British community in Florida.
• March 18, 1995. The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel newspaper used me as a source on a frontpage article about the conflict in Northern Ireland and British role.
• March 19, 1995 The Sun-Sentinel used me as asource on their article about Immigration changes affecting the Brits.
• March 1995. Marketing work for the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, whose conductor James Judd was British, targeting local British classical music-lovers. 
• April 30, 1995 Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel in City Plus section featured the British Bureau in an article about local British businesses.
• Aiugust 1995. UK Sports in New Jersey, USA used my services for marketing. They were targeting all British pubs in Florida.
• October 1995 Mature Lifestyles Magazine of Ft. Myers, Florida usd me as a source on their article about the British in west Florida.

1994

• January 31, 1994. The Miami Herald featured my letter, "The British are Coming, to Invest" as their headlining letter.
• March 13, 1994 Channel 12 CBS West Palm Beach TV interview with me about Prince Philip's visit to Palm Beach on Royal Yacht Britannia
• October 22, 1994 The Miami Herald used me as a source for and article about Prince Charles and Princes Diana.
• November 1994. Beekman Merketing in New York hired me for marketing work. They were targeting all British clubs in Florida.

1993

• APRIL 1993 Article in Miami Herald about the work of my British Bureau, their headline dubbing me MISS BRIT.
• December 1993 South Florida Business Journal, featured my work with the Union Jack Newspaper [Florida].

1992

• Hosted my own hour-long, weekly radio show for British listeners on WVCG radio Miami called The Florida Welcome Show.
• Hosted a second radio show [one hour long, aired every week] for Brits on WLQY Radio Miami. Show was called The British Breakfast Show.
• October 1992 Became the Florida editor for Union Jack Newspaper, the only national publication for the British in the USA.
• May 9, 1992 The London Mail on Sunday quoted my Brit Mgazaine newspaper column in article they did about Brits in Florida.
• December 11, 1992 The Miami Herald used me a source in article about Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
• British-American Golf Association of Florida hired me to do promotional/marketing work for them, including writing brochures for BAGA tournaments and finding British company sponsors in Florida. The BAGA work was over 18 months 1992-1993, till the British owner went back to UK.
• April 1992 Local TV stations interviewed me about Prince Andrew's divorce.
• January 1992 in Palm Beach. Sarah, Duchess of York was at THe Polo Club to watch her father play. I attended as media, met "Fergie" and local TV stations interviewed me about the event. BBC and other UK media had flown over to Palm Beach for the event too.

1991

• May 1991 started work with BRIT MAGAZINE, writing a montly newspaper column about the British community in Palm Beach/Broward/Miami. My column continued till 1992 when the magazine [published in Kissimmee] folded. For same publication was the South Florida ofice--marketing and advertising, building the brand and locating British businesses.
• MAY 1991. The Queen's only state visit to Miami. I was interviewed many times by local TV stations on Royal matters and the Miami Herald booked me as a celebrity judge for the Queen Look Alike contest held at the Inter-Continental Hotel, Miami.
• September 1991. WSVN Channel 7 sent up a camera crew to interview me about Prince Charles/PRincess Diana's 10 year wedding anniversary. Other local TV affiliates [ABC/NBC/CBS] also interviewed me several times throughout the year on British matters.