Manchester tech entrepreneur appointed to PM’s new Business Council
Tech entrepreneur Matt Scullion has been appointed to the Prime Minister’s new Business Council.
The PM’s revamped Business Council, co-chaired by the Chancellor, will aim to ‘boost jobs, unlock investment, accelerate net zero ambitions, and promote Global Britain.’
Scullion, co-founder of Manchester-based unicorn Matillion, joins other North West entrepreneurs including Joanne Swash, CEO of Moneypenny and Richard Walker, CEO of Iceland on the council.
In a social media post he said: “I passionately believe that creating the next generation of consequential technology companies is something that can and should be done here in the UK, but that we have work to do to make sure that happens.
“Technology companies can and should be a force for good in our economy – creating highly paid jobs; diverse, culture-first, inclusive workforces; returning value to investors, like pension funds; as well as contributing to the world through whatever innovation they create and bring to market.
“We need more of that, and I am excited about working with the government to help Britain learn the Silicon Valley playbook.”
Swash added: “I am a firm believer that together is what makes us stronger. It is a founding principle at Moneypenny.
“We believe it is about trust and belief in our people, combined with innovative advancements in technology, which are critical to our business success. This ethos goes hand in hand with the Plan for Growth (infrastructure, innovation, and skills), levelling-up the UK and global business aspirations.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We’ve got one of Europe’s most open economies thanks to our vaccine rollout programme, and with Plan B restrictions firmly behind us we can now go further to turbocharge the economy and unleash the benefits of Brexit.
“Harnessing the extraordinary powers of our new Business Council, together we will knuckle down on creating new high skilled, high wage jobs, driving innovation in science and tech, and mobilising investment to deliver the green industrial revolution – all while levelling up and securing the UK as the best place to do business.”
The full list of the Prime Minister’s Business Council:
- Keith Anderson, Chief Executive, Scottish Power
- Clare Barclay, Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft UK
- Amanda Blanc, Group Chief Executive Officer, Aviva
- Anne Boden MBE, Founder and CEO of Starling Bank
- Prof. Matt Boyle OBE, Managing Director of Turn tide Transport
- Alison Brittain CBE, Chief Executive, Whitbread PLC
- Julie Brown, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Burberry
- Anita Frew, Chair, Rolls Royce
- Charles Hammond OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Forth Ports Limited
- Aki Hussain, Group CEO of Hiscox
- Greg Jackson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Octopus
- Dawid Konotey-Ahulu, co-founder, Redington Ltd
- David Livingstone, Chief Executive Officer, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Citi
- Martin Meeson, Chief Executive Officer, Fujifilm
- Charlie Nunn, Group Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group
- Dame Anne Richards DBE CVO, Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity International
- Paula Rosput Reynolds, Board Member of bp, National Grid and GE
- Dr Gordon Sanghera, co-founder, Oxford Nanopore
- Matthew Scullion, CEO, Matillion
- Baroness Joanna Shields OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Benevolent AI
- Joanna Swash, Group CEO of Moneypenny
- Nigel Toon, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Graphcore
- Ben van Beurden, Chief Executive Officer, Shell
- Richard Walker, Managing Director, Iceland Foods
- Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic
- Julie White, Managing Director, D-Drill (Master Drillers) Ltd
- Lena Wilson CBE FRSE, Chair AGS Airports, Chair Picton Property and Non Executive Director Natwest
The first Prime Minister’s Business Council meeting is scheduled for the coming weeks.
