PM creates five Business Councils to advise on post-Brexit opportunities
Prime Minster Theresa May has formed five new Business Councils to advise on how to create the best business conditions in the UK after Brexit.
Each council will aim to meet three times a year, twice with the Prime Minister and once with a senior cabinet minister, to provide high-level advice and policy recommendations on the critical issues affecting business.
The councils will also be a forum for government to share developing policy ideas and seek the views of members.
Co-chaired by two business leaders, each council will have around 10 members representing core sectors of the UK economy, as well as a representative from the UK’s key business groups.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: “The UK has always been one of the best places in the world to do business and is a leader in sectors from advanced manufacturing to the creative industries.
“Brexit presents a huge opportunity to build a better, stronger economy for people all over the country.
“So I’ve asked these new councils to advise us on the opportunities and challenges facing business as we shape the UK for the future.”
The Prime Minister will welcome the co-chairs at Downing Street for the first time on Wednesday, where she will set out their objectives and they will discuss cross-cutting issues such as productivity and international investment.
Going forward the co-chairs will be responsible for preparing agendas, ensuring all members are briefed, and driving outcomes and progress on the key enabling opportunities for the businesses represented by their council.
- Jan du Plessis (chairman, BT Group) and Carolyn McCall (CEO, ITV) will co-chair the Telecoms, Creative, Technology and Media Council. John Allen (president, CBI) and Stephen Martin (DG, IoD) will be the business groups’ representatives
- Roger Carr (chairman, BAE Systems) and Ian Davis (chairman, Rolls Royce) will co-chair the Industrial, Infrastructure and Manufacturing Council. Stephen Phipson (CEO, EEF) will be the business group representative
- James Timpson (CEO, Timpson), Brent Hoberman (co-founder and chairman, Founders Forum) and Emma Jones (founder, Enterprise Nation) will co-chair the Small Business, Scale ups and Entrepreneurs Council. Mike Cherry (national chairman, Federation of Small Business) will be the business group representative
- Paul Manduca (chairman, Prudential) and Shriti Vadera (chairman, Santander UK) will co-chair the Services – Financial, Professional and Education Services Council. Carolyn Fairbairn, (DG, CBI) will be the business group representative
- Dave Lewis (CEO, Tesco) and Emma Walmsley (CEO, GSK) will co-chair the Consumer, Retail and Life Sciences Council. Adam Marshall (DG, British Chambers of Commerce) will be the business group representative
Sir Roger Carr, chairman, BAE Systems said: “Companies in the industrial, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors are the backbone of the economy and amongst our largest employers.
“We are a vital part of the wealth-creating machinery of the country where improved training, productivity and exporting will be the cornerstones of our global success.
“Engaging with the Prime Minister to tackle these issues in a focused and practical manner is a welcome and important step forward in achieving our collective growth ambitions.”
