The UK’s biggest businesses want the next government to prioritise action on economic stability, net zero plans, access to skilled talent, deprivation and social mobility
Business in the Community (BITC), the largest responsible business network in the UK, is publishing new insights, which capture the views of Chief Executives of some of the UK’s largest businesses. Speaking with leaders, BITC gathered reflections on what businesses want from the next government to enable everyone in all parts of the country to achieve their potential and create economic growth.
To gather these insights, business leaders from across the biggest 450 companies in the UK, representing over £600 billion in revenue and £7.8 trillion in assets, were asked to identify the areas they would most like to see immediate government act on. Economic stability, clear plans for climate action, access to skilled talent, resolving deprivation and delivering on social mobility are the key areas Chief Executives want government to focus on.
Chief Executives highlighted that clearer, longer-term planning around climate change and the net zero transition would enable them to increase the necessary investment in innovation and skills needed for the future. To help achieve this, business leaders said they wanted to work closely with policymakers to come up with the right solutions to scale investment.
BITC is working with businesses in every region of the UK to transform lives, to create a country where:
- Every young person and job seeker feels supported and has clear pathways into work.
- Every employer is investing in skills that are needed for today and for the future, creating workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to grow and reach their full potential, regardless of background.
- Every community has a shared sense of pride and hope, with support to tackle the difficult challenges and where there is a strong collective vision of a fairer, greener and better tomorrow.
Mary Macleod, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said:
“An election marks a new chapter, with an opportunity to build on what has been done and to focus attention on things that matter for the future by creating prosperity for people, the planet and communities. Our report shows that business leaders are eager to collaborate in a different way with the government, to work in partnership to deliver impact at scale, create hope, unlock everyone’s potential across the country and drive the economic growth we need.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor
1. Key findings about government from the research:
a. Business leaders would value a clear government plan on climate action and net zero transition (77%), with also a focus on economic stability, speed of decision making, skilled talent (60%) and solutions to deprivation and social mobility (40%).
b. 55% of CEOs said that geopolitical unrest, political uncertainty or economic headwinds were in their top three challenges and are calling for a stable long-term economic plan and policy certainty to boost innovation and unlock investment.
2. The research data was from a BITC survey that went out to the 450 biggest companies in the UK, with a follow up detailed interview with 44 CEOs/board members. Businesses interviewed included Schroders, Barclays, British Airways, Compass Group, HSBC, LSEG, Linklaters, Sainsbury’s, WPP, McKinsey & Co, BUPA, Asda, Ernst & Young, GSK/ViiV Healthcare, Deloitte, John Lewis Partnership, Octopus Energy and Salesforce.
3. Business in the Community’s ‘Lifting Up the UK’: A State of the Nation Report which includes these insights will be published on Tuesday 9th July.
For further information, please contact Aoife Butler Nolan, Head of Media, Public Affairs and Policy on 020 7566 8681.