CBI policy work helps shape the environment for UK businesses.

Supported by specialist in-house teams, CBI members set policy and influence decision makers in the UK and internationally to achieve a positive climate for business.

Business issues

Meet the team

The group of experts who represent our education & skills policy members

James FothergillJames Fothergill, head of education and skills

James leads the CBI's policy and lobbying activity on education and skills issues. He has a wide-ranging remit, covering 14-19 education, further education and higher education, and workforce skills development. James has previously had responsibility for CBI policy on public service reform, in particular CBI policy on healthcare and local government delivery. He was formerly a policy adviser in the CBI's employment policy directorate, where he focused on companies' employee engagement practice, trade union legislation and legislation to prevent employee discrimination. 

Jim Bligh 189Jim Bligh, head of labour market policy

Jim leads the labour market and pensions policy team. The team lobbies for more effective labour markets, covering policy issues including labour market, unemployment, pensions, skills, welfare reform, business responsibility, human rights and anti-bribery. Jim leads the CBI's 'Getting the UK working' and ‘Infrastructure investment’ projects. Jim joined the CBI in 2007, having worked for a parliamentary candidate since graduating with an MPhil in Renaissance Literature from Cambridge. Jim has a first class degree in English from Durham, where he was president of the union.

Maxine Cahal 189Maxine Cahal, senior policy adviser

Maxine is currently focusing full time on the CBI’s ‘Raising attainment in education’ and ‘diversity in leadership’ projects. Prior to joining the CBI Maxine spent two years working on policy evaluation, economic impact studies and strategy development for consultancy firm SQW. Maxine holds an MA in Post-Conflict Development and a BA in Politics from the University of York.

Holly Hardisty, policy adviser 

Holly is responsible for policy work relating to skills and in work training, and higher and further education. Prior to joining the CBI, Holly worked in the policy team at the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations and for political intelligence company DeHavilland. Holly has a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology from University of Cambridge and an MSc from UCL.