Much of our work has been driven by companies fighting for survival all across Wales.
We've tried hard to ensure the Welsh government continues to honour the CBI/TUC recession action plan by helping industry cope with extremely difficult market conditions.
Most recently we've engaged with all the candidates to be Wales' first minister and provided new first minster Carwyn Jones with a list of early actions to support business.
2009 started with setting out the business view on further powers for the National Assembly with our evidence to the All-Wales Convention. In response to concerns from housing and manufacturing members we also successfully lobbied for a strategic review of the planning system.
Welsh language legislation has also had its moments (including picketers outside our office), but working with members we secured a reasonableness and proportionality test to limit the nature of proposed services.
Last but not least, the proposed single-use carrier-bag levy has given us another reason to engage with the Welsh government's environment department. Many of these issues will continue to dominate the early months of 2010. We look forward to continuing to work with our members to ensure Wales remains an attractive place to do business.
2010 promises to be a busy year, with a new first minister and a general election on the way. We will ensure members get optimum engagement with the new assembly government through a series of private dinners with assembly members. We will also be running two Question Time-style events in the run-up to the Westminster election.
Event dates already confirmed for 2010 are the CBI North Wales Annual Dinner on 20 May at the De Vere St Davids Hotel in Ewloe and the CBI Wales Annual Dinner on 3 December at City Hall, Cardiff. Also look out for forthcoming details of the MP Q&As, the Wales annual lunch and the series of private dinners.
These events provide excellent sponsorship or hosting opportunities. Do let us know if they interest your organisation or if you'd like further information about any of the above by contacting Jennifer Strong.
CBI Wales have been in dialogue with the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) regarding its skills strategy for some time, successfully lobbying to ensure that apprenticeships remained government funded.
We will now be responding to the assembly government skills consultation Investing in skills which focuses on funding and financial support for learners and obtaining best value for money by establishing a more demand-led and responsive skills system.
This may mean changes to the way in which the WAG fund training and could lead to employers having to subsidize more courses. view the consultation document. To contribute to our response please contact Jennifer Strong.
Director David Rosser and head of policy Leighton Jenkins recently gave evidence to a Welsh assembly committee on manufacturing in Wales.
We called for the WAG to help create and sustain the conditions in which manufacturing can develop, compete and prosper.
We made clear that manufacturing continues to play a fundamental role in the economy. Wales must secure an economic environment that is conducive to manufacturing, and to ensure that Welsh-based manufacturers are well placed to compete. We called for a new manufacturing strategy which lays out how the WAG will support the sector, especially with its sustainable energy needs. For more information please email Leighton.Jenkins@cbi.org.uk.
You can read the Assembly government's response here and visit Wales Office information.