Recorded 7 December, this session gives you first-hand insights from the CBI's new Director-General.
07 Dec 2020, 3 min read
Watch the webinar
Speakers:
• Tony Danker, Director-General, CBI
• James Harding, Co-Founder, Tortoise Media
Overview:
On Brexit:
- Tony recognises this is a frustrating time if you’re a businessperson and used to doing deals. It’s not really about business, but politics
- The CBI is continuing to push for a deal and focusing on easing the cliff-edge for businesses
- Tony also provided an update on the Brexit taskforce chaired by Michael Gove, which covers different topics each week and feeds in insights from businesses on immediate risks and issues. The group will continue to run throughout the first half of next year and the CBI will continue to act as conduit between government and business
- Regardless of a deal, a priority must be to translate any agreement or outcome into proper guidance for business and retain agile, day-to-day problem solving
- Tony highlighted some of the ‘known unknowns’ including data sharing between UK and EU, trade in services, rules of origin, and trade with Northern Ireland
- CBI staff will continue to work on Brexit over Christmas in the event of a deal or no deal to adequately prepare members. In addition, our Transition Hub will be dialled up to provide a daily news service for members.
On COVID-19:
- The CBI is continuing to push for transparency and adequate warning for firms to prepare for changes to restrictions, with a focus on ensuring we are able to open up more of the economy safely
- The CBI is also looking at mass testing, test and release and role busines can play
- On financial support too, we’ll be feeding to HMT on the Job Retention Scheme and the business loans review.
On the role of the CBI:
- This year provides a once in a generation opportunity to change the trajectory of our economy and boost productivity, investment, and innovation
- In particular, the CBI will be working out how we can achieve a globally competitive and dynamic economy
- This will require productivity gains across every region, combined with local strategies to increase regional competitiveness, but also looking ahead to other big issues, including net zero, and the changing world of work which encompasses diversity and inclusion agendas, and a focus on mental health and flexibility
- The CBI will be mapping out this ambitious vision for the British economy but recognise businesses can’t go above until business is back on its feet – so we continue with our ‘bifocal lens’ of focusing on immediate issues combined with looking ahead to bigger issues.
On business being at the service of the nation:
- Tony also identified a shift regarding businesses working in the ‘national interest’ in response to the crisis and highlighted that this is something we can make permanent – the CBI stands ready to support this.
