CBI @10am: Making the business case for international travel

Speakers:

• John Foster, Director of Policy and Communications, CBI
• Helen Kennett, Director, UK Government Relations, Rolls-Royce
• Clive Wratten, Chief Executive, Business Travel Association
• Liz Moseley, Editor and Partner, Tortoise Media (Chair)

Overview:

• John kicked us off with an update on the announcements from the PM on Monday:
  • Moving to step two on the government's roadmap which means 12 April will see further easing of restrictions
  • Also saw some detail on COVID status certificates with the government confirming they could play an important but temporary role, but this is some way off
  • Trial pilots for live events starting in mid-April - test reductions in social distancing requirements - 15 May 20,000 people in Wembley for FA Cup final
• In summary, the government has three pillars to re-opening: vaccines, mass testing and some form of COVID status certificate
• Working from home is still causing some confusion. We are pressing for the government to provide further clarity on this to employers as the economy reopens
• There have been further updates on testing: workplace and community testing now available with everyone in England now having access to two LFTs each week. We’re being joined by DHSC on our @10am webinar next Monday
• Helen Kennett highlighted what the last year has meant to Rolls-Royce: important that the CBI has stepped up on this issue. Civil aerospace is their biggest business: selling engines, engine flying hours, maintenance repair and overhaul. Explains why pandemic has had such an enormous impact
• Helen also added that it is encouraging that the UK has chance to show global leadership by hosting B7 and G7 this year as global flying will require governments to come together to agree an approach. We’re awaiting further clarity on traffic light process and notice
• Clive Wratten - business travel underpins the global economy - misapprehension about business people travelling doing deals includes construction, humanitarian aid, medical research, students, legal services and impacts huge global organisations but also many SMEs. He also mentioned the Business Travel Association’s business travel pound campaign to demonstrate that most goods has a business travel trip behind it
• Clive understands why the government has been focused on holiday but huge part of the economy is business travel - critical to the economy
• In terms of their members, Clive highlighted that the businesses they work with have been running at about 10% of their revenues, 14 months on since the start of the pandemic. Lots of members have had zero trading. Job retention scheme has been really useful, but struggled to access other sources of grants and finance. While some companies have saved on travel costs, but also need to recognise many are missing out on new business opportunities.