Trade Association Update: December 2021
The latest updates and opportunities from across the CBI for Trade Associations and their members.
From the G7 summit in Cornwall to COP26 in Glasgow, 2021 has been a pivotal year for the UK. The country has been front and centre of the world stage as global leaders gathered to devise strategies for securing our planet - and future prosperity.
Amidst the whirlwind of debate, it’s fair to pause for a moment and ask: what do these discussions mean for us here at home? What opportunities are to be found for our towns and cities?
If you tuned into our Annual Conference last week, you will have seen the CBI dive head first into these questions.
Over three days we travelled from Tyneside to Birmingham, Belfast to Yeovil and Swansea to Woking, hearing expert insight from industry and government leaders. Post-Budget, post-COP26 there was plenty to discuss on the importance of capturing the economic prizes up for grabs.
This point was hammered home as part of the opening speech. It was very rightly said that we can’t put the future on pause, nor should we seek to. Because coming back to the question of what this unique moment means for regions across the UK: the answer is that an enormous window of opportunity has opened.
The race to net zero, the growth of industries like biotech, space, and cybersecurity – all of these offer the UK a chance to regenerate its regions. A shot at truly levelling up.
Of course, that’s only if the high skill jobs at the heart of the new industrial revolution are created not just in London but across the nation, North to South, East to West.
The CBI will be working closely with our members to realise this ambition, so it was fantastic to hear both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition affirm this. Addressing the Conference, they spoke passionately about the role of business in delivering a future-focussed green economy. Even if it was Peppa Pig that made many of the headlines.
The PM’s address set out a bold plan on electric vehicles charging which delivered the detail needed to turn aspiration into boardroom action. It was also brilliant to hear the Leader of the Labour Party commit to backing Britain’s workforce with skills investment.
These themes feature prominently in the CBI’s six-strand economic strategy for the UK, ‘Seize the Moment’. This wide-ranging strategy was also the springboard for panel sessions which took place during the Conference. Our members and guests shared key reflections on decarbonisation, innovation, levelling up, international trade, the skills system and health.
The final panel session, the culmination of the three days, set out the CBI’s priorities for next year: one thing was abundantly clear. 2022 means going for growth.
Seize the Moment: a shared plan to deliver for UK business in 2022
The CBI has a vision: to make the UK the most competitive, dynamic and future-focused economy in the world. Where business is at the heart of social progress, working in service of the nation. The CBI delivered its plan for UK business across 2022 as announced at our Annual Conference. It outlines the CBI’s priorities for the year ahead to:
- Take forward areas of opportunity through government policy
- Continue tackling the immediate challenges facing firms
- Equip your business with the tools, knowledge, and network to make progress today towards the opportunities available to your business in the decade ahead.
Read the full plan here.
Conference Hub and recordings
The CBI Annual Conference is the UK’s flagship event in both the business and political calendar. This year's event brings together influential leaders to explore ‘the economic vision of the nation’, and discuss the critical issues facing business.
Read the key takeaways from the Annual Conference here.
We’ve pulled together a wide range of content to help your business, including session recordings and written overviews, thought leadership, practical guides, and much more.
Click here to access the Annual Conference content hub.
CBI toolkit: how to support your employees' mental health
The CBI has produced a mental health focused toolkit with all of the exclusive products and services developed to support you and your members with employee mental health.
The toolkit is broken down into different stages based on the progress businesses have made on the journey to supporting employee mental health.
Take a look at the toolkit here.
Policy Briefings
International perspective: December
Useful resources
Both these hubs are accessible on our public site, so do feel free to signpost them to your members:
The CBI’s Coronavirus Hub has all the information regarding COVID-19, including advice, guidance, and what your business can do to help.
The CBI’s UK Transition Hub has the most up to date developments regarding the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and provides guidance on specific issues.
Have you had any changes in your team?
We are keen to hear your news about staffing changes so that we can update how we communicate with you accordingly. Please let myself or Talisha know.
Access to My CBI is also open to any staff member in your organisation. With a wealth of resources and access to informative webinars do let your team know to use this valuable resource and check which opportunities and policy publications you can access.