The big picture for business: Relocate’s perspective
The 2016 CBI Annual Conference delivered a programme whose speakers and experts reinforced Britain’s position at the forefront of global innovation. Relocate’s managing editor, Fiona Murchie, reports.

CBI via Creative Commons

Attracting global investment
In her conference address, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, while acknowledging that the referendum vote would present UK businesses with challenges, insisted that Brexit would provide new opportunities for all.Mrs May outlined plans for Britain to be "the global go-to place for scientists, innovators and tech investors," adding, "The Chancellor will lay out an agenda that is not just ambitious for business but ambitious for Britain … He will make sure Britain outside the EU is the most attractive place for business to invest."Related articles:
New government fund earmarks billions for tech R&D
May accepts Brexit challenges but points to opportunities
Leadership and management development factsheet
CBI chief warns government on Brexit loss of talent and markets
To support this, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement included spending plans that should be been seen as positive by Relocate’s audience of organisations looking to grow and take advantage of global markets, including:
- £1.1 billion extra for English local transport
- £23 billion for a national productivity investment fund, aimed at science and technology development
- A cut in corporation tax that will make the UK’s the lowest in the G20
The role of SMEs
Carolyn Fairbairn has been the CBI’s director-general for a year now, and has proved to be a competent and potentially transformational leader for this heavyweight industry body. Her engaging, listening style of leadership and her will to modernise while keeping her members on board seem to be in tune with the country’s mood to get on and make things work in the reality of Brexit.CBI members are not all large FTSE 100 organisations but include plenty of medium-sized business struggling to address the challenge of change against an ever-changing landscape and moving goalposts. The world is indeed changing, but medium-sized companies are very much a part of the UK’s future and success, and have employment and talent issues even if they are not exporters. They are to be found not just in London and other big cities but throughout the UK. In fast-changing times, professional associations need to represent all their members as best they can. That includes nurturing and engaging with the SMEs, which are potentially a big source of growth for the future.Said Carolyn Fairbairn, "The UK will need to work hard to become the front-runner in global innovation, creating a pioneering economic role for itself in the world that drives prosperity in every corner of the UK."Innovation is the nucleus of future economic and social development, so it’s encouraging that seven out of ten firms will keep up – or even raise – their spending on new technologies and work practices to grow their business."As we prepare to depart the EU, this shows that firms are rolling up their sleeves and looking to make the best of Brexit."Spending on innovation generates jobs and economic growth across the country, offering solutions to the challenges we face today and in the years ahead, from improving healthcare and mobile technology to a new generation of autonomous vehicles."Ms Fairbairn continued, "The Autumn Statement comes at a real crunch point to support our inventors, makers and designers, so the Chancellor must make the most of the tools at his disposal. The CBI wants to see a long-term commitment to target 3 per cent of GDP in R&D spending by 2025 and a doubling of Innovate UK’s budget."This needs to be underpinned by a new industrial strategy which builds on the UK’s sectoral and regional strengths." Even Jeremy Corbyn, speaking at the end of the conference, congratulated Carolyn Fairbairn on a job well done before tackling his main agenda.For related news and features, visit our Enterprise and Brexit sections.
Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory
Subscribe now to our Global Mobility Toolkit 
©2021 Re:locate magazine, published by Profile Locations, Spray Hill, Hastings Road, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JB. All rights reserved. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Profile Locations. Profile Locations accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.