All three parties are failing UK business: Digby Jones lays out his policy challenge October 9, 2011 NOW that all the nonsense of party conference season is over, as Westminster heads back to work and the rest of us continue to try and earn an honest living, what did we hear from the mouths of our political masters? Did any of the three main parties show the UK business community that they [...]
All three parties are failing UK business: Digby Jones lays out his policy challenge October 9, 2011 NOW that all the nonsense of party conference season is over, as Westminster heads back to work and the rest of us continue to try and earn an honest living, what did we hear from the mouths of our political masters? Did any of the three main parties show the UK business community that they [...]
UK’s retail sales hold steady May 24, 2011 ACTIVITY on the UK high street is “subdued, but steady,” according to the latest research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Retail sales are “holding up about as well as can be expected,” the CBI said yesterday, after announcing that sales have remained surprisingly resilient this month. A positive balance of 18 per cent [...]
The European Commission’s plans for a Tobin Tax would threaten the UK’s recovery September 28, 2011 THE call from President Jose Manuel Barroso and the European Commission to set up a European Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) is misguided, not only because it is unlikely to work, but because if it does, it would have a chilling effect on growth and would damage the UK’s competitiveness. It is clear that Europe needs [...]
New CBI head backs UK membership of Europe December 19, 2010 THE INCOMING president of the CBI has said Britain would lose out if it were to quit the European Union. Roger Carr, president-elect of the CBI and chairman of Centrica, said: “Economic conditions in Europe are challenging but it remains a major UK trading partner. “Britain must strive to be more competitive and continue to [...]
High street’s sales take an upturn in July August 8, 2011 BRITAIN’S ailing retail industry showed some signs of life in July, recording a 0.6 per cent rise in like-for-like sales compared to the same time last year. While total sales were up 2.5 per cent for July, the three-monthly trend of like-for-like sales remained 0.6 per cent down, with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warning [...]
CBI welcomes schools plans November 24, 2010 THE business community welcomed the government’s white paper proposals aimed at reforming education policy yesterday, saying the government was right to focus on driving up quality and standards. Susan Anderson, director for education and public services policy at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said: “The government is right to focus on raising standards in [...]
Business sector remains on track yet consumer services face tight squeeze May 25, 2011 THE UK service sector is set for a two-speed recovery, with business services bouncing back but customer services still being squeezed. Business and professional services have reported rising activity for the last six months, according to a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey released today. Customer services, however, have been hit by five consecutive quarters [...]
Carr lined up for top CBI post December 6, 2010 FORMER Cadbury chairman Roger Carr will be the next CBI president if its regional council members approve him this week, sources said yesterday. Respected industrialist Carr is set to replace current president Helen Alexander, who steps down at the end of her two-year term next June. The CBI’s regional council members, who number more than [...]
Manufacturing exports must rise, says CBI December 5, 2010 UK manufacturing exports must be upscaled dramatically to keep pace with other OECD countries, industry lobby group the CBI warned today. Exports of manufactured goods are growing at just 4.8 per cent a year, less than half Germany’s 10.3 per cent rate, when manufacturing should be at the forefront of UK economic development. Policy support [...]