A new business council has been appointed by the Prime Minister with the aim of boosting stability and growth in the UK economy.
Chief executives from BAE Systems, Google Deepmind, Sage and Vodafone are among 14 business leaders joining the council. AstraZeneca, NatWest Group, SSE, Sainsbury’s, GSK, Aviva, Shell, Sage, Taylor Wimpey, Diageo and Barclays are also represented.
Together, these companies employ around 330,000 people across the country, with an even greater reach throughout their supply chain and a presence globally too.
The newly appointed Business Council is intended as a forum to bring a real-world perspective on how the current economic climate is impacting business and how government and industry can work together to boost investment and innovation, drive productivity and create highly skilled jobs.
“The more businesses innovate and invest, the more we grow and create good jobs right across the country,” said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
“I look forward to hearing first-hand from business leaders about how we can break down the barriers they face and unlock new opportunities for them to thrive… so we can future-proof and grow our economy.”
Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis (pictured) said: “The UK’s world-class strengths in science and technology, including AI, are key to boosting innovation and tackling the biggest challenges we face as a country.
“I’m pleased to join the Prime Minister’s new Business Council and look forward to working with the government and other industry leaders to maximise these opportunities.”
Sage CEO Steve Hare added: “Small- and mid-sized businesses play a critical role in powering the UK economy. Sage is proud to serve them as the UK’s biggest listed tech company, helping them to harness the power of technology to boost productivity and resilience.
“I look forward to bringing SMEs’ voice to the table as a member of the Business Council, capitalising on the UK’s opportunity to be a leading digital economy and drive economic growth.”