Purpose:
The Government has made much of the need to grow the UK economy to pay for the level of public services required to ensure a healthy population. Beyond that, a growing economy is essential to redress the decline in living standards experienced by so many people over the past 15 years.
To date the Chancellor has set about her difficult task by focussing on:
Since coming to power the Chancellor has experienced a number of headwinds that have made her task more difficult, including the uncertainty of the economic data provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), who have experienced significant difficulties with response rates affecting the quality of their reports.
Coincidentally, some of the chancellor’s decisions designed to improve the national finances have directly affected the costs of running a business and potentially reduced the value of owning a family business, thus alienating those who fail to see how those decisions will help to achieve the objective of a growing economy.
Call for Contributions:
Contribute here
Our conference is intended to review relations between Government and business to improve the quality of communications such that the methods employed by the ONS are more sympathetic to business issues and thus achieve more reliable responses. We are therefore seeking contributions to explore the following issues as drivers of improved economic performance and the implications for business.
Official Statistics: The Independent Review of the recent Statistical Assembly confirmed that the business community was not well represented at the conference, nor much engaged with the Government Statistical System in general. We would welcome ideas as to why this is the case, and how the relationship could be improved
Artificial Intelligence: This ‘new’ IT development is already offered by thousands of businesses and is already under test with the ONS. Is this of concern? How can business take real advantage from AI? Will it solve some of our labour difficulties and reduce the need for seasonal labour for our agriculture? Will we need less carers and nurses from overseas to maintain our health services?
Productivity: We normally calculate productivity by measuring the number of units of a product produced from a specific number of worker hours, with the net (value added) sales figures used as the substitute for the number of units. But is this fair? What account should be taken of the capital invested?
More Productivity: The headline number of businesses in the UK declined from 6 million at the start of 2020 to 5.5 million in 2024[1]; meanwhile PAYE employment has grown by over 1.3 million (including growth in civil service employment). How has IR35 influenced this structural change?
Has the reduction in the numbers of self-employed businesses improved productivity or just moved the deck chairs? Does the ONS’s recent Measurement of Public Services Productivity have any implications for our service industries?
Levelling up: The decline enterprise numbers evidenced by the regional Business Population Estimates, has had a particularly negative effect in the East and West Midlands and the East of England, with Scotland also losing private sector jobs. By contrast, employment in London has increased, although the numbers of business has significantly declined. Wales uniquely shows an increase n both numbers of businesses and private sector jobs. What can be done to bring economic growth to all regions? What is the role of enterprise zones and other incentives?
Other aspects: There are many other topics that impact the prospects for Economic Growth. Examples are the effects of the Trump Tariffs, the Northern Ireland protocols and other aspects of International Trade, including the role of international investors. Similarly, the ONS is required to meet International reporting standards, with major changes in reporting National Accounts expected to be introduced this year. Will that have any effects on Business reporting of accounts? Certainly, Regulations and Standards have a major influence on activities and we would welcome contributions on those issues. There are also the implications of changes to our economy implied by the decision to increase defence expenditure whilst reducing International aid, social welfare and the size of the civil service. Are these seen as beneficial for growth?
Open Forum: It is expected that the conference will end with an open forum discussion with representatives from the Business Groups augmented by a representative from UKSA. The format would have a moderator and each panel member providing a short (3 to 4 minute) introduction, followed by audience questions and observations.
Keynote Speaker(s): Liz Barclay (Small Business Commissioner ) and Sir Vince Cable (Business Secretary in the Coalition Govt.) have kindly agreed to provide keynote talks.
Deadline for contributions: is 15th August 2025, please send your suggestions to [email protected]. The program will be confirmed no later than 18th August. Speakers are asked to provide a photograph and a brief CV by 18thAugiust with copy of any slides to be used available no later than 10th September.
Program Committee: Alpesh Paleja (CBI), Anna Leach (I o D / TBC), David Bharier (BCC / TBC) , Ian Cass (FPB & Micro Business Alliance); Iain Mackay (BSC), Phyllis Macfarlane (BSC), Tony Dent (BSC) and Vicky Pryce (CEBR).
Note: The delegate fee is £120 (with no charge for speakers). Also, Better Statistics are working with the BCC, CBI and FPB on “The Voice of Business” research to explore business attitudes to Growth and the other topics mentioned above.
A copy of the resultant report will be £240, however we offer a copy of the report and 2 delegate fees for the special price of £300 (all prices incl. VAT).