Top bosses at the likes of Rolls-Royce, Microsoft UK and Virgin Atlantic have joined a new Business Council launched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Business Council, which will be co-chaired by the Chancellor, will convene a new cohort of business leaders to work in partnership with the Government, "helping to drive a high productivity, high growth economy over the next 12 months and level up local economies around the country".
The government added the new council will "support the UK’s recovery from Covid-19 and prioritise delivering the green industrial revolution, creating new jobs and developing a skilled workforce, and unlocking global investment".
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Among the members are Clare Barclay, Microsoft UK's CEO, Rolls-Royce chair Anita Frew, and Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic's CEO.
Others include Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland Foods, Matthew Scullion, CEO of Manchester-based Matillion, and Charlie Nunn, group CEO at Lloyds Banking Group.
The full list can be viewed below.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "We’ve got one of Europe’s most open economies thanks to our vaccine rollout programme, and with Plan B restrictions firmly behind us we can now go further to turbocharge the economy and unleash the benefits of Brexit.
"Harnessing the extraordinary powers of our new Business Council, together we will knuckle down on creating new high skilled, high wage jobs, driving innovation in science and tech, and mobilising investment to deliver the green industrial revolution – all while levelling up and securing the UK as the best place to do business."
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak added: "Thanks to the speed of our vaccine rollout and unprecedented package of Covid support we have the fastest growing economy in the G7 – and it’s vital we continue on that path by grasping the opportunities ahead.
"We’re investing billions in innovation, infrastructure and skills to release the potential of the whole of the UK and ensure the UK continues to be the most attractive place in the world to do business.
"This new Businesses Council will help drive this vision forward and ensure our Plan for Growth is delivered successfully - levelling up across the country and powering a high growth, high productivity economy."
Full list of the Prime Minister’s Business Council:
- Keith Anderson, Chief Executive, Scottish Power
- Clare Barclay, Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft UK
- Amanda Blanc, Group Chief Executive Officer, Aviva
- Anne Boden MBE, Founder and CEO of Starling Bank
- Prof. Matt Boyle OBE, Managing Director of Turntide Transport
- Alison Brittain CBE, Chief Executive, Whitbread PLC
- Julie Brown, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Burberry
- Anita Frew, Chair, Rolls Royce
- Charles Hammond OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Forth Ports Limited
- Aki Hussain, Group CEO of Hiscox
- Greg Jackson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Octopus
- Dawid Konotey-Ahulu, co-founder, Redington Ltd
- David Livingstone, Chief Executive Officer, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Citi
- Martin Meeson, Chief Executive Officer, Fujifilm
- Charlie Nunn, Group Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group
- Dame Anne Richards DBE CVO, Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity International
- Paula Rosput Reynolds, Board Member of bp, National Grid and GE
- Dr Gordon Sanghera, co-founder, Oxford Nanopore
- Matthew Scullion, CEO, Matillion
- Baroness Joanna Shields OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Benevolent AI
- Joanna Swash, Group CEO of Moneypenny
- Nigel Toon, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Graphcore
- Ben van Beurden, Chief Executive Officer, Shell
- Richard Walker, Managing Director, Iceland Foods
- Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic
- Julie White, Managing Director at Coventry-based D-Drill (Master Drillers) Ltd
- Lena Wilson CBE FRSE, Chair AGS Airports, Chair Picton Property and Non Executive Director Natwest
