Business Board Network Chair Mark Bretton has urged government to give businesses the freedom and support that will allow companies to deliver its growth objective.
Responding to the Chancellor’s speech last week he said: “it is business who create the jobs and opportunities that in turn deliver growth. Government’s role is simple; create the right stimulus and give the freedom and support to allow business to do what it does best. So no more reviews please, provide the small amount of funding that’s urgently needed and let’s focus on turning the dream of growth into the reality of prosperity.”
It was that freedom which he said, would allow developments like the South Yorkshire Airport City. “The planning and eventual realisation of these major investments, and hundreds of others, are very much dependent on the strengths of Business Boards in Mayoral Combined Authorities and across all regions, which act as the instigators and visionaries of local growth.
“Put simply, without the support of business and the local Business Boards that represent their voice in local decision making, the dream of growth will remain just that, a dream.
“So, it is a confusing contradiction that at the very time government has driving growth as its number one mission and seeking the support of business in doing that, that it has launched a consultation on withdrawing its support for business engagement and regional economic planning.
“Local business leaders are completely frustrated at the continual review and rereview of their efforts to work together with local government to drive growth. They want to get on with real work, knowing that they have the support of government to do this.”
