Brexit is not working for UK businesses and the Government needs to “stop treading on eggshells around trade with the EU” if it wants to grow the UK economy, the leader of British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) will warn today.
Shevaun Haviland, the director-general of the BCC, is expected to call for better relations with the EU to cut costs for business.
“I’m not here to look backwards, I’m here to help build a better future for our business leaders and entrepreneurs,” she is to say in a speech at the organisation’s annual conference.
“We must stop walking on eggshells and start saying it how it is.
“The current plan isn’t working for our members. But better trade terms are possible if the UK Government and the EU reach agreement in areas of mutual benefit for business on both sides. A better deal is best for everyone.”
The election was crucial as a reset moment, Ms Haviland said.
“The only factor that matters, is what the government will do on day one – after six weeks of electioneering, businesses will be looking at the next government and who will be true to their word.
“Business wants a long-term sustainable economic growth plan, call it what you like, but what we need is a plan for the next 10, 15, 20 years and beyond.
“Firms don’t want handouts, they want government to create the right environment so they can thrive.
“Whoever wins next week, we are ready to lean in and help our new government power the economy.”
She offered up the BCC’s own election “manifesto” which, along with better EU relations, calls for an industrial strategy with “green innovation at its heart”, improved skills planning and efforts to close the “UK’s worrying skills gap”. It also wants business rates reform to encourage growth and investment.
“Our plan is to build an economy that has the green transition at its core, with a workforce fit for the future, living in thriving local places and powered by businesses that are globally facing and digitally enabled.
“None of this is going to be easy, none of us can do it on our own, and it’s going to take time. That means we need a real partnership, one that is for that long-term.”
Skill shortages are a “top concern” for business, she said. “It’s time for action to boost investment in skills. “It’s not about cutting up existing plans, it’s about making sure the right initiatives are given time to work.”
“The labour market is heading in the right direction, as we see the number of vacancies fall, but businesses are still telling us the skills they need aren’t there. We need to ‘Plan Better for Skills’ aligning our ambition and investment to prepare young people and job seekers for great jobs.”
The BCC wants a government-appointed “artificial intelligence champion” to enable smaller businesses to spearhead the uptake of new technology.