Spotlighted the biggest tax burden business has ever shouldered
Secured key wins on employment benefits and VAT
Represented members on the international stage
Secured certainty for the future of the UK's defence industry
Negotiated a new international labour standard on the platform economy
Pushed for reform to the broken Fit Note system
Discover our progress
Cost of doing business
Driving action on energy and business cost pressures
The CBI continued pressing the government to address business cost pressures intensified by the Middle East conflict, securing wins including the extension of the 5p fuel duty freeze and changes to mileage rates that better reflect firms’ operating costs.
Reducing the cost and complexity of employment tax
CBI engagement through the Employment Taxes Working Group has driven practical reforms that cut admin, complexity and cost at scale.
Securing measures to ease business cost pressures
The CBI has secured a series of wins to reduce cost pressures on firms, including the removal of VAT on donated goods following joint campaigning and exemptions to 60-day payment terms.
With Energy UK, we called for urgent action to reduce high business energy costs holding back growth and competitiveness.
Strengthening UK competitiveness through energy cost support
The CBI played a key role in securing an extension to the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS), with the Business Secretary recognising our contribution.
Securing a workable approach to business payment terms
CBI engagement secured exemptions from 60-day payment terms, protecting working capital across large and international transactions.
Securing workable employment reforms that protects growth
We secured changes to Employment Rights Bill proposals on fire and rehire and collective redundancy, reducing the most damaging impacts on growth and investment.
Saving you time and cost on tax administration
A £1.6bn HMRC digital upgrade will streamline tax processes, reducing administrative burden and saving businesses significant time and effort.
Giving you more flexibility to invest in skills
Reform of the Apprenticeship Levy into a broader Growth and Skills Levy gives employers greater freedom to invest in a wider range of training programmes.
Unlocking investment and innovation through R&D funding
An uplift in public R&D funding will help crowd in private investment, supporting innovation and long-term business growth.
Fast tracking delivery
Fast-tracking critical national infrastructure projects
The Chancellor adopted a key CBI recommendation to fast-track critical national infrastructure projects and reduce delays caused by judicial review challenges. Businesses had reported factoring in up to a year of delay for major projects. This is a significant step towards faster investment decisions, improved resilience, and accelerated infrastructure delivery across the UK.
Turning member insight into government action
The CBI’s live business pressures heatmap is now used by more than 400 government stakeholders and officials to monitor real-time pressures facing firms across the UK. This insight has informed resilience planning and strengthened the evidence behind government decisions on energy, supply chains, growth and competitiveness.
Shaping economic priorities across Scotland and Wales
Following elections in Scotland and Wales, the CBI engaged both new governments to advance key growth priorities. At the CBI Scotland Annual Lunch – in his first major speech of the new term – the First Minister committed to action on planning reform, business rates and skills. In Wales, leading parties reflected CBI calls on industrial strategy and economic development in their election platforms.
Unlocking infrastructure investment through modern public-private partnerships
At UKREiiF, the CBI launched a major new report setting out how modern public-private partnerships can unlock investment and accelerate infrastructure delivery. Reports that the Chancellor is considering private finance to deliver new towns reflect growing momentum behind the CBI’s recommendations to attract greater private capital and support long-term growth.
Expanded Jobs Guarantee to boost youth labour supply
The government extended Jobs Guarantee eligibility to age 24 – covering 100% of employment costs for 25 hours a week at the relevant minimum wage.
Supporting businesses and shaping the response to the Middle East crisis
The CBI has supported members through disruption while taking business insights directly to the highest levels of the government, including the Chancellor, Cabinet Office and No10.
Progress on UK-Ireland cross-border employment barriers
CBI and Ibec engagement helped drive progress towards a UK-Ireland agreement to reduce barriers and improve talent mobility.
Securing reliable energy and supply chain opportunities
£14.2bn investment in Sizewell C supports long-term energy security while creating jobs and opportunities across UK supply chains.
UK at the cutting edge
Launching a project to scale and retain frontier UK businesses
The CBI has launched a new project focused on how the UK can better scale and retain high-growth businesses, with a kick-off meeting joined by Business Secretary Peter Kyle. Bringing together business and government, this work will identify barriers to scaling in the UK and develop practical recommendations to strengthen investment and competitiveness.
Influencing EU industrial policy to support UK firms
The CBI helped secure UK recognition in the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act, supporting market access and competitiveness for UK firms.
Reducing trade friction with the EU
Eight of our recommendations were adopted in the EU-UK Common Understanding, helping to improve cooperation and ease barriers for business.
