Press release: PM to host Business Advisory Council at Downing Street

The Prime Minister will hear views of experienced business leaders and discuss ways to ensure a successful Brexit at the next meeting of the new business advisory council at Downing Street on Monday.

At the quarterly council meeting, views will be heard from a range of businesses including HSBC, Morgan Stanley and Vodafone – to inform the government’s approach to Brexit and wider issues of importance to the UK economy.

The Prime Minister will set out the government’s vision for a successful Brexit, reiterating her recent Florence speech that the overarching goal is for a smooth, orderly exit so businesses can benefit from a period of implementation. She will make clear the government is working towards a new partnership with the EU, one based on a joint commitment to free trade and high standards.

The Prime Minister welcomed the valuable contributions made by businesses at the first business council in July, including discussions on how to boost productivity, drive investment, build business confidence, and strengthen the positive role of business within society.

The government is continuing to engage with businesses at all levels with the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU Rt Hon David Davis recently hosting company leaders at Chevening, a series of business meetings with the Chancellor, Business and EU Exit Secretary of States and new post-negotiation roundtable briefings with business.

Ahead of the next council, the Prime Minister said:

Last month in Florence I set out my vision for a bold and unique new economic partnership with the EU. We are working hard to achieve this and are optimistic about our future as a global, free-trading nation.

The Business Advisory Council is an important part of our preparations for leaving the EU – allowing us to seek the views of experienced business leaders and to share with them the government’s vision for a successful Brexit.

Cabinet Ministers attending the Business Advisory Council will be:

  • Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
  • Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
  • Rt Hon David Davis MP, Secretary of State for Exiting the EU
  • Rt Hon Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade

Attending businesses will be:

  • Balfour Beatty
  • WPP
  • HSBC
  • GSK
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Bridgewater
  • JCB
  • Vodafone
  • EY
  • Aston Martin
  • Whitbread
  • Nestle
  • ABF