Annie Hampson is a Chartered Town Planner who prior to March 2020 was the Chief Planning Officer at the City of London Corporation. She was involved for 30 years in the City’s evolution in providing modern, innovative and effective buildings whilst safeguarding the City’s historic character and enhancing its street scene. She has 40 years’ experience at a senior level of Planning Authorities within London providing her with in depth planning knowledge. She has been involved in a great range of development schemes, including major projects and infrastructure schemes and in repurposing and refurbishing a large number of listed buildings of different scales and times. She is involved in judging, has given a wide range of talks and presentations and has experience of negotiation, in influencing and decision making. She continues to be actively involved in Planning. She is the Chairman of the London Diocesan Advisory Committee which has responsibility for over 600 Church buildings, many of which are listed and where Access and new needs lead to change. She was awarded an OBE in 2018 for her services to Planning in London.

Jane has been Chief Executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts since 2012, responsible for three city centre arts venues – His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall and The Lemon Tree. She led the restoration and renovation of the Music Hall, reopened in December 2018 after a £10m transformation. Between 2003 – 2012 she was the first Chief Executive of Horsecross Arts bringing together Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre. She led the Horsecross Team through the construction of the new Perth Concert Hall and launch of the opening season before going on to champion the redevelopment of Perth Theatre. Prior to that, she led the redevelopment of the Tolbooth, Stirling’s Centre for Music and the Arts. In 2017, Jane was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. Jane is an experienced programmer, producer, festival director and events manager. She has served on a number of Boards, currently on the Board of the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, the Sage Gateshead, Sound Festival, the UK Touring Partnership and the Scottish Theatre Producing Consortium.

Katie Town is Executive Director of Theatre Royal Wakefield, a Grade II* listed Frank Matcham Theatre in West Yorkshire. She has lead the theatre since the end of 2015, taking the Theatre and its team through a process of rapid creative and organisational change, including building and opening a new extension to the building. Katie previously worked as General Manager for the Learning Department at the National Theatre. Katie initially qualified as a non-practising barrister but, deciding a career in the arts seemed more interesting, initially worked in the sector at the Royal Opera House, and then in a number smaller arts organisations, including Tavaziva Dance and Candoco Dance Company.

These roles are not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments, the process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Government’s Governance Code requires that any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years is declared. This is defined as holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Annie Hampson, Jane Spiers, and Katie Town have not declared any activity.

Dame Judith Macgregor was British High Commissioner to South Africa from September 2013 until March 2017, when she retired from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office after some 40 years in the Diplomatic Service.

After graduating from Oxford (LMH) with a first class degree in Modern History, and a year in Romania as a British Council scholar, Dame Judith entered the FCO in 1976 serving first in the former Yugoslavia, and later as First Secretary in Prague and Paris.

After accompanying her husband as Director General for Trade Promotion in Germany and Ambassador to Poland, she resumed her career as FCO Director for Security Policy in 2000, and then as Ambassador to Slovakia (2004-6). She became FCO Director for Migration in 2007 and Ambassador to Mexico in 2009. In 2013, she became British High Commissioner to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland and was awarded the DCMG in January 2016.

Dame Judith was President of the FCO Women’s Association from 2006 to 2016 overseeing a significant increase of FCO women in the senior grades. In Mexico and South Africa she led government efforts to increase trade and investment and bilateral programmes in Research and Development.

Dame Judith is an Independent Non Executive Board Member of the UK/Mexican mining company, Fresnillo plc and Vice Chair of the Council of Southampton University. In 2017 she was appointed to the Board of the British Tourist Authority and in 2018 she joined the Arts and Humanities Research Council, as well as becoming a trustee of the University of Cape Town Charitable Trust. In February 2020 she was appointed Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group to the Global Challenges Research Fund and in March she became a Trustee of the Caradon Lecture trust.

Beyond her Board activity, Dame Judith is a member of the Advisory Council for Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford and an Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple. In 2018 she became a Deputy Lieutenant for Hampshire.

This role is remunerated at £3,840 per annum. These reappointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments, the process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Government’s Governance Code requires that any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years is declared. This is defined as holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Dame Judith has not declared any activity.

• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office backed scheme aims to help developing countries combat COVID-19, tackle malnutrition and malaria, and boost girls’ education

Charities are today encouraged to apply for UK Aid Match funding – a scheme which sees the UK government double donations made by the public.

UK Aid Match, run by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), supports British charity campaigns by matching generous donations from the public pound for pound over a three-month period.

In the last five years, UK Aid Match has provided support to 111 charities with projects in 36 countries, which have benefited more than 25 million of the world’s poorest people.

The FCDO has launched the latest round of the successful scheme and is inviting applications for charities by December 18.

The new round wants applications that particularly focus on helping developing countries to combat the long-term impact of COVID-19, end preventable deaths through tackling malnutrition or malaria, and helping girls access quality education to transform their lives.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Minister Baroness Liz Sugg said:

UK Aid Match gives the British people the chance to double the impact of their donations to charities doing great work around the world.

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted us all, and the focus of this new funding will help tackle the global challenges that have become even more acute.

Charities from across the UK can now apply for match funding to help address the long term impacts of Covid-19, end preventable deaths and support girls to receive a vital education.

One of the many charities which have previously had their donations matched by the UK government funding is WaterAid, which is due to launch its ‘Future on Tap’ appeal in November.

The appeal aims to raise £2 million to protect vulnerable communities from the impact of drought in Ethiopia by creating a network of solar powered water pumps for schools and community centers.

Nicholas Pialek, Programme Operations Director for WaterAid, said:

WaterAid is fortunate enough to have benefitted from funding through four UK Aid Match appeals since 2012, helping us transform even more lives around the world with clean water, decent sanitation and good hygiene. These basic human rights are vital for good health, education and livelihoods and are the building blocks to a better future.

We are excited to be launching another fundraising appeal this winter where the UK government will match public donations up to £2 million, which will have a huge impact on our work to support communities in climate-vulnerable areas in Ethiopia.

Notes to editors

• The application portal will open on Monday 2 November and closes on Friday 18 December at 5pm (GMT).
• UK Aid Match brings charities, the British public and the UK government together to collectively change the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
• It is designed to provide opportunities for the UK public to engage with international development issues and have a say in how UK aid is spent, whilst boosting the impact of the very best civil society projects to reach the poorest people in developing countries.
• For every £1 donated to a UK Aid Match charity appeal, the government will also contribute £1 of UK aid (up to £2 million), to help these projects go further in changing and saving lives. UK Aid Match is funded from the international development budget, for donations made by individuals living in the UK.
• Each charity appeal must run for up to three months and funds raised (up to a maximum of £2 million) will be matched by FCDO, subject to a satisfactory due diligence assessment.
• For more information on the fund, including eligibility and how to make an application, visit the UK Aid Match website.

Good morning everyone,

And thank you Karan for that very kind introduction.

I’m absolutely delighted to be addressing such a wide and illustrious business audience today – although virtually and I think that’s a sign of the times.

The Prime Minister will be offering his remarks to the CBI later this week.

But, let me start by paying tribute to Carolyn, for her leadership of the CBI over the last 5 years.

These have been turbulent times for businesses.

And Carolyn has led from the front.

Ensuring that your voices are heard loud and clear across the country and of course within government.

On a personal note, I am very grateful to Carolyn for the constructive and pragmatic discussions we have had over the past months.

We have worked together to help businesses become COVID-secure and deliver unprecedented support from government.

As President of the CBI, Lord Bilimoria will bring the experience and knowledge needed to steer businesses through choppy waters.

And I want to welcome Tony Danker, as the next Director General of the CBI.

These are extraordinary circumstances in which to assume this role.

And I wish Tony the very best. Because your success will be our shared success in supporting the economy.

My heartfelt thanks and admiration also goes to all of you, the CBI’s members, and businesses up and down the country.

I have had over 1,500 conversations with businesses and business representative organisations across the country since I took on this role.

Including travelling to every part of the United Kingdom.

It is clear that this has not just been a tough year, but the toughest of years.

And we all know that the difficult days are not yet over.

Further lockdown measures

On Saturday evening, the Prime Minister announced further restrictions across England, to take action to control the virus and protect the NHS.

And to head off the need for even tougher or more enduring restrictions further down the line.

Which means that from Thursday 5 November, until Wednesday 2 December:

People may only leave home for specific reasons including work if they can’t work from home.

Non-essential shops, personal care, indoor and outdoor leisure, and entertainment venues will close.

Although shops can continue to provide click and collect services and I know that’s been appreciated by business.

Pubs, bars and restaurants will close, except for takeaway and delivery services.

However, people will be able to travel to work, where necessary to allow them to do continue to do their job.

And sectors such as construction and manufacturing will remain open.

And it’s vital that scientists and engineers working in R&D including those fighting the virus continue to come together in labs and workplaces across the country.

I do not under-estimate just how difficult these measures will be for businesses.

Many of which have already had to endure hardship this year.

So, alongside these measures, we have announced further support.

These include an extension of the furlough scheme at 80% to protect jobs.

Grants of up to £3,000 per month for premises that are forced to close.

£1.1 billion for local authorities to enable them to support businesses.

I am grateful that the CBI, and so many of you, have welcomed these measures.

As business leaders told me on Saturday evening, after the Prime Minister’s statement, these measures will save jobs.

And I will continue to speak to businesses and representative groups to champion your voice at the heart of government.

I do appreciate just how tough these restrictions are on businesses and workers across the country.

How hard it is not knowing when you may be able to trade.

Worrying about your order book and how you will pay your overheads.

It goes against every fibre of my being for us to tell entrepreneurs they must down tools.

Shutter-up your businesses.

Limit your ability to do what you do so well.

Government support during COVID-19

But that is why, alongside the restrictions, we have taken historic steps this year to keep businesses afloat.

We have protected almost 10 million jobs through furlough.

Approved more than a million government-backed loans, to the tune of over £62 billion.

Paid out almost £14 billion in support of around 3 million self-employed people.

Cut VAT for the hospitality and tourism sector.

Waived over £10 billion of business rates, supporting close to 400,000 businesses.

Given £11 billion in grants covering almost 900,000 business properties.

Brought in a range of regulatory easements to help businesses.

And I’m pleased to say, we’ve already created thousands of placements through our ground-breaking Kick Start Scheme.

Creating jobs for young people, who are amongst the most at risk of long-term unemployment in these difficult times.

We have been there for you since the start.

We are here for you now.

And we’ll be there for you, for as long as you need us.

A salute to British business

But for all the hundreds of billions of pounds of help from the taxpayer, it is you who have done the hard work to keep your businesses going.

You, and those working for the businesses you represent, have been straining every sinew on construction sites.

Powering our factories.

Keeping our transport system moving.

Serving us in supermarkets.

Delivering vital goods in droves.

Putting in shifts from the manufacturing to the service sectors.

Cramming your office work into flats, homes and studies.

And much, much more.

You have demonstrated levels of resolve, resilience, and community spirit the likes of which we have never seen in peacetime.

And innovation that we never dreamed of.

We saw Formula One teams throwing themselves into the ventilator challenge.

A Caerphilly packaging company that turned out 15 million bits of PPE.

We had gin distilleries making hand sanitiser.

High street shops have evolved into online retailers.

From the FTSE 100 to the corner shop, you simply refused to be beaten.

Without our fantastic private sector, without our entrepreneurs, our country would not, could not, have stayed on its feet this year.

I have been humbled at some of the personal sacrifices businesses have had to make to protect the livelihoods of their employees.

It is the absolute definition of responsible capitalism.

And for that I salute each and every one of you.

Vaccine and mass testing

And I want to bottle the hope and innovation you have demonstrated and unleash it as we move forward and beat this virus.

I have seen through my Department the brilliant collaborative work between business and our world-class scientists, in developing a vaccine.

As we speak, the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine is in final-phase trials. With the prospect of a vaccine early next year.

Whilst there has been rapid progress, we recognise that a vaccine which fully eliminates the virus may never materialise.

So we plan to also protect the country in other ways.

As the Prime Minister set out on Saturday, we have the immediate prospect of using many millions of cheap, reliable and rapid turnaround tests.

Over the next few days and weeks, we will plan a steady but significant deployment of these tests.

There are paths out of this current predicament.

To eventually get business fully on its feet and the economy firing on all cylinders.

A great place for business

Because we all know that the United Kingdom is a great country to do business.

We have the lowest corporate tax rates in the G20.

The kind of lean regulation that puts us in the global top 10 for ease of doing business.

And a highly skilled workforce.

It is easy to see why the UK is consistently home to one of the largest, most resilient economies in the world.

All underlining precisely why the UK has long been a great place to do business.

Brexit

And we will open up further opportunities as we take advantage of our new political, legal and economic freedoms as the transition period ends this year.

The negotiations on our future relationship with the EU are ongoing.

At the same time, I urge you to prepare for the future trading relationship in 2 months’ time.

Because whatever the outcome, things will change for businesses across our country.

As the transition period comes to an end, and it will not be extended, we are making preparations to ensure the economy is ready.

Such as legislating for a UK internal market to avoid trade barriers when EU legal structures fall away.

A step which, many of you have told us, removes a major item from your corporate risk registers.

My Department, and I, are communicating and engaging with millions of businesses.

Providing information to help them prepare, as we accelerate towards our new trading relationship with the EU.

And whether we trade on the same terms as Canada or Australia, I know we will make it a success for British businesses and for the whole country.

Because Brexit was always about a better future.

About having the freedom to chart our own course.

And in doing so, bringing much-needed opportunities as we pursue our destiny as an independent nation.

Building back greener

We will take advantage of these opportunities to support our economic recovery from COVID.

I want to ensure we do so in a way that enables the economy to build back greener.

Because it is vital that we not only grow, but we grow sustainably.

UK businesses are at the forefront of this.

Over the last 30 years, the UK economy grew by 75%, and yet we also cut our emissions by 43%.

We were the first major economy to legislate for achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.

Which not only has the buy-in from businesses across the UK, but increasingly our international partners.

I was in South Korea last week when President Moon announced his country’s ambition to achieve Net Zero by 2050, following Japan just a few days earlier.

We will continue to use our COP26 leadership to extend these ambitions across the globe.

I sincerely believe that we are at an inflection point.

With governments, businesses and civil society all now recognising the imperative of tackling climate change.

Many of you already see Net Zero as an opportunity to grow.

Which is why we announced a £3 billion stimulus package over the summer to support the decarbonisation of buildings.

And why the Prime Minister announced last month, that we would aim to install 40GW of offshore wind by 2030.

Extending our position as the world’s leading offshore wind producer.

I hope you take advantage of the immediate opportunities this green agenda brings, as we recover from the COVID pandemic.

Skills

And as we create the jobs of tomorrow, we need a laser-like focus on skills.

We are overhauling post-18 education with a new focus on technical courses, and providing £1.5 billion to upgrade and improve college buildings.

Our Lifetime Skills Guarantee is ending the absurd situation where someone’s economic destiny is set in stone as a teenager.

The government’s new Office for Talent will make it easier for the most skilled individuals in your sectors to come and work for you, wherever they may be in the world today.

Infrastructure

And our record-breaking investment in infrastructure will help connect us all.

Coronavirus has shown that, while we can all work a little more flexibly, people still want and need to come together to do business.

The watercooler moment that takes a seed of an idea and grows it into a new business opportunity cannot be replicated in a carefully scheduled online chat.

It is this government that is putting money into roads and trains and buses in every community across the country.

It is this government that has finally broken ground on HS2.

And it is this government that has launched Project Speed.

So that everything from new hospitals, to long-overdue flood defences, are given form rather than languishing for years on the drawing board.

We are investing almost £600 billion in our future prosperity, delivering infrastructure projects across the UK.

Levelling up

And we will build back better through levelling up across the country.

Because for all the success of our economy, that success has long been poorly spread.

No other city coming close to the economic heft of London, which outstrips Manchester six times over.

An imbalance that was intolerable before coronavirus.

But which takes on a fresh urgency, with our already fragile cities and towns taking the greatest hit from the pandemic.

So we will turbocharge our regions, to enable them to become global hubs in their own right.

The North East of England could become the home of choice for companies delivering carbon capture and storage.

Making hydrogen power a part of daily life.

And designing, building and maintaining offshore wind turbines.

Our brilliant life sciences sector will be propelled to even greater heights from Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh.

The factories of the Midlands will roar back into life, producing the advanced technologies of tomorrow.

As we broaden the geography of our economy, we will help you widen and deepen the range of businesses that comprise it.

With a more strategic approach to supporting research and innovation in areas where the UK has the potential to both lead and change the world.

We are doubling our investment in R&D.

Putting rocket boosters under technologies in clean energy, life sciences, AI and advanced manufacturing.

We will support businesses to scale up – securing a thriving hive of mid-sized businesses.

And I want to work with you to develop our new strategy for growth.

A refreshed and reinvigorated industrial strategy, putting the UK at the forefront of economic opportunity as we build back better.

Conclusion

This whole strategy, this plan, is not some hypothetical vision or academic exercise.

It is already underway.

Clean energy, the overhaul of technical education, the largest investment in infrastructure we’ve ever seen, it’s all happening.

So as we work with you, and support you through the pandemic, we will lay the foundations for future growth that will endure long after we have emerged from the shadow of coronavirus.

And I want you to help me build on those foundations.

To work together, as our new plan for growth takes shape in the months ahead and is published in the New Year.

Creating a more resilient economy.

A cleaner, greener economy, in which we have control of our own laws and trading policies.

Providing new opportunities for businesses across the UK.

Delivering growth and jobs.

So that a decade from now, when the CBI gathers for its 2030 conference, we will be able to say:

We built it together.

A revived, rejuvenated, sovereign and technology-leading United Kingdom.

With opportunity and prosperity spread equally across our great nation.

Thank you.