Business and Trade Select Committee Chair Rt Hon Liam Byrne joins senior business leaders for Westminster roundtable

Senior business leaders today joined Chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, at a major roundtable in Westminster that explored the leadership role that British business can play in tackling barriers to opportunity in partnership with the next government. 

Participating businesses included Centrica, Hudson Contract Ltd, Ramsay Health Care UK, the Co-op Group, Exensor, Reed in Partnership, Leonardo UK and more.  

The roundtable was hosted by Nick Forbes CBE, Chair of the Breaking Down Barriers Commission, part of the wider Purpose Coalition, and former member of Sir Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet. 

The event looked at how businesses can work with a future government to address key challenges in decision making, giving policymakers and industry experts the opportunity to raise general and sector-specific concerns and to discuss private sector solutions. There was a particular focus on Labour’s five ‘Missions for a Better Britain’ and how a partnership might support enterprise in local communities and break down the broader barriers to opportunity that still exist in many parts of the country. 

Nick Forbes CBE, Chair of the Breaking Down Barriers Commission and former Member of Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet said: 

“The Business and Trade Committee plays a crucial part in providing advice to the government, holding it to account and developing policy ideas. This roundtable with Liam was a fantastic opportunity to bring business and government together to see how they can work in partnership to help break down barriers to opportunity.  

Members of the Breaking Down Barriers Commission share a vision for redefining the role of business in addressing societal and economic challenges and are keen to explore avenues for constructive engagement with government. There is a resolve to effect transformative change so that there is a clearer path towards encouraging enterprise, achieving net zero as well as the improved economic growth that this country needs. Working collaboratively will be a much more effective way of making a significant impact.” 

The Breaking Down Barriers Commission is part of the wider Purpose Coalition and has been set up to deliver a collective focus for businesses and other organisations in the run up to a general election.  

Find out more at breakingdownbarrierscommission.co.uk and purpose-coalition.org.