Economic Council To Power Up Growth

May 30, 2023

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is launching a new Economic Advisory Council (EAC), to build on its Quarterly Economic Survey, and develop policies to get the economy and businesses growing.

The Council will bring together a range of respected national, and international, economists and business leaders. It will provide expert advice and feedback to the BCC and its Chamber Network, with its work focused on the BCC’s long-standing and renowned programme of business research.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said:

We’re a year out on a General Election and now is a pivotal moment for business. That is why we have set up an Economic Advisory Council to help shape and guide our economic policies to boost the UK’s growth and prosperity.

We have been working on this for the past six months, and I’m thrilled to have such a diverse range of prominent economic and business experts join us at the BCC.

“These people are national and global leaders in their fields, and they will help guide and shape our economic priorities and focus into the futureOur aim is to fuse the practical acumen of entrepreneurs with the technical expertise of economists to help produce policy that will make a real difference to the UK’s growth prospects.

“The membership of the council reflects the diversity of our economy – with experts in the subject areas of financial services, logistics, trade, and taxation sitting on the EAC.

Vicky Pryce, Senior Member of the BCC Economic Advisory Council, said:

“I am delighted to be joining the BCC’s Economic Advisory Council. Having previously worked with the BCC in an advisory role several years ago, it’s great to be back working with this brilliant organisation once again.

The BCC and its regional chambers play such an important role in assisting firms to navigate and succeed in a complicated and constantly changing economic landscape.

“I am very much looking forward to assisting in bringing greater clarity on what is nowadays – and likely to remain for some time- a challenging economic environment for all.”

EAC members include:

  • Vicky Pryce – Former Head of Government Economics Service
  • Ben Allen – Proposition Leader, Financial Sponsors and Executives – Coutts Bank
  • Steven Gray OBE – UK Export Finance Representative, West & Central Africa
  • Martin Shelford  Start-Up founder and business strategist
  • Adam Uszpolewicz – Former CEO of Aviva-Poland
  • Dame Teresa Graham – Former Deputy Chair of the Better Regulation Commission (BRC), Chair of the Administrative Burdens Advisory Board (HMRC), Chair of the UK Finance SME Advisory Group
  • Mairi Spowage – Director, Fraser of Allander Institute
  • Professor Dennis Novy – Professor of Economics, Warwick University

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce