CBI

Purpose: The CBI aims to help create and sustain the conditions in which business in the UK can compete and prosper. It claims to be UK's premier independent business organisation  existing to ensure that the government of the day, the European Commission and the wider community understand both the needs of British business and the contribution it makes to the well being of UK society.

Membership: Made up of small and large companies which pay subscriptions to fund the organisation. The CBI says it represents 200,000 businesses, including approximately 80% of  FTSE 100 companies and nearly half of the FTSE 350.

Founded: 1965

Based:  Its UK headquarters is at Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London. There are also regional offices, an office in Washington DC, and in Brussels.

Structure: The main governing body is its council although most of its decision-making powers have been delegated to the chairmen's committee and CBI board both of which are chaired by the CBI president. The CBI is organised into 13 regions with their own regional councils and local staff to support them. Centrally the CBI has a secretariat responsible for developing policies in all areas that business operates. The president and deputy president are practitioners while other senior business figures chair certain policy working groups.

President: Martin Broughton, chairman of British Airways

Director General: Richard Lambert, his deputy is John Cridland

Activities: Wide range of activities including commenting on most economic decisions made by government and the Bank of England  and formulating own policy positions. Formulating policy regarding corporate governance is part of the role of the CBI's company affairs group.

The main committees of members working on policy are:
boardroom issues group chaired by Sir Nigel Rudd, financial services council chaired by Mike Fairey and the companies committee chaired by Michael Oliver.

Position towards government: Stresses it is non-party political and the government will negotiate with the CBI as the representative of employers on key law changes such as the working time directive.

Links

Confederation of British Industry

British Airways