By John Kavanagh, UK Public Affairs Manager
On Thursday 12 October ACCA welcomed the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Jones MP to the Adelphi for an international trade and investment discussion co-hosted with the Enterprise Forum. The event was well attended with representatives of 15 embassies and high commissions in attendance including from China, Japan, France, Sweden, Serbia and Russia alongside leading UK and international business representatives and ACCA members.
Helen Brand championed ACCA’s global role and reinforced the three T’s of Trade, Talent and Technology which was subsequently repeated by the Minister! After welcoming attendees and sharing ACCA member insights on the transformative role of technology in global business practice. Helen passed over to Mr Jones who spoke on the government’s determination to remain a top destination for overseas investors, with an open, liberal economy and business-friendly regulation that welcomes businesses looking to both invest in the UK and export from the UK.
In his remarks the Minister covered the important role of infrastructure in generating foreign direct investment and said that the government will aim to create a stable regulatory environment within which these flows will continue to grow in the years ahead, cementing and growing on the UK’s position as the third best country for foreign direct investment (FDI) behind the economic powerhouses of the US and China.
During the discussion, points were made by attendees around the need to bridge skills gaps and digital skills in particular. The Minister spoke also about the role of government policy intervention in encouraging new routes of education and training such as through the opening up of apprenticeship routes through the apprenticeship levy. He also referenced the government’s £400m investment in the digital infrastructure investment fund as an example of targeted government investment seeking to address digital connectivity gaps in the UK.
Comments were also made around visas for non-UK nationals working in the UK post-Brexit and the need for business to be able to access the talent needed to thrive in a post-Brexit operating environment as well as the role of the industrial strategy in encouraging investment and promoting trade.
The Public Affairs and Policy Team have a number of political events lined up for the end of 2017 and beyond including a reception in Parliament with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Trade and Investment (date tbc).
For any further questions or comments please contact John Kavanagh UK Public Affairs Manager at john.kavanagh@accaglobal.com