Our founders
We were founded by the four main UK business organisations – the British Chambers of Commerce, CBI, Federation of Small Businesses and Institute of Directors. Their director generals sit on our board.
The British Chambers of Commerce
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is a non-political, non-profit making organisation, owned and directed by its members, democratically accountable to over 135,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors throughout the United Kingdom.
With a nationwide network of over 60 Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving 135,000 businesses, which in turn employ over 7,000,000 people, the BCC is:
- The voice of UK business
- The partner of first choice for information and guidance
- The natural choice for business support.
The CBI
The CBI is an independent, non-profit making, non-party political, organisation funded by its members who come from every sector of industrial and commercial activity - from multinational companies to small start-up firms.
Formed in 1965 the CBI's mission is 'to help create and sustain the conditions in which UK business can compete and prosper'.
The Federation of Small Businesses
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is the UK's leading business group representing the self-employed and owners of micro-firms. Founded in 1974, it now has over 185,000 members across all sectors. FSB members employ 1.25 million people.
Institute Of Directors
The Institute of Directors (IoD) was founded in 1903 and is a non-party political organisation with upwards of 54,000 members in the United Kingdom.
Membership includes directors from right across the business spectrum. The IoD offers a wide range of business services (including conference facilities and an extensive research library) and provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its members to government and key opinion-formers at the highest levels.
Our funders
We are funded by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).
BERR leads work to create the conditions for business success through competitive and flexible markets that create value for businesses, consumers and employees.
It drives regulatory reform, and works across government and with the regions to raise levels of UK productivity.