The British Chambers of Commerce’s Global Annual Conference returns at a pivotal moment for the UK economy.
With a theme of Delivering Growth, this year’s event will bring together leading voices from each of the main UK political parties, with business leaders and chamber representatives, to focus on the practical actions needed to unlock growth, raise productivity and restore business confidence.
Why attend?
How the UK delivers sustainable, long‑term economic growth will be the defining challenge of the next decade.
British Businesses are ready to lead that charge, but they need the right conditions to succeed.
Global Annual Conference therefore aims to place business at the heart of the growth debate by bringing evidence, policymakers and experience together.
At GAC 2026 you will:
- Hear directly from senior representatives of every major UK-wide political party on their plans for growth.
- Explore how business can deliver growth through trade, investment and productivity.
- Take part in the policy debate, through engaging breakout sessions with policymakers, experts and business leaders.
- Learn from other business and chamber leaders, already delivering growth on the ground.
- Build powerful connections across the UK’s largest and most influential business network.
our speakers
Shevaun Haviland CBE
Director General, British Chambers of Commerce
The Rt Hon. Rachel Reeves MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Labour Party
zack polanski
Leader of the Green Party
rt hon. ed davey mp
Leader of the Liberal Democrats
The Rt Hon. Sir Mel Stride MP
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Rt Hon. Robert Jenrick MP
Treasury Spokesperson, Reform UK
Sophy ridge
Sky News presenter
Michael hayman MBE DL
Chair, British Chambers of Commerce
nigel milton
Chief Communications Officer and Sustainability Officer, Heathrow
Nikki Flanders
Managing Director, SSE Energy Customer Solutions
Robert Begbie
CEO, NatWest Commercial & Institutional
Stephen Whittingham
Executive Vice President, North Europe, DP World
agenda (subject to change)
- Opening and Economic Context: BCC President, Andy Haldane CBE will open the conference with his take on the UK’s growth challenge and the role of business and policymakers in delivering long‑term prosperity.
- Director General’s Speech: Shevaun Haviland CBE will set out the role of Chambers in delivering growth across the UK and around the world, and will set out the action business needs to see from government.
- Government Keynote: A Senior Cabinet Minister will speak with an extended Q&A hosted by Sky New’s Sophy Ridge, on delivering growth in government and responding to business priorities. [For security purposes, speaker details will be confirmed nearer the time].
- Cross‑Party Political Keynotes: Senior representatives from each of the main UK-wide political parties will set out their economic visions for growth, to be followed by Q&As. Confirmed speakers already include Shadow Chancellor The Rt Hon Sir Mel Stride MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, The Rt Hon Sir Ed Davey MP, a senior representative from Reform UK, and Leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski AM.
- Business Leaders Panel: A panel of senior business leaders will share how their businesses are helping to deliver growth in practice, including through innovation, infrastructure, AI adoption and supply chains.
- Chamber Leaders Panel: A panel of Chamber leaders will talk about how Chambers across the UK and internationally are delivering growth on the ground, sharing practical lessons from different regions and sectors
- Drivers of Growth – Breakout Sessions: Two rounds of breakout sessions will allow delegates to deep‑dive into the practical actions needed to unlock growth in areas of interest, including: AI Adoption, Trade, Supply Chains, Investment and Skills. Each session will bring together senior policymakers, leading experts, the voices of businesses, both large and SME, and Chamber representatives.
Agenda
The following agenda is subject to change.
In Conversation: The Rt Hon. Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, with Sophy Ridge
The Chancellor will discuss what the Government is doing to unlock economic growth.
Sky News’s lead politics presenter, and our host for today, will welcome delegates to conference.
The Director General will set out what the BCC wants to see from Government to Deliver Growth and how the Chamber Network is helping British businesses grow across the UK and oversees.
Robert Begbie, CEO Commercial & Institutional, NatWest in conversation with Michael Hayman MBE DL, Chair, British Chambers of Commerce
The BCC’s new President will use his first Global Annual Conference speech to set out his economic vision for the UK.
Keynote: The Rt Hon. Sir Mel Stride MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Conservative Party
Followed by Q&A with Sophy Ridge
The Shadow Chancellor will set out how the Conservative Party would deliver growth.
Panel Discussion: Business Delivering Growth.
Moderator: Sophy Ridge
Panellists:
- Nigel Milton, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, Heathrow
- Nikki Flanders, Managing Director, SSE Energy Customer Solutions
- Stephen Whittingham, Chief Operating Officer – Freight – Europe, DP World
- Sheetal Rajani, HR Director, Tata Consultancy Services UK & Ireland
Moderator: Sophy Ridge
Panellists:
- Ben Marson, Director of Fundraising & Marketing, The King’s Trust
- Hayley Tatum MBE, Chief People Officer, M&S
- Brandon Tattersall, Junior Data Analyst, BAE Systems
- Deborah Babalola-Davis, Youth Ambassador, The King’s Trust
Keynote: The Rt Hon. Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader, Liberal Democrats
Followed by Q&A with Sophy Ridge
The Leader of the Liberal Democrats will set out how his party would deliver growth.
Breakout 1: Delivering Growth through AI Adoption
This session will explore how businesses can harness artificial intelligence as a driver of productivity and growth. The discussion will focus on how we can accelerate AI adoption across sectors, particularly among SMEs.
- Louisa Harrison-Walker OBE, Chief Executive, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce (Moderator)
- Lord Ranger of Northwood, Member, House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, Vice Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence; Chair, British-Serbian Chamber of Commerce
- James Kuht MBE, Founder and CEO, PAIR
- Michael Kennedy, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Intuit
- Daniel Bumby, Managing Director, Simoda
Breakout 2: Delivering Growth through Trade
This session will focus on unlocking the UK’s export potential and strengthening its position in global markets. It will examine how reducing trade friction, modernising agreements, and improving export support, particularly for SMEs, can drive growth. There will be an update on the Government’s EU reset.
- Paul Britton, Chief Executive, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (Moderator)
- The Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations), Cabinet Office
- Ceri Morgan CBE, HM Trade Commissioner for Europe
- Soren Nikolajsen, Managing Director, Government & Industry Engagement: Defence and Trade, NatWest
- Mike Bagshaw, Founder, I.T.S. (International Taste Solutions Ltd)
Breakout 3: Delivering Growth through Supply Chains
This session will explore the critical role of supply chains in underpinning growth, resilience and investment. It will consider the opportunity to strengthen domestic supply networks and the role Chambers can place in facilitating this. Discussions will centre on improving procurement practices, enhancing collaboration between large firms and SMEs.
- Ashley Shorey-Mills, Supply Chain Director, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce (Moderator)
- Jack Abbott MP, Member of Parliament for Ipswich
- Sam Ulyatt, Chief Executive, Crown Commercial Agency
- Paul Doherty, Procurement Director, Heathrow
- Mark Dolman, Managing Director, Portable Space
Breakout 4: Delivering Growth through Skills
This session will examine how the UK can build a modern, responsive skills system to support business growth and productivity.
The discussion will focus on addressing persistent skills shortages, reforming apprenticeships, and better aligning education with employer needs. It will also explore how businesses can invest in their workforce to unlock productivity gains, alongside the role of local skills planning and collaboration between industry and government.
- Corin Crane, Group Chief Executive, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce (Moderator)
- Helen Whatley MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
- Petra Wilton, Director of Policy and External Affairs, Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
- Paul Nowak, General Secretary, TUC
- David Roberts, Executive Chairman, Evtec Group Holdings Ltd.
Breakout 5: Delivering Growth through Infrastructure Investment
This session will explore how investment in infrastructure can act as a catalyst for long-term growth. It will focus on the need to accelerate the delivery of major projects, modernise planning processes, and unlock greater private and public investment.
- John McCabe DL, Chief Executive, North East Chamber of Commerce (Moderator)
- Lord Stockwood, Minister for Investment, Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury,
- Joanna Averley, Chief Planner, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government,
- Tamsin Lishman, Customer Asset Director, SSE Energy Solutions
- John Sayers, Managing Director, Hodgson Sayers.
Breakout 6: The Growth Britain Is Ready For – The 2030s Prosperity Alliance
The British public is more prepared for serious reform than Westminster assumes. The 2030 Prosperity Alliance is an apolitical coalition of business and civic leaders which brings new polling, new evidence and a frank conversation about the choices any future government will have to make. A strategic session for delegates who want to know not just what growth looks like, but how Britain summons the political will to deliver it.
- Shevaun Haviland CBE, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce (Moderator)
- Rick Haythornthwaite, Chair, NatWest.
- Lord Leong CBE, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade
- Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner, Public First
- Steve Smith, Group Chief Strategy and UK External Affairs Officer, National Grid
Keynote: The Rt Hon. Robert Jenrick MP, Treasury Spokesperson, Reform UK
Followed by Q&A with Sophy Ridge
Reform UK’s Treasury Spokesperson will set out how his party would deliver growth.
Panel Discussion: Delivering Growth through Chambers
- Sophy Ridge (Moderator),
- Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
- Katy Keenan, Chief Executive, British Chamber of Commerce, Dubai
- Douglas Ure, Chief Executive, Business West
- Suzanne Wylie OBE, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce.
Keynote: Zack Polanski AM, Leader, Green Party of England and Wales
Followed by Q&A with Sophy Ridge
The Leader of the Green Party will set out how his party would deliver growth.
Keynote: Zack Polanski AM, Leader, Green Party of England and Wales, followed by Q&A with Sophy Ridge
who should attend?
Global Annual Conference is regularly attended by over 600 delegates.
The conference targets:
- Business Leaders
- Chamber Leaders
- Senior Policy Makers
tickets and registration
LOCATION
Our Global Annual Conference 2026 will take place at the QEII Centre, London.
