We aim to make Britain one of the most attractive places in the world for businesses to invest.
Only in partnership with responsible, sustainable businesses can we tackle the cost-of-living and climate crises,
and create the wealth to invest in healthcare, education and other essential public services.
Private enterprise is the principal engine of growth and prosperity in the UK.
We will support it by creating a stable business environment with smart regulation
and investing in skills, infrastructure, research and innovation.
In return, we expect businesses to commit to promote skills, equality and good governance, and to support their local communities.
The Conservative Government has failed businesses and workers.
Growth is minimal,
productivity is slipping,
and constant U-turns have badly damaged business confidence.
Unfair tax hikes have further dented our prosperity,
and our town centres and high streets are crying out for a fair business rates system.
The Conservatives’ botched deal with Europe has done enormous damage to British businesses, putting up new barriers to trade and creating reams of red tape.
The UK has less clout in trade negotiations,
the US is not interested,
and the new trade deals the Conservatives have signed will undercut high environmental standards
and hurt our farmers.
We will work in partnership with business to offer stability and ensure that we maximise the opportunities for investment, growth and employment across the country.
We will make the UK a world leader in ethical, inclusive new technology, including artificial intelligence,
and a global centre for the development, manufacture and export of clean technologies.
And we will prioritise the depth and quality of trade deals, ensuring they deliver benefits for the whole country.
create good jobs
and tackle the climate crisis.
Unlock British businesses’ global potential by bringing down trade barriers
and building stronger future relationships with our closest trading partners,
including by fixing our broken relationship with Europe as set out in chapter 22.
Boost small businesses and empower them to create new local jobs,
and human rights in business operations and supply chains.
take up digital technologies and become more energy efficient,
including through our industrial strategy and reform of business rates.
Establishes transparency and accountability for AI systems in the public sector.
Ensures the use of personal data and AI is unbiased, transparent and accurate, and respects the privacy of innocent people.
and work with international partners in agreeing common standards for AI risk and impact assessment, testing, monitoring and audit.
Unlock British businesses’ global potential, bring down trade barriers and use UK trade policy as a force for good by:
This will cut costs for consumers and businesses,
reduce exposure to volatile commodity prices,
protect the environment
and create new jobs and enterprises.
and that they report formally on the wider impact of the business on society and the environment.
Boosting the take-up of apprenticeships,
Modernise employment rights to make them fit for the age of the ‘gig economy’, including by: Establishing a new ‘dependent contractor’ employment status in between employment and self-employment,
with entitlements to basic rights such as minimum earnings levels,
sick pay and holiday entitlement.
Fix the broken Statutory Sick Pay system by: Making it available to the more than one million workers earning less than £123 a week, most of whom are women.
Climate change is an existential threat.
Soaring temperatures leading to wildfires, floods, droughts and rising sea levels are affecting millions of people directly,
and billions more through falling food production and rising prices.
Urgent action is needed – in the UK and around the world – to achieve net zero and avert catastrophe.
At the same time, sky-high energy bills are hurting families and businesses, fuelling the cost-of-living crisis.