The Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, Professor Mairi Spowage, has been appointed to two new advisory roles.
Professor Spowage has joined an Economic Advisory Council (EAC) newly formed by the British Chambers of Commerce and been appointed to the Scottish Government’s New Deal for Business Group.
Professor Spowage said: “I am delighted to be joining the BCC’s new advisory council and look forward to working with fellow board members to provide businesses with the insights that will help them to better understand the economic landscape and plan for future growth.
“I am also pleased to be part of the Scottish Government’s New Deal for Business Group and play a part in helping the Scottish Government reset its relationship with business.”
The EAC will build on the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey, and develop policies to support economics and business growth.
The Council brings together a wide range of national, and international, economists and business leaders to provide expert advice and feedback to the BCC and its Chamber Network.
The New Deal for Business Group is co-chaired by Dr Poonam Malik, Head of Investments at the University of Strathclyde, alongside Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray.
Involving businesses at an early stage of policy development will be one of the key aims of the group, which met for the first time in May. It will focus on the key areas of: economic conditions and performance; ensuring Scotland has the best environment to do business, and a transition to a wellbeing economy.
Pivotal moment
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “We’re a year out on a General Election and now is a pivotal moment for business. That is why we have set up an Economic Advisory Council to help shape and guide our economic policies to boost the UK’s growth and prosperity.
“We have been working on this for the past six months, and I’m thrilled to have such a diverse range of prominent economic and business experts join us at the BCC.
“These people are national and global leaders in their fields, and they will help guide and shape our economic priorities and focus into the future. Our aim is to fuse the practical acumen of entrepreneurs with the technical expertise of economists to help produce policy that will make a real difference to the UK’s growth prospects.
“The membership of the council reflects the diversity of our economy – with experts in the subject areas of financial services, logistics, trade, and taxation sitting on the EAC.”
The other members of the EAC are:
- Vicky Pryce – Former Head of Government Economics Service
- Ben Allen – Proposition Leader, Financial Sponsors and Executives – Coutts Bank
- Steven Gray OBE – UK Export Finance Representative, West & Central Africa
- Martin Shelford – Start-Up founder and business strategist
- Adam Uszpolewicz – Former CEO of Aviva-Poland
- Dame Teresa Graham – Former Deputy Chair of the Better Regulation Commission (BRC), Chair of the Administrative Burdens Advisory Board (HMRC), Chair of the UK Finance SME Advisory Group
- Professor Dennis Novy – Professor of Economics, Warwick University
The BCC comprises 53 Accredited Chambers which make up the UK Network which together represent tens of thousands of businesses employing almost six million people across the UK.