Confederation of British Industries

What are some successes and failures that they have had?

What do you mean by 'successes and failures'? Given theyre just a group that represents the voices of its members and sub members, a 'peak' organisation if you will, it cant really have either of them outside of policy influence. In which case their biggest failure to date would be Brexit imo.
Its hard to say on success vs. failure though as their members decidedly do not speak with a unified voice on all issues with one members loss being anothers win.

Reply 2

Rakas21

21

As others have said they are just a body representing industry.

British industrial output dominated the global economy until WW1 however we lost that position due to a combination of the slow fall to socialism in the UK (many industries were nationalised from about 1890 onwards and our advantage in innovation reduced) and the rise of the US and Germany in the inter-war period (partly due to the transition to the automotive economy).

British industry was probably at its weakest in the 1970's as it struggled with international competition and was dominated by union barrons crushing attempts to increase productivity at the expense of employment.

Today, British industry is heavily specialised and strengthening in relative terms however we still lack the innovative capacity of other competitors and success is very sector specific.

Reply 3

Napp

22

Original post by Rakas21

As others have said they are just a body representing industry.

British industrial output dominated the global economy until WW1 however we lost that position due to a combination of the slow fall to socialism in the UK (many industries were nationalised from about 1890 onwards and our advantage in innovation reduced) and the rise of the US and Germany in the inter-war period (partly due to the transition to the automotive economy).

British industry was probably at its weakest in the 1970's as it struggled with international competition and was dominated by union barrons crushing attempts to increase productivity at the expense of employment.

Today, British industry is heavily specialised and strengthening in relative terms however we still lack the innovative capacity of other competitors and success is very sector specific.

In fairness theres nothing inherently wrong with a socialised system of business (just look at China) it was more due to poor quality workers who produced shoddy 3rd rate goods that nobody wanted combined with unbelievable greed on their part, like the coalminers union.

As to the last bit, not entirely true, whilst the UK has sought to specialise, in a manner of speaking, into aerospace, engineering, professional services etc. it still has a fairly broad base. It is somewhat hindered by an artificially high currency though. Great for holiday makers and importers, very bad for exporters who both have to buy materials and then sell them uncompetitively.
There's also the rather unfortunate problem that there is a constant brain drain, not helped by Brexit, where people will continue to emigrate to other countries with higher standards of living,. higher pay and equally specialised industries that we simply dont have. Be it certain finance in Europe now, or America, engineering projects in the developing world and so on so forth.

Then again, not to be completely pessimistic, Britain is still good at churning out novel inventions but its, like always, had a dreadful history of monetising these innovations unlike the yanks.

Reply 4

hotpud

18

Original post by meli77

What are some successes and failures that they have had?

Their successes would be when they represented their members they got some sort of concession / positive change from government.
Their failures would be when they represented their members and did not get any concessions / positive change from government.

As for what they are - you will have to do your own homework! :smile: