Labour has today launched its Business and Enterprise Advisory Council. It will be made up of UK and global business leaders and will be convened by and advise the Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Angela Eagle MP.

Meeting quarterly, the purpose of the Council will be to discuss and develop ideas and to help recalibrate Labour’s relationship with the business community. The Council will be chaired by Anthony Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Uphold, the emerging cloud based financial services company. Further members of the new advisory council will be announced in the coming weeks.

Commenting on Anthony’s appointment as Chair of the Business and Enterprise Advisory Council, Angela Eagle said:

“I am delighted to launch this new Business and Enterprise Advisory Council which will assist Labour in reaching out to and building partnerships with the business community as we seek to devise workable and deliverable policies that provide the solutions to the pressing issues impacting business and industry. “It’s great that Anthony has agreed to chair this group which will help forge a new vision for a dynamic industrial strategy, because he has the fresh ideas and a proven track record of putting innovation and ethics at the heart of business practices.

“Both Anthony and I are determined to lay the foundations for a shared capitalism which helps Britain’s world-leading businesses and industries thrive and grow further still, generate more of the high-skilled and better-paid jobs of the future, and ensure that profits and power are more fairly shared.”

Chair of the new Council, Anthony Watson, said:

“I am deeply honored Angela has asked for my involvement. I look forward to building a Council across the crucial areas of growth for the future of the UK economy, and ensuring that we create a strong market based on the values of fairness as well as strong growth.

“I want to hear the best ideas for growth and the best ideas for ensuring that the UK can use the talents of everyone to succeed in the global economy. That will mean strong links with business, enterprise and industry and also all those partners who must help us recruit, train and generate the intellectual and business skills we will need to compete successfully for the future.”