We couldn't agree more that in order to obtain a prosperous society for all, there needs to be a vision for better growth that benefits as many as possible 🙌 Our CEO Catherine Johnstone CBE will be attending Anthropy UK's national gathering in March to talk about the power of social connections with CEO at Guide Dogs, Andrew Lennox. #Anthropy25 For further info on the event visit: https://lnkd.in/eUrkfgUd
Non Executive Chair & Board Member: Anthropy Founder/Chairman: Chairman USEO: Business Author & Senior Adviosr: Past EMEA Managing Partner of Omnicom's 100 Agency Group: See: www's .Anthropy.uk & .johnobrien.world
Growth for What—And for Whom? Rachel Reeves spoke previously at #Anthropy and has now set out her vision for growth. But the real question isn’t just how we grow. It’s who benefits from the growth, The answer to that question will truly define the kind of country we become. Over the last 30 years, working at the interface of business and society, I have seen that when we have growth, it can be been highly selective, often concentrated either in financial assets, specific regions, or the pockets of a few new sectors like hedge funds, dot.coms etc. I cannot genuinely remember seeing new industries that have created well-paid, secure jobs across the whole country. The result is an ever-widening gap between those who thrive and those who are left behind. We need growth, absolutely, but it needs to be the right kind of growth that doesn’t just inflate balance sheets but builds real jobs, opportunities, businesses, livelihoods. It cannot be growth fuelled purely by speculative finance or one-off windfalls, but must create the conditions for people to work, earn, and build futures. As a Midlander, who has worked in London for 20 years, growth must extend beyond London and the South East. With only three UK regions paying more tax than they receive in public spending, this isn’t just a national imbalance, it’s a massive warning light of a nation divided. Where large parts of the UK remain stagnant, while others surge ahead, we are storing up division which will impact both socially and politically. Growth that benefits only a few, forces governments into endless cycles of redistribution, via taxes and welfare, deepening resentment between people and regions. So, my call is not just the need for more growth but for better growth. One that creates good jobs, new industries and allows people to get a home, raise a family, and take part in their communities. Work isn’t just about earning, it’s about belonging, dignity, and stability. We have to re-create the national aspirational model for younger generations which previous ones enjoyed. We cannot simply assume growth will just happen. We are a catch-up economy now, and every decision must be about restoring real dynamism and positivity. I can’t help but find recent calls from Government, for business to be more positive, somewhat ironic given that negativity was a watchword of their early days and new policies have dampened business confidence. As markets are the real driver of innovation and investment, we need the right conditions as a baseline for any chance to succeed. The overarching question: How do we build a future where prosperity is shared, not concentrated? #Growth #Economy #Leadership #Policy #FutureOfBusiness #UKBusiness #Innovation #RegionsMatter #FairGrowth #EconomicDynam #Anthropy25 Anthropy UK