TARGETING SUCCESS NINE BUSINESS PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW WELSH GOVERNMENT

TARGETING SUCCESS NINE BUSINESS PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW WELSH GOVERNMENT

The business offer to the new Welsh government To increase prosperity and opportunity, more companies must see our small nation as the best location to run a business. This can be achieved but only if all parts of government become drivers of growth rebuilding ageing infrastructure, equipping young people with the right skills and supporting innovation. Delivering these priorities takes leadership, political courage and determination but will lay the foundations for long-term international competitive advantage: business stands ready to work with the new Welsh government to make this vision a reality.

1 Growth Commission a new economic development strategy by August 2016 that enhances competitiveness and productivity through a more attractive business environment, greater support for MSBs and closer working with UKTI. Government Develop a whole-government competitiveness strategy by June 2016 that commits each government minister to develop a departmental delivery plan with challenging key performance indicators. 2 3 Infrastructure Create an independent Welsh infrastructure commission by 2017, with responsibility for the long-term design and delivery of all nationally significant infrastructure projects. Publish a timetable to begin delivery of critical infrastructure before 2021 including the M4 Black Route, the south Wales Metro, rail electrification, improvements to the A55 and digital connectivity.

4 Skills Align skills provision with the needs of the Welsh economy by harnessing the power of our nation s universities and colleges. Support vocational degrees, increasing the take-up of STEM courses, and ensure vocational training and apprenticeships receive their share of the funding raised by the UK apprenticeship levy. Regions Maximise the economic potential of city deals by devolving appropriate growth drivers from the Welsh government and local authorities to dynamic regional development corporations for north Wales, south east Wales and south west Wales. 5 6 Tax By August 2016, commit to a devolved tax roadmap that maximises certainty for business and strengthens the attractiveness of Wales as a place to do business. This should include a commitment to review business rates to ensure businesses in Wales do not face a competitive disadvantage set against reforms elsewhere in the UK.

7 Homes Publish an ambitious building plan which removes the main barriers to housing growth and helps us to build the mix of housing needed to meet demand. Public services Create a bold new vision to deliver public services Welsh citizens need. To meet increasing public demand on reduced budgets, simply making cuts across the board will not result in better services. Business wants coherent re-engineering of services to deliver real benefits for users and front-line staff. 8 9 Local government Business believes Wales needs no more than eight local authorities and action should be taken to deliver this goal by 2018. Current boundaries create artificial barriers which hinder local businesses: eight local authorities would give the critical mass needed to deliver services in a consistent and efficient manner.

To drive growth, the new Welsh government must adopt a different approach to governing: only a laser-like focus on delivering fewer but higher priorities will raise productivity and increase jobs and growth. If adopted, the following three governing principles will boost the performance of government: Less is more New ministers should maintain an unrelenting focus on fewer but higher priority challenges. A laser-like focus on delivery The new Welsh government should create the right environment to enable businesses do what they do best create jobs and growth. To get Wales off to the best possible start, priority should be give to the effective delivery of policies within government. A team Wales approach Our nation s economic renewal is too big a job to be left to one government to achieve. With a population of just three million, Wales should be able to respond quickly and innovatively to changing circumstances. To achieve this, all parts of government local, regional and national must work together alongside business towards a common goal. To set Wales on the path of long-term prosperity hard choices must be made and tough decisions must be taken in the first 100 days of the new government

Targeting sucess sets the tone for the new Assembly term, providing a vital opportunity for the new Welsh government to build early momentum and show an expectant nation how political vision will be turned into reality. It outlines the immediate steps business believes should be taken to make progress towards a better Wales. Building on the CBI s business manifesto A plan for prosperity, we identify the flagship policies which can help the new government set Wales on course for increased investment and greater opportunity. Being a small nation with a modern and highly interconnected economy gives us the power to be a more nimble and prosperous player on the global stage. But only if we look outward and turn opportunity to our advantage. A dynamic economy needs a thriving private sector and this can only be achieved if the new Welsh government enacts pro-enterprise policies which encourage prosperity and increase productivity throughout the next Assembly term and beyond. To deliver growth, Wales needs dynamic regions, robust economic infrastructure and young people with the right skills.

JOIN THE CBI The CBI is the UK s premier business organisation, providing a voice for firms at a regional, national and international level to policymakers. For further information or a copy in large text format, contact: Leighton Jenkins Assistant regional director policy T: +44 (029) 2097 7600 E: leighton.jenkins@cbi.org.uk Copyright CBI 2016 The content may not be copied, distributed, reported or dealt with in whole or in part without prior consent of the CBI. Printed by Colourscript on Amadeus 100 pure white silk, containing 100% recovered fibre certified by the FSC. Colourscript is certified to ISO 14001 and registered to EMAS environmental management systems NEZ052. Twitter: @CBIcymru Product code: 11435 www.cbi.org.uk