Half a century after its founding in 1965, the Confederation of British Industry marked a defining milestone with CBI: 50 Years of Business Innovation, a celebration of the organisation’s enduring role as the voice of British enterprise. Representing 190,000 businesses through its membership and associations, the CBI has spent five decades shaping policy, championing innovation and supporting growth at home and abroad. Published at a time when the UK economy was regaining confidence after the 2008 financial crisis, the anniversary project captured a nation determined to rebuild, innovate and look confidently towards the future.
Produced in partnership with St James's House, the campaign’s beautifully crafted hardback book brought together influential perspectives from across business, economics and politics. Essays and reflections from leading figures including Vince Cable and Michael Heseltine explored the changing relationship between industry, government and global markets, while highlighting the resilience and creativity that define British business. Authoritative and ambitious, the publication celebrated the CBI’s achievements while presenting a forward-looking vision for the next generation of enterprise and innovation.
At the heart of the book is a powerful narrative about Britain’s capacity for reinvention. In his introduction, then Director-General John Cridland described the UK as “a nation of problem solvers, innovators, entrepreneurs and creatives”, reflecting on how businesses respond to challenge with ingenuity and determination. From macroeconomics and education to global security and advanced manufacturing, the publication examined the forces shaping 21st-century Britain through contributions from organisations such as Nissan and KPMG. The project culminated in a prestigious launch event at the CBI’s state-of-the-art Cannon Place headquarters in central London, where more than 300 business leaders, politicians and distinguished guests gathered to celebrate the organisation’s remarkable legacy.
