Now is the time for cross-sector collaboration | Article
WIG CEO Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE shares his reflections on business engagement with the new government and why now is the time for cross-sector collaboration.
As the UK general election campaigns drew to a close, two headlines grabbed my attention: "CEOs in the age of anxiety" and "Leadership confidence falls to three-year low".
The first headline, from Financial Times, cited concerns from CEOs about the impact of the changing nature of business–government relations across the world, anticipating more active governments in shaping markets and how companies are run, combined with a sense of opportunity of building a common purpose between companies and citizens for the public good.
The second headline, from Russell Reynolds Associates, cited a drop in business leadership confidence in the ability of top teams to deal with the volatility in their operating environment generated by economic uncertainty, technological change and geopolitics - and all at a time of increased scrutiny.
These are honest insights as leaders seek to navigate their way forward, managing risks and seeking opportunities, in times of significant and ongoing change globally.
And as CEOs across different sectors in the UK are beginning to adjust to the new government’s plans, adopting an open mindset and engaging directly and constructively will be key to building up the leadership confidence levels needed to move forward successfully and at pace.
The new government has been explicit in saying that there is opportunity for partnership with business and civil society to help drive growth in a mission-led approach. And this is based on the belief that no one sector has a monopoly on wisdom when it comes to tackling the social, economic, technological, security and environmental challenges we face nationally and internationally.
Building on the cross-sector dialogue that WIG has convened in the past year between CEOs and senior leaders in Whitehall, in anticipation of the general election, there is clear appetite for improved and sustained cross-sector collaboration to help realise the shared ambition for UK success in a fast-changing world and to help attract the investment needed to deliver growth for the long term.
We will achieve this if more leaders from forward-thinking organisations engage in strategic dialogue and develop a collaborative approach to addressing national challenges.
That’s why, in the coming months, WIG will renew its focus on convening opportunities for cross-sector engagement to share intelligence and develop the leadership confidence needed to engage effectively in new partnerships to help deliver growth and prosperity across the UK.
Written by
Neil is an experienced leader working across government, business and civil society nationally and internationally. He joined WIG as CEO in 2023 at a time when the charity’s purpose of improving cross-sector collaboration and leadership to boost investment, economic growth and prosperity has become ever more important.
Neil is also Chair of the WorldSkills Global Research Council, having served eight years as CEO of WorldSkills UK, championing the productivity benefits of international benchmarking to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education to world-class levels, working with governments, education and industry partners.
Neil was previously Deputy Director-General and Chief Operating Officer at the UK business organisation the CBI, working for 12 years at the highest level of the business and government interface nationally and internationally. Prior to that he worked on European employee relations in global IT services and publishing, following completion of his PhD on race discrimination in the workplace in Germany. Neil was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to LGBT diversity and inclusion.
Continue your journey with WIG
Delivering on outcomes in the context of a mission-led approach from government will require collaborative leaders that can leverage outside perspectives, harness new ideas and build forward-thinking partnerships.
Develop your leadership skillsOriginally published: