Transparency data

Growth and Investment Council meeting notes: 16 July 2026

Published 18 August 2026

Meeting date: 16 July 2026

Venue: Online

CMA attendees

• Sarah Cardell (Chair), Chief Executive Officer
• Doug Gurr, Chair
• Jessica Lennard, Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer
• Jenny Haydock, Interim Chief Economist
• Anthony Wright, Senior Director of Engagement and Communications
• Vlada Aikman, Director of Stakeholder Engagement
• Neena Bhati, Head of Stakeholder Engagement
• Trixxy Just, Deputy Head of External Engagement
• item 2 – Gavin Thompson, Shaun Reidy
• item 3 – Gavin Thompson, Shaun Reidy
• item 4 – Sam Scott, Mairi Budge
• item 5 – Sam Scott

External attendees

• Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive, Confederation of Business Industry
• Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy and Insight, British Chambers of Commerce
• Dom Hallas, Executive Director, Startup Coalition
• Irene Graham, CEO, ScaleUp Institute
• Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive, British Retail Consortium
• Martin McTague, Chair, Federation of Small Businesses
• Isobel Clarke (deputising for Michael Moore), Joint Director of Policy, UK Private Capital
• Bob Wigley, Chair, UK Finance
• Julian David, CEO, techUK
• Julia Hoggett, CEO, London Stock Exchange
• Ellie Steel, (deputising for Carolyn Dawson), Group Operations Director, Founders Forum Group 

Agenda

Agenda item 1: Welcome, introductions, and opening remarks

The Chair welcomed Council members, outlined the agenda for the meeting and framed the discussion.

Agenda item 2: CMA impact in a changing landscape

The CMA invited Council Members to reflect on the changing external environment and how the CMA can continue to deliver impact for businesses, consumers, growth and investment.

Discussion focused on the factors affecting business confidence and investment, including geopolitical developments, fiscal pressures, technological change and the UK’s competitiveness as a destination for investment. Council Members discussed the implications of AI, digital infrastructure, technology sovereignty and innovation, and considered how policymakers and regulators can respond to increasingly rapid changes in markets and technology.

The Council also discussed devolution, defence, international competitiveness and the role of public procurement in supporting innovation and scale-up growth. Members emphasised the importance of maintaining a predictable and proportionate regulatory environment while adapting to changing economic conditions.

Agenda item 3: Procurement reform

The CMA outlined its emerging work on procurement reform, drawing on CMA casework, market analysis and previous Council discussions. The CMA highlighted issues including the clarity of procurement objectives, the use of data and transparency, performance measurement, accountability, bid-rigging risk, and the ability of procurement systems to support competition, innovation and long-term value.

Council Members strongly welcomed the focus on procurement and agreed it is an important lever for growth, competition and innovation. Discussion focused on how procurement can better support SMEs, scale-ups and long-term economic outcomes, as well as the need to balance competition, resilience and wider strategic objectives.

Council Members discussed the importance of addressing cultural and behavioural barriers within procurement systems, alongside structural reforms. Members noted that risk aversion, capability gaps and incentives can limit innovation, market entry and long-term value, and discussed the importance of supporting domestic capability without adopting a simplistic “Buy British” approach.

Several Council Members identified action on bid rigging as an achievable short-term priority and encouraged continued engagement on practical reforms.

Agenda item 4: Business Perceptions survey

The CMA presented findings from its Business Perceptions Survey, noting strong awareness of competition and consumer protection law but lower understanding of some more technical regulatory requirements. The survey also found relatively low awareness of the CMA as an organisation, particularly among smaller businesses.

Council Members discussed how businesses engage with regulation and regulatory guidance. Members noted that practical outcomes and tangible benefits are often more important to businesses than awareness of individual regulators, and highlighted the role that sector bodies, trade associations and existing business networks can play in supporting engagement and understanding.

The CMA welcomed views on how to strengthen engagement with businesses at scale and increase awareness of competition and consumer protection issues.

Agenda item 5: CMA Annual Report and Accounts

The CMA presented its Annual Report and Accounts, including new performance metrics and an expanded approach to impact assessment, and invited views on how the report presents the CMA’s priorities, impact and future direction.

Council Members discussed the balance between narrative and metrics in reporting the CMA’s impact. Members suggested that performance metrics should support regular assessment of the CMA’s progress, rather than being treated only as an annual reporting exercise.

Council Members also highlighted the potential value of understanding the costs as well as the benefits of regulation, and noted the role of international benchmarking, stakeholder feedback and consumer feedback in assessing organisational performance and impact.

Agenda item 6: Ideas for future Growth and Investment Council sessions

Council Members discussed possible future topics for the Council, including technology policy, AI, sovereignty, devolution, procurement reform and the changing role of regulation in supporting growth and investment.

Members also suggested future discussion on regional growth, the consumer enforcement landscape, emerging enforcement issues, market-led approaches to supporting the economy, and how businesses can be involved earlier in shaping practical solutions.

The CMA also suggested returning to its Stakeholder Engagement Survey at a future meeting, and noted opportunities for future engagement on wider issues relating to competitiveness, economic resilience and the regulatory environment.

Summary and closing remarks

The CMA thanked members for a wide-ranging and substantive discussion, noting particularly the richness of the conversation on procurement and the value of returning to this theme in future meetings.

The CMA proposed continued engagement over the summer, including on procurement, with the possibility of drawing on Council Members’ insights, case studies and practical examples to support further work.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for 10 November 2026.