Interview (John Cridland)

WHENEVER YOU switch on Radio 4 in the morning and hear the newscaster delivering a statement on business confidence in the UK, you can be sure that the data presented is more often than not based on a survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry. The CBI represents almost a quarter of a million businesses in Britain, from FTSE 100 behemoths to the minnows of the SME sector. From automotive to aerospace, e-business to engineering, its stated aim is to provide a voice for employers at national and international level.