Convened by the Secretary of State, Dr Liam Fox, the Board of Trade will work to boost exports in the UK, attract inward investors to all regions and ensure the benefits of free trade are spread equally across the country. The Board brings together prominent figures from business and politics from each part of the UK.

The Board will meet four times a year with meetings rotated around the UK guaranteeing all parts of the union have a chance to raise the issues most important to them. Some of its distinguished advisers include Collette Roche, Acting Managing Director of Manchester Airport, former President of the Board of Trade, Patricia Hewitt and Ian Curle CEO of the Edrington Group, one of Scotland’s leading premium spirits companies and producer of The Famous Grouse whisky, among others.

The first meeting of the Board Took place in Bristol last week and was attended by representatives from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as advisers from across the United Kingdom who will provide local expertise to guide the Board on trade and investment matters.

President of the Board of Trade, Dr Liam Fox said, “There is a world of opportunity out there for UK businesses and the Board of Trade will help identify and unlock new export markets and encourage further inward investment.  The advisers on the Board will act as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the modern businesses community to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread equally across the country.”

The meeting will be held today at Bristol Robotics Lab, a collaborative partnership between the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and the University of Bristol. The lab, which brings together over 200 academics, researchers and industry practitioners, is the most comprehensive academic centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK, and is spearheading Britain’s efforts to become a world leader in modern advanced robotics.

President of the Board of Trade, Dr Fox has also invited advisers from across the United Kingdom to provide local expertise and guide the Board on trade and investment matters. The agenda of the meeting will include a Bristol Airport presentation on regional transport access, an area that will be key in the promotion of future UK exports for the whole of the UK.

Commenting on the new Board of Trade, CEO of ACID, Dids Macdonald, OBE said, “We welcome a new Board of Trade and would like to take part in discussions on how the Board will promote a culture of exporting and investing across the whole of the UK, to celebrate the very best of British business, already creating jobs and driving prosperity through their international outlook. Intellectual property is at the very heart of business and especially design which has seen seismic export growth between 2009 and 2013, so should be protected at all costs.”

The Board of Trade will meet 4 times a year with meetings rotated around the UK guaranteeing all parts of the union have a chance to raise the issues most important to them. To ensure all voices are heard representatives from each region will be invited to the meetings.

More information here.