The Trade Association Forum (TAF) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have today announced a new strategic partnership designed to strengthen the collective voice of UK trade associations and businesses in national policy making.
The partnership is formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under which TAF will become a formal member of the CBI, while the CBI will receive honorary membership of TAF. The agreement will enable both organisations to share insight, expertise and networks, helping to ensure business policy is informed by robust, evidence-led engagement from across the economy.
By working together, TAF and the CBI will amplify the role of trade associations in shaping economic policy and improve coordination between sector-level expertise and national advocacy.
Richard Smith, Chair of the Trade Association Forum, said:
“This partnership marks a significant step forward in recognising the vital role trade associations play in shaping the UK’s economic landscape. By working closely with the CBI, we can ensure our members’ voices are heard at the highest levels and that their insights inform the policies that affect their sectors.”
Henry Aldridge, Director of Business Networks at the CBI, commented:
“We’re delighted to partner with TAF and welcome them into the CBI community. Trade associations are vital to good policy making, and this partnership allows us to better represent the collective business voice as well as to broaden our reach to support more associations across the country. Together, we can deliver more inclusive, impactful advocacy for UK business.”
The MoU outlines shared objectives, including:
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Promoting trade associations as partners in economic growth.
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Sharing intelligence and insights to support effective advocacy.
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Supporting trade associations through joint events and communications.
Both organisations will retain their distinct membership offers and areas of focus. TAF will continue to support trade associations themselves through networking, best-practice sharing and advocacy for the role of associations, while the CBI will maintain its focus on advocacy, economic research and direct engagement with government and policymakers.
Together, the collective membership of TAF and the CBI represents more than 350 trade associations and hundreds of thousands of businesses across the UK.