2009 has seen our members facing the most difficult economic circumstances and uncertainty that we could have ever have imagined when we were established in 1997.

As our organisation has grown in those 12 years we have been proud to have as part of our membership a broad spectrum of industries; manufacturing, retail, financial services, energy, transport, who rather uniquely, are represented by the blue-chip, SME’s, Trade bodies and Charities that give a voice to each of these sectors.

While 2009 will prove to be an incredibly challenging year for The Enterprise Forum’s members we have received a record number of new members in the first few months and hope to continue to do so. Providing an unparalleled programme of meetings and events with all Opposition Frontbench Teams – many long standing spokesmen will be returning while we welcome new members of the Shadow Frontbench and continue to apply our mission statement ‘Bringing Business Closer to Politics’ on a purely informative and policy level. We encourage the highest level of dialogue to ensure that the representatives of the Opposition are fully aware of the issues and concerns of the business community both in the short-term and future policy development for the future of UK plc.

Looking forward to the year ahead, we expect infrastructure, long-term strategy and investment initiatives along with general policy direction will be of most interest to our members in the current economic climate.

In addition to our core-programme of Shadow Frontbench spokesmen we will also host non-Party speakers and will welcome the return to a full events programme at the Conservative Party Conference and our Brussels Programme later in the year. We also look to widening the scope for our policy programme, and as ever have received much support, encouragement and guidance from our members.

In January the Enterprise Forum launched its first newsletter and have received very positive feedback as this gives EF directors, members and Conservative Spokesmen the opportunity to address specific issues with all EF members and associates.

I hope 2009 will build on our strengths, developed over many years of hosting meetings, events and policy sessions with a record number of attendees and themes covered.

If you are not currently a member, I encourage you to get in touch and come along to a meeting, meet the Forum’s directors and learn more about how our work can be beneficial to your organisations public affairs agenda. If you are not already on our mailing list – sign up via info@enterprise-forum.co.uk for regular updates to our programme and membership information.

Best wishes

Victoria Fawcett