CBI members unhappy about possible Make UK tie-up - report

The CBI could be facing further member resignations if plans to merge with fellow trade body Make UK go ahead, it was reported on Thursday.

Earlier this month, the crisis-hit organisation confirmed it was in discussions with Make UK, which represents the manufacturing sector, about forging closer ties. Both sides said that early stage "positive" discussions were underway, and did not rule out a potential merger.

But Sky News reported on Thursday that some CBI members were unhappy at the prospect of a tie-up, and were considering resigning should it go ahead.

In particular, a number from outside of the manufacturing sector are not interested in participating in an organisation dominated by Make UK’s leadership, Sky noted.

CBI was the UK’s pre-eminent business lobby group until earlier this year, when it was engulfed in a series of sexual scandals and multiple allegations from female employees. The revelations prompted the government to suspend all its dealings with the CBI, and a wave of high profile members quit, including Aviva, BP, Tesco, NatWest and KPMG.

A new director general - former chief economist Rain Newton-Smith - was brought in and the organisation has undertaken a major review of its culture.

But the fall in membership numbers has dented its income, and it has already told staff that it will need to restructure. It is also closing most of its overseas offices.