Policy Blog

Brands and the Growth Mission

When Keir Starmer entered office, he set out an ambitious vision: a decade of national renewal, underpinned by stronger economic growth. That ambition is both necessary and urgent. Yet recent figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development suggest his government is off the pace —the UK is forecast to deliver the second lowest growth in the G7.

If growth is the priority, brands should be part of the solution.

The brand business model is built on long-term investment: in innovation, in quality, in people and in consumer trust. It is a model that raises standards, supports skilled jobs and drives competitiveness at home and abroad. But it does not operate in a vacuum—it depends on the right policy environment.

Where intellectual property is respected, where misleading practices are tackled, and where competition is fair, brands invest more. Where those conditions weaken, so too does investment.

A more brand-friendly environment is not a niche ask—it is a practical route to growth. If the Government is serious about unlocking investment and raising productivity, it should see brands not as a peripheral concern, but as a central part of the UK’s economic strategy.