Bringing business and politics closer together since 1997

The Board of Directors of The Enterprise Forum has voted to freeze the annual membership renewal fee for two years, recognising the budget pressures and rising costs many members face.

This means that the cost of a renewal will remain unchanged for any renewal in the next 24 months, i.e. to 31 August 2028.

The Enterprise Forum provides a two-way channel of communication and an independent middle ground where business can meet and debate policy with key policymakers, and an open forum for networking with other industry professionals. In 2026 alone we have already engaged (or will engage) with six of the main political parties in England, Scotland and Wales through a full programme of events.

We typically hold several events each month. These include manifesto discussions, meetings with select committee members and ministers, business lunches and receptions at the major party conferences, specialist roundtables, and sessions with Metro Mayors. The programme this year spans Westminster, Holyrood and the Senedd, covering topics from growth and industrial strategy to skills, trade, energy and the cost of doing business.

Membership will continue to deliver engagement with decision-makers, timely insight, and networking with peers and partners across sectors—all without any increase in cost for the next two years.

The Board of Directors is grateful for The Enterprise Forum’s members continued support.

The Enterprise Forum, in partnership with the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), successfully delivered a series of in-person business discussions with Wales’ major political parties ahead of the 2026 Senedd Elections.

Over two days on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 January 2026, business leaders and members engaged directly with senior representatives from the Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Labour, Welsh Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK. The Plaid Cymru session was held on Thursday 26 February 2026. The focused one-hour sessions gave attendees a valuable opportunity to question and discuss each party’s economic, infrastructure, and business priorities as they prepare their manifestos for the upcoming Senedd Elections.

The full programme included:

• Plaid Cymru - Luke Fletcher MS, Economy Spokesperson (Thursday 26 February 2026)
• Welsh Conservatives - Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives
• Reform UK - Cllr Jason O’Connell
• Welsh Labour - Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
• Welsh Liberal Democrats - David Chadwick MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Wales

All events took place in Cardiff and were held exclusively for Enterprise Forum members and partners.

With profound sadness, The Enterprise Forum mourns the passing of Oliver Colvile. Oliver served, with vigour and humour, on the board of the Forum from 2005 to 2010. He stood down from the board on being elected to Parliament as the member for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, a constituency he served with huge diligence until 2017. On ceasing to be an MP, Oliver demonstrated his commitment to the Forum by rejoining the board in 2019 until poor health forced his resignation in 2023.

We will greatly miss our lovely friend and colleague.

Oliver Colvile died on the morning of 21 October 2025. His death was announced by Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP in the House of Commons. Tributes were made by Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP on behalf of the Government and Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP.