Burnham set to meet bosses to reassure over growth agenda

Andy Burnham will next week meet scores of leading company bosses for the first time as the government seeks to reassure the private sector about its growth agenda ahead of a budget which executives believe could trigger further rises in the corporate tax burden.

Sky News has learnt that the prime minister will host a "business and enterprise reception" at 10 Downing Street next Monday.

Sources said it would be the most significant gathering of business leaders hosted by Mr Burnham since he replaced Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister in July.

Sectors of the economy, notably banking, have expressed concern that John Healey, the new chancellor, will use his inaugural budget next month to hit them with windfall taxes - with executives and trade associations lining up to warn that such moves will ultimately damage the economy by driving business activity elsewhere.

Mr Healey did little to dampen speculation about those tax-raising fears in a keynote speech about the economy on Monday.

Some bosses have complained that there has been little proactive engagement to date from Mr Burnham and other cabinet ministers with their companies, although Whitehall sources insist that parliament's summer recess has played a part in this.

An invitation to next Monday's reception - seen by Sky News - said: "Bringing together leading entrepreneurs, investors, CEOs and business leaders from across the UK, this event will provide an opportunity to discuss the government's growth agenda and the role of business in driving prosperity across the country".

To date, Mr Burnham's principal private sector interventions have revolved around the fate of Thames Water and broader questions about public ownership of Britain's utilities.

After his predecessor took the decision to take British Steel into full state ownership, at least temporarily, the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, insisted on Monday that he was not interested in running private companies after Jaguar Land Rover confirmed a report in The Sunday Times that it would axe 4,000 jobs over the next two years.

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A government spokesperson said: "The prime minister has pledged to give people and businesses the breathing space they need to thrive.

"He has set out a vision for a more agile state, where decisions are taken closer to communities, employers and investors.

"We continue to engage regularly with businesses, employers and investors across the country as part of our commitment to work in partnership to deliver growth, create work opportunities for young people and ensure policy is shaped by those creating jobs and driving investment."

(c) Sky News 2026: Burnham set to meet bosses to reassure over growth agenda