In our latest series of leadership quotations, we hear from Jonathan and Oliver Seldon on the issues with the planning system, Kate Nicholls on the troubles facing hospitality, Rishi Sunak on protecting jobs and Nigel Skill on the importance of openness, fairness and honesty.
Kate Nicholls
‘In hospitality, the question is going from whether we are endangering jobs to are we endangering the businesses who will employ people further down the line? There is a very real danger that we will lose large chunks of the economy - in hospitality we will have insolvent businesses, businesses going into administration and therefore that engine of growth for re-employing people will be lost for good.' (The boss of trade body UKHospitality speaking to MPs on the dangers facing her sector)
Jonathan and Oliver Seldon
‘Needless layers of bureaucracy pose a huge opportunity cost to us, and mean that we cannot employ more full-time staff. The planning system needs to be made more generous for the sake of both business and communities.’ (The co-directors of North Wales’ Whitehouse Leisure Park on the difficulties of getting an extended license for the winter months).
Rishi Sunak
‘My overall focus at the moment is trying to protect as many jobs as possible. What is happening in our economy at the moment is significant and severe, many people are losing their jobs.So the focus of my intention in the short term is doing what we can to support as much employment as possible.
‘Over time we need to have sustainable public finances. That is important to me, it is important to the Government, but in the short term the best way to have long-term sustainable public finances is to protect as much employment as possible.’ (The chancellor of the exchequer on his current priorities).
Nigel Skill
‘My grandfather didn’t do anything unless he was prepared to do it well, and to do it in an open and just manner. It’s a great basis of values from which to build, and we have continued with this philosophy in mind. Although we do have a corporate values statement, a mission and a vision, this is what it can all be reduced to: being fair, open and honest.’ (The Skills Motor Coaches group chairman on his grandfather’s legacy that continues to inform the company to this day).
John Bercow
‘This is a Government that doesn't believe in accountability.’ (The former speaker of the House of Commons giving his view on Good Morning Britain).
