BITC’s statement on The Mais Lecture
BITC’s statement on The Mais Lecture
On 17 March 2026, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave the Mais Lecture at Bayes Business School. The Mais Lecture is an annual lecture for the banking and finance sectors, attended by senior practitioners and academics.
Business in the Community (BITC) champions responsible business as essential for long term economic growth and resilience. with the belief that inclusive growth does not happen by chance, but requires:
- A clear focus on places that have been left behind
- Genuine Partnership – collaboration across public, private and VCSE sectors
- Businesses stepping forward with purpose and accountability
Responding to the Mais Lecture 2026, Amanda Anderson, Director of Place, Operations, and Strategy at Business in the Community, said:
“The Mais Lecture 2026 was a timely reminder that economic growth only really works when it is fair, inclusive, and rooted in place. What resonated most was the emphasis on partnership: an active state working alongside business to build prosperity that is shared, resilient, and long‑term. That framing aligns strongly with our Pride of Place model. Our work at Business in the Community echoes what was discussed at the Mais Lecture about place-based working, fairness, and inclusivity. At its heart, our Pride of Place programme recognises that business has a critical role to play, beyond investment; as employers, recruiters, consumers, and partners in local economies. When businesses commit to place, work with local leaders and communities, and focus on good jobs, skills, procurement, and inclusive growth, the impact goes far deeper than any single intervention.
“At BITC, our role is to convene: bringing together business, local government, anchor institutions, and VCSE partners around a shared vision for a place, and converting intent into practical, measurable commitments. We use our national reach and local insight to connect decision‑makers, broker collaboration, and share what works, creating the conditions for long‑term, locally-led delivery. Our ambition is to grow the Place Movement: increasing the number and diversity of businesses involved; strengthening the peer network between places; and building a bigger pipeline of shared learning and action so that more communities can benefit from inclusive growth, better jobs, and stronger local economies.
“We know from experience there are many purpose-led businesses across the UK ready to engage and be part of the solution. When business aligns behind a shared local mission, grounded in evidence and community insight, it can help unlock opportunity, rebuild pride and strengthen local economies for the long term. The challenge now is turning ambition into action. Pride of Place shows that business can and should be part of the solution. This is not a ‘nice to have’, growing economies and thriving places is good for business.”
Notes to editor