Corporate Affairs Community
Communication, messaging, risk, reputation, influencing government
Advocating for retail by communicating its transformation, protecting reputation, and influencing economic and policy environments.
Retail is transforming fast as shopping habits change and businesses invest in new ways of serving their customers.
The Corporate Affairs community ensures that there is a loud and clear voice describing the causes and effects of this transformation and advocating on behalf of the industry. We are focused on promoting and protecting the reputation of the retail industry with its stakeholders, and influencing the economic and policy environment to promote investment and growth. We work with the UK government, and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Current Campaigns
2025 Manifesto for Retail
Kickstarting growth in the everywhere economy
Buy Into Retail
Unlocking economic growth, everywhere; Providing higher skilled, more productive and better paid jobs; And helping the UK build a greener tomorrow.
Budget Campaign
Outlining the impact of the Autumn Budget on the retail industry
National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG)
Tackling violence and abuse against retail workers.
Meetings
Monthly campaign meeting
Get the latest updates across our priority campaigns, and input to our forward plans
Fortnightly comms call
Check in on live media issues and shape our messaging
Every other Tuesday, 12pm-12.40pm.
Devolved Nations
Scottish Retail Consortium
Welsh Retail Consortium
North Ireland Retail Consortium
Members
The following key roles and the teams that report into them:
Corporate Affairs and Communications Directors
Executives/Senior Managers with responsibilities for media relations, communications, government and public affairs across the UK and devolved nations
Associate Members interested in political engagement
Latest Content
Advocating for retail by communicating its transformation, protecting reputation, and influencing economic and policy environments
FeaturedArticleBRC Campaign Coverage
27 Mar 2026- Member Access
FeaturedArticleVote Retail 2026
26 Mar 2026 - Member Access
ArticleCorporate Affairs Community March Meeting Notes
26 Mar 2026 - Member Access
ArticleVote Retail 2026 - What we've learned from the Holyrood Election Phony War
26 Mar 2026 
Press ReleaseConfidence collapses as war escalates
26 Mar 2026
Press ReleaseMiddle East instability raises immediate inflation concerns
25 Mar 2026
ArticleParliament debates government’s new youth employment support package
25 Mar 2026
Press ReleaseBRC responds to Nutrient Profiling Model consultation
25 Mar 2026
BlogFree tool: assess your organisation's change readiness
24 Mar 2026- Member AccessArticle
Vote Retail 2026 – SRC Analysis of the Reform UK Scotland Manifesto
20 Mar 2026
Upcoming Events
EventGovt Prompt Payments decisions - meet DBT
Thu 16 April11:00 - 12:00Teams
EventWebinarThe investment that keeps paying dividends: from Summer School to the shop floor
Wed 29 - Tue 14 Apr09:30 - 10:30Livestorm
EventLeadership ProgrammeBRC Leaders Summer School 2026
Mon 1 Jun - Fri 31 JulThe Form Rooms, London
What our members say
The BRC is invaluable in bringing retailers together to discuss crucial topics and then lobby the retailer message to government on our behalf. The BRC’s media presence and focus on promoting the interests of retailers allows us to align on issues impacting the sector.
A very effective business network that provides insight and coordinates industry opinion.
The BRC continues to do an excellent job of supporting the retail sector and its individual members on a wide variety of issues.
Adds a lot to our business, great sounding board, very well connected and able to influence.
A positive and considered voice for our industry, useful learning/ business-focused communities that help our team in their roles, and data insights that help us benchmark our performance.
Community Manager
Jim Bligh
Corporate Affairs Director | BRC
Jim leads the BRC's corporate affairs, including communications and public affairs, around the UK. Jim and the team ensure the BRC is well-represented and positioned in Westminster, Whitehall, the devolved administrations, regional and local government, and in the media and social media.
Before joining the BRC, Jim was director of corporate affairs and packaging policy at the Food and Drink Federation. He has led corporate affairs for some leading global brands in the UK, including PepsiCo, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and ManpowerGroup. Jim started his career at the CBI, where he was head of policy for employment, skills, pensions, exports, and public service reform. Jim is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a former visiting fellow at the University of Oxford, and holds degrees from Cambridge and Durham universities.
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