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.
For examples of recent policy wins on behalf of members from this and other communities, check out our Member Value Statement 2026.
Current Campaigns
2026 Buy into Retail Manifesto
Buy Into Retail
Budget Campaign
National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG)
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
- Member Access
FeaturedArticleBRC 2026 Budget Submission
28 Aug 2026 
FeaturedArticle2026 BRC Campaign Coverage
17 Jun 2026- Member AccessFeaturedArticle
A guide to the new Labour Leadership team
21 Jul 2026 - Member Access
ArticleWRC seeking member feedback on draft Welsh budget recommendations
15 Sep 2026 
Press ReleaseRetail jobs tank as employment costs soar
15 Sep 2026- Member Access
BriefingMedia Weekend Briefing
11 Sep 2026 
ArticleOpening Shift social media for members
10 Sep 2026
Press ReleaseRetailers call for ‘a Scottish Budget for Shoppers’
10 Sep 2026
ArticleFlexible, entry level work case studies
09 Sep 2026- Member Access
Govt tables amendment to Commercial Payments Bill re 60 days etc
09 Sep 2026
Upcoming Events
EventLeadership ProgrammeBRC Leadership Essentials [September Cohort]
Wed 26 Aug - Wed 28 OctThrive LMS & Teams
EventNIRC Assembly Election Manifesto "Vote Retail 2027" Launch Event
Tue 15 September12:00 - 14:00Parliament Buildings, Belfast
EventExternal EventConferenceLondon Packaging Week
Wed 16 - Thu 17 Sep10:00 - 16:00Excel London
EventLeadership ProgrammeBRC Leaders Summer School 2026
Mon 21 SeptemberThe Form Rooms, London- Member AccessEvent
WRC Retail Market Intelligence Briefing
Tue 29 September18:00 - 20:00The Senedd - Member Access
EventWRC Group Meeting - September 2026
Wed 30 September08:30 - 12:30St. David’s Hotel, Cardiff Bay 
EventWebinarRetail’s next leaders are already on the shop floor
Wed 30 September14:00LinkedIn- EventLeadership Programme
BRC Leadership Essentials [October Cohort]
Wed 7 Oct - Wed 9 DecThrive LMS & Teams - Member Access
EventRetail in the Devolved Nations 2027 – Member Briefing
Tue 13 October09:30 - 11:00The Form Rooms, 22 Tower Street, London WC2H 9NS. - EventLeadership Programme
BRC Leadership Essentials [January Cohort]
Mon 11 Jan '27 - Wed 17 Mar '27Thrive LMS & Teams
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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