BUSINESS AT BREAKFAST: ECONOMIC INSIGHT FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS

AEO’s inaugural Business at Breakfast in Manchester provided senior leaders with timely and candid analysis of the UK and global economy from Danni Hewson, former BBC broadcaster and now a leading markets commentator.

Setting the tone

The morning began with a commitment to leave a legacy in Manchester, raising funds for Manchester Central Food Bank and Invisible Cities, supported by event sponsor Map Your Show. Their light-hearted activation energised the room while underlining the value of business events in creating positive local impact.

Macro forces at play

Drawing on her years presenting BBC 5 Live’s Wake Up to Money, Danni Hewson offered a clear-eyed overview of the UK economy at a moment of volatility.

“Inflation is proving more sticky, particularly on essentials like food. Prices go up, but they don’t come down.” – Danni Hewson

Key insights included:

• Budget timing matters. With the Budget scheduled for late November, businesses are likely to delay decisions - particularly problematic for retail and hospitality heading into peak season.
• Inflation and borrowing costs. Inflation remains around 4%, while gilt yields have hit 27-year highs, leaving limited fiscal room to manoeuvre.
• Resilient but fragile growth. The UK has outperformed some European peers but manufacturing is under pressure, while services show relative strength.
• Policy watchpoints. Potential reforms to capital gains, business rates, and council tax are being weighed; employer National Insurance remains a major concern for costs and confidence.
• Global ripple effects. US protectionism and questions around central-bank independence could quickly spill over into UK markets.
• The talent challenge. Persistent skills shortages, especially in AI and digital, demand a blend of domestic training and pragmatic migration policies.
• Visibility for exhibitions. Unlike headline-grabbing concerts, the exhibitions sector’s economic impact is often overlooked. Danni urged the industry to push its measurable GDP contribution more forcefully into the national conversation.

“Your industry doesn’t just deliver economic benefits - it creates shop windows for business, powering growth far beyond the show floor.” – Danni Hewson

Strategic implications for leaders

In a Q&A chaired by past AEO chair Rachel Swann, leaders explored how these themes apply in practice:

• How to sustain confidence in the run-up to the Budget.
• Managing wage pressures in a tightening labour market.
• Strengthening UK–EU alignment to ease trade and mobility barriers.
• Communicating the exhibitions industry’s GDP impact more clearly to policymakers and the public.

Conclusion

For senior leaders, the inaugural Business at Breakfast cut through noise with grounded economic insight. While uncertainty remains - on inflation, policy, and global trade; the UK economy has resilience, but confidence must be nurtured.

And within that story, the exhibitions industry has a central role. It hosts growth, catalyses it, driving investment into cities, sectors, and supply chains. As Danni highlighted, making that impact visible will be vital as leaders prepare for a pivotal Budget and the year ahead.

A huge thank you to Map Your Show for their sponsorship at the first edition of Business at Breakfast.