Captains of Industry Survey: Top 10 findings

Ten things you need to know from the UK's business leaders, taken from our ‘Captains of Industry’ survey, an annual survey of more than 100 business leaders from the top 500 companies in the UK.

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  • Juliette Albone Public Affairs
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Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Ipsos’s Captains of Industry survey has been an annual milestone since 1981 and is widely acknowledged as the authoritative source of opinion on Britain’s business leaders.

In a year where lockdowns and the impacts of Brexit have led to major changes in the ways that UK businesses operate, we reflect on the key challenges (and opportunities) that emerge as business leaders balance future strategy decisions alongside issues such as sustainability, diversity, levelling up and more.

Business leaders are optimistic about economic recovery - Ipsos

Battle to retain and attract skilled workers is a real challenge - Ipsos

However, further support is needed to help businesses compete internationally - Ipsos

Ensuring effective team collaboration is the biggest challenge for the hybrid office - Ipsos

Improved employee well-being is a priority in the post-pandemic blended office - Ipsos

Inclusion & Diversity become increasingly urgent for boards across the UK - Ipsos

Digital infrastructure should be a priority for investment in Britain - Ipsos

The rise in CSR is more important now than ever - Ipsos

Most Captains feel their business could do more to reduce its environmental impact - Ipsos

Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, named the most impressive business person in Britain today - Ipsos

Technical note

Ipsos conducted 107 interviews with participants from the top 500 companies by turnover and the top 100 by Capital employed in the UK. Participants were Chairmen, Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors, Chief Operating Officers, Finance Directors or other executive board directors. Interviews were carried out by telephone/ video conferencing due to COVID-19. Fieldwork took place between May – August 2021.
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The author(s)
  • Juliette Albone Public Affairs

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