The annual Ipsos MORI Captains of Industry study finds that at the time of interviewing, 58% of Captains felt that since the referendum the decision to leave the EU has had a negative impact on their business. A third of Captains (31%) didn’t feel that Brexit had made any difference to the business situation for their company and just 11% feel it has made a positive impact. Business leaders of the FTSE 500 anticipate a more negative business situation in the next 12 months. Two thirds (66%) feel the business situation of their company will be more negative post Brexit, with only 13% suggesting it will have a positive impact. However, the data suggests that this could improve in the long term, with a third of those interviewed (32%) feeling they would see a positive impact on their business in five years’ time and 45% expected to feel a negative impact.

1. 61%Get worse
of Industry
Captains
Captains predict a worsening of the UK’s economy, with a
dramatic shift in attitude from previous years
The Economy
There has also been a change in opinion on government policies
improving the state of the economy
2016 Study Results
For more information please contact:
andrew.croll@ipsos.com
juliette.albone@ipsos.com
rebecca.maguire@ipsos.com
N.B.: Government as at Autumn 2016
ral
on
General
election
General
election
General
election
‘98 ‘00 ‘02 ‘04 ‘06 ‘08 ‘10 ‘12 ‘14
General
election
‘16
5% Improve
eral
ion
General
election
General
election
General
election
‘98 ‘00 ‘02 ‘04 ‘06 ‘08 ‘10 ‘12 ‘14 ‘16
General
election
45%
Agree
21%
Disagree
32%
Neither
nor

2. Brexit News
87%
of Captains see dealing with Brexit
renegotiations/uncertainy as the most
important issue facing Britain today
Brexit
16%
see the US Election Results
as the most important issue
facing Britain
25%
The most important problems facing their companies today are:
Uncertainty around Brexit
Lack of industrial
investment
and economic
growth
Finding and
retaining the
best staff
20%
12%

3. 20%
Agree
29%
Neither
agree nor
disagree
50%
Disagree
1 in 5Captains agree that they are confident
in the ability of the Government to negotiate the
best deal possible for UK businesses
Most important things to obtain
for Captains’ businesses during
negotiations to leave the EU:
Movement of/
access to skilled
labour
Securing free
trade and the
Single Market
Captains anticipate a more negative business situation in the next
12 months, but with improvement in the long term
More positive
Makes no difference
More negative
No opinion
45%66%58%
11%
31%
13%
18%
32%
22%
Since the referendum In 12 months time In 5 years time
54%
47%

4. 80%
According to Captains, infrastructure investment priorities should
lie in:
Industrial Strategy
High speed broadband
New housing
supply
Airports
Infrastructure
Top policies that Captains state
the government’s industrial
strategy should include:
Encourage
investment in
infrastructure
Support more
training/skills
development
1 in 3agree that the
current industrial policy
will strengthen the North
economy
18%
Disagree
32%
Agree
46%
Neither
agree nor
disagree
68%
66%
19%
16%

5. 35 Years of Captains
No board
meeting
10:04
Fri, 12 May
71%
women
on boards
of Captains have no female
executives on their main
boards
Despite this...
64%
Agree
21%
Neither
agree nor
disagree
11%
Disagree
4%
No opinion
are actively trying to
increase the number of
women on their main
board
have no female
non-executive
board members
If you compare the world today with 1981:
say the security
of the UK energy
supply is worse
think that diversity
in the workforce is
better
86%agree that they actively promote and champion diversity
86% Agree 6% Disagree
5% Neither nor
3% No opinion
66% 89%
17%
64%

6. TECHNICAL NOTE
Ipsos MORI conducted 114 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, Financial Directors or other executive board
directors. Interviews were primarily carried out face to face (8 were carried out over the telephone) between September and December 2016.
Only top mentions indicated throughout. For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/IpsosCaptains
13%
5%
8%
5%
6%
8%
Sir James Dyson has been named the “Most Impressive Business
Person in Britain”, with John Lewis remaining as the most admired
British company for a third year
Business Leaders
1st
2nd
3rd
Judging Organisations
‘Extremely important’ factors for Captains of Industry when
judging a company or organisation:
79% 54% 48%
Acting with
honesty and
ingrerity
Quality of
customer
service
Quality of
management
Sir
James
Dyson
Sir
Martin
Sorrell
Dame
Carolyn
McCall