It had its origins in the Employers' Advisory Council established in 1917 to consider the issue of industrial and labour relations.
The Federation of British Industries had originally been a member of the council, but concentrated on all issues apart from industrial relations and left the council in 1919.
A major constitutional difference between the BEC and the FBI was that only employers' organisations could join the BEC rather than individual businesses and firms.
In June 1922, the NCEO moved into new offices at Millbank House in London.
This article about an organisation in the United Kingdom is a stub.