[2] Incorporated by royal charter,[3] its mission is to promote the conditions in which businesses of all sizes and sectors in the UK can compete and prosper for the benefit of all.

The CBI's membership includes companies from the FTSE 100, mid-caps, SMEs, privately owned businesses, trade associations, universities and other public bodies.

[6] The most recent Director-General was Tony Danker, who assumed the role on 30 November 2020, but had to step aside after misconduct allegations in March 2023, with Matthew Fell being appointed on an interim basis.

[12] In March 2023, The Guardian reported on a sexual harassment complaint made against CBI director-general Tony Danker with additional allegations by other staff members.

[7] On 11 April 2023, the business group appointed its former Chief Economist Rain Newton-Smith as its new Director General, one month after she had left the CBI to join Barclays.

[26] In May 2023, the CBI announced that it had appointed Principia Advisory to assist it to "identify the root causes of past failure, and recommend the changes required for cultural renewal and rebuilding trust".

[29] In September 2023, it was reported that the CBI was seeking around £3 million from its members within days of its Annual General Meeting in order to avoid 'financial oblivion'.

[32] In March 2024, The Guardian reported that the CBI had used gagging clauses (non-disclosure agreements, NDAs) to prevent staff from discussing their sexual misconduct and bullying experiences at the organisation.

[33] The exodus of fee-paying members had made CBI's financial situation precarious, forced it to lay off one-third of its 300 staff in a year.

[39] The CBI publishes Business Voice,[40] a monthly magazine for its membership and 'Intelligence FIRST',[41] an occasional publication providing strategic guidance for members on regulatory and economic change.

Survey data found that only around 50% of people in the UK think that business contributes positively to society and the campaign was initiated to play a part in increasing that figure.

A website and social media channels have been set up to openly promote the contribution business makes whilst enabling people and organisations to give their opinions on this.