As usual we open with the first meeting of the new year giving a dual perspective on that ever topical subject - the UK economy. This year we were delighted to welcome Doug McWilliams, Deputy Chairman, CEBR and Andrew Goodwin, Senior UK Economist, Oxford Economics.

Doug is one of the world’s leading economists and was chosen in 2012 from over 300 applicants to become the Gresham Professor of Commerce.

His Gresham lecture series ‘The world’s greatest ever economic event’ looking at the impact of globalisation on the Western economies attracted widespread attention and large audiences.  He has recently published an updated paperback version of his book, The Flat White Economy.  After setting up CEBR, he was their Chief Executive for 20 years, and Executive Chairman. Previously he was Chief Economic Adviser to the Confederation of British Industry and Chief Economist for IBM UK.

Andrew Goodwin is an Associate Director in Oxford Economics’ Macro & Investor Services team, where he is responsible for their UK macroeconomic forecast. Andrew contributes regular articles to a number of their publications and also edits the quarterly UK Economic Outlook. He regularly commentates on the UK economic outlook in the print and broadcast media.

Andrew has been with Oxford Economics since August 2008. Prior to joining Oxford Economics, he spent three years working for Experian, where he managed the Regional Planning Service and was responsible for producing UK macroeconomic forecasts from the national level down to local authorities. Before joining Experian, Andrew spent four years as a senior economist at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), where he was responsible for producing the UK forecast, in addition to providing analysis for the CBI Industrial Trends Survey and CBI Distributive Trades Survey.

The meeting will start at 6pm. If you wish to register please email admin@spe.org.uk