Please click on the links below for press releases relating to the work I do.
You can also find pdf's of other articles by clicking the links to the left.


Business remains reluctant to back Labour
In an interview assessing the Government's performance over the last 18 months and what small businesses want to see from politicians ahead of a general election, Russel Griggs, chairman of the small and medium enterprise council at the CBI said that all parties had to find ways to encourage growth.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/7129710/Business-remains-reluctant-to-back-Labour.html

Interview on BBC News 24 Business section at 1440, 1st February 2010

Scots firms lag behind fresh export optimism
SMALLER manufacturers are seeing the first signs of an export-led recovery as optimism about overseas sales prospects reaches a 15-year high, according to a report published today by the CBI........Russel Griggs, chairman of the CBI's SME council, said: "Smaller manufacturers have been pinning their hopes on the relative weakness of sterling to boost overseas orders and offset weak demand at home.....
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/industry/Scots-firms-lag-behind-fresh.6030025.jp

Well-chosen silver panther can make your outfit purr

SO, NON-executive directors, value for money or unnecessary luxury? Opinion, it has to be said, is divided........Professor Russel Griggs believes a good non-exec is there to help, not to interfere, but must be able to challenge and add value.
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sos-business-columnists/Michelle-Rodger-Wellchosen-silver-panther.5662537.jp

House of Commons Business and Enterprise and Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme Evidence Hearing
Russel Griggs gave evidence on behalf of CBI


Interview: Russel Griggs - Professor's prophet motive
IT'S NOT easy to predict the bottom of the cycle when the R-word still stands for recession rather than recovery, but Russel Griggs is trying his best to detect some positive signs amid the gloom....
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business/Interview-Russel-Griggs--Professor39s.5142650.jp

Scotsman.com Business - Mickey Mouse part of Griggs' working cast ...
Probably not many - except for Professor Russel Griggs. But as an erstwhile colleague of Professor Griggs during his time in charge of the Scottish Pavilion ...
http://business.scotsman.com/business/Mickey-Mouse-part-of
-Griggs.3497156.jp


Small business confidence waning across Scotland
CONFIDENCE among Scotland's small businesses has fallen for the fifth quarter in a row, according to figures released yesterday by Bank of Scotland.......Russel Griggs, chairman of the CBI's small business council, said: "In general, times are tough, especially for financial services, house builders and for the big retailers. But when you talk to manufacturers, demand is holding up. There's enough resilient demand to make people think that things might get better."
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/business/Small-business-confidence-waning-across.4327574.jp

Small business must look to jobless for new staff, says Griggs
SMALL businesses should take on more unemployed people from the government's New Deal programme, according to one of Scotland's leading business figures.
Russell Griggs, chairman of private training provider A4e and head of the CBI's small business council, maintained that companies had benefited from the original New Deal scheme, introduced by Gordon Brown as chancellor in 1998.....
http://business.scotsman.com/economics/Small-business-must--.4287234.jp

Firms urged to make more of the UK's four markets
DEVOLUTION has benefited small businesses across the UK by providing more diverse markets for their goods and services, according to a leading industry figure.
Professor Russel Griggs, chairman of the Confederation of British Industry's small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) council, has called on business to exploit the opportunities presented by devolution.
http://business.scotsman.com/industry?articleid=4004937

Invoice borrowing ban to be lifted
Move is key part of government strategy.....Russel Griggs, chairman of the CBI’s small business council, is among those who have lobbied for the change in central governement procurement policy following a similar move by the Scottish parliament later last year.....
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dcac715e-ef9c-11dc-8a17-0000779fd2ac.
html?nclick_check=1


Get out from behind your desks and help business cut red tape, urges review group
Progressive approach to regulation could give Scots a competitive edge.......Professor Russel Griggs of CBI Scotland who chairs the Regulatory Review Group said the proposed new approach to creating, managing and monitoring regulation would "remove the fence" between regulators and regulated.
http://www.sundayherald.com/business/businessnews/
display.var.2228278.0.get_out_from_behind_your_desks
_and_help_business_cut_red_tape_urges_review_group.php


What impact will the government's plan to drop the ban on assignment have?
Small businesses have previously found it hard to bid for public sector contracts when they could use invoice finance to help cash flow.......Professor Russel Griggs....'Firstly, we need to be clear that this was not a 'ban'...."
Credit Today April 2008

Appointment of new Chief Executive Officer
The Institute of Occupational Medicine has appointed Dr Philip Woodhead as its new Chief Executive.
...Professor Russel Griggs, chairman, IOM, said: "I am delighted to announce our new appointments. ....
http://www.iom-world.org/news_archive/ceo.php

Scotland helps SMEs win government contracts with new procurement rules
..."I would like to thank Professor Russel Griggs for the work he and his Regulatory Review Group have done in bringing this to our attention..."
http://www.publictechnology.net/article_avantgo.php?sid=12418

Health and Safety Executive (Scotland) - "get a life", says HSC
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has urged people to focus on real risks - those that cause real harm and suffering - and stop concentrating effort on trivial risks and petty health and safety....... CBI Scotland's Professor Russel Griggs, added:"Employers should be free to get on with the job of managing those risks that have the potential to cost their business and society dear, rather than being diverted by overbearing bureaucracy....."
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?NewsAreaID=2&
ReleaseID=222439


CHANCELLOR'S CAPITAL GAINS TAX MOVE 'UNDERMINES ENTERPRISE' - CBI CHIEF
CBI Director-General Richard Lambert has sent an open letter to Chancellor Alistair Darling, setting out the business group's deep concerns over changes to the Capital Gains Tax regime announced in the Pre-Budget Report...The letter is co-signed by Steve Sharratt, Chairman of the CBI's SME (Small & Medium Sized Enterprises) Council, and a further 12 members of the Council who run their own small or medium-sized companies. ....Russel Griggs, IMES Group
http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/
38e2a44440c22db6802567300067301b/
fa327e4893ce04d880257371003299ff?OpenDocument


Health and safety action plan
A new £1.2 million plan to improve the health and safety of Scottish workers and the public was published today.....Professor Russel Griggs, of Imes Group Limited, who represents the Confederation of British Industry (Scotland) on PHASS, also welcomed the Plan: "Good health and safety is part and parcel of being a good employer and a successful business..."
http://openscotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/03/28102226

Bring in Business to Help Our NEETS
Barely a week goes by without a disturbing headline lamenting the growing of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs).....Professor Russel Griggs