Princess of Wales's Taskforce Calls for Business Investment in Early Childhood
Business investment in early childhood could unlock forty five and a half billion pounds a year for the UK economy, according to a report by the Princess of Wales’s taskforce. CEOs from leading companies call on businesses to help build a healthier society. Initiatives include apprenticeship programs, professional support, and financial toolkits for childcare providers.
A new report by the Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood, established by the Princess of Wales in March 2023, suggests that business investment in early childhood could generate £45.5bn annually for the UK economy.
Contributions include £12.2bn from enhanced social and emotional skills, £16.1bn from reduced public expenditures on remedial action, and £17.2bn from supporting working parents and caregivers.
CEOs from the Co-operative Group, NatWest, Unilever, Ikea, Iceland Foods, Aviva, Deloitte, and Lego propose various initiatives such as new apprenticeship programs, early years professional support, and sector-specific growth tools.
The Princess, currently undergoing preventive chemotherapy, expressed her enthusiasm for the report's potential impact.
Taskforce members outline five key impact areas: fostering a culture that prioritizes early childhood, providing essential family support, offering increased workplace flexibility for parents, emphasizing social-emotional skills in early development, and expanding access to quality early childhood education.
The report encourages businesses to adopt tailored initiatives without lobbying for government policy changes.
It has been briefed to key government departments.