Aims of Industry

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Aims of Industry was founded in 1942 as an independent free enterprise corporate lobby group by business leaders in industry. It came into existence to combat nationalisation of key British industries such as sugar, iron and steel. It campaigned against the creation of the National Health Service in 1945. It was known as Aims for Freedom and Enterprise from 1975-78 and Aims from 1978-80.

Although not directly involved in party politics, Aims of Industry is closely linked to the Conservative Party and the Freedom Association.

It makes an annual "National Free Enterprise Award", recipients of which have included F.A. Hayek, Margaret Thatcher and John Blundell.

Aims' Objectives

According to the history of Aims published by the organisation in 1982 there objectives were:

  • To defend free enterprise and freedom
  • To create a public belief in free enterprise so that the government can take the right decisions and companies can achieve their objectives.
  • To oppose, and wherever possible reduce, unnecessary government intervention by state ownership, control or excessive bureaucracy.[1]

Personnel

Its former Director and Consultant was Michael Ivens (Joint Founder and Vice-President, Freedom Association, 1975-2001).

Aims of Industry claims 800 members, with six full-time members of staff.

Funding

Past funders are thought to have included Balfour Beatty [2] and Slough Estates [3]. British American Tobacco supported Aims from 1949 until 1991 [4], [5].

Related

Aims of Industry publications

  • Aims of Industry 30 years of Aims of Industry London: Aims of Industry 1972. ISBN: 090003565X
  • Sir Roland Evans Industry: The Key to National Security Aims of Industry, March 1944.
  • Michael Forsyth MP Barriers to Privatisation, Aims of Industry, 1984.
  • Hubert Starley 40 Years Fighting for Free Enterprise: A Personal History of Aims of Industry, Aims of Industry.
  • Alan Walters Money and Inflation Aims of Industry, undated, but around 1974.

References