The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is mobilising a new business council to rival the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), according to The Times.
The move comes in the wake of numerous high-profile resignations from the CBI, following allegations of sexual harassment within the organisation, and ahead of a key vote on its future.
The BCC's council, designed to fill the representation gap left by the CBI's ongoing crisis, counts Heathrow, IHG Hotels, and BP among its founding members.
The BCC's director-general, Shevaun Haviland, stated that many leading corporates are in search of a different representation.
With the CBI membership split on supporting its new director-general, Rain Newton-Smith, and her proposed organisational reforms, some companies have expressed intentions to abstain from the vote or not renew their memberships.
However, several firms including Siemens, Microsoft UK, and Esso, have endorsed the CBI's overhaul in a joint letter published in The Times.