Professor Joe Nellis CBE, Deputy Dean and Professor of Global Economy at Cranfield University will explore the theme: “Boom, Bust, or Stuck? The UK Economy After the Autumn Budget.”

The Autumn Budget will chart the UK’s economic course for 2026 and beyond, balancing fiscal discipline with growth ambitions. With modest productivity gains, persistent inflation, and historically high public debt, the Chancellor’s decisions on taxation, spending, and investment will have far-reaching implications for businesses and households alike. This Breakfast Briefing will offer a critical analysis of the post-Budget outlook, examining how policy choices may influence growth, employment, and living standards.

Spaces are very limited.

Programme & speakers

Professor Joe Nellis CBE, Deputy Dean and Professor of Global Economy at Cranfield University
Joe graduated from the University of Ulster with a BSc(Econ) in 1976 and was awarded the Adam Smith Tassie Medallion as the top graduate in Economics. He obtained his MA in Economics from the University of Warwick in 1979 and his PhD from Cranfield University in 1991. He was Midland Bank Research Fellow at Loughborough University (1978-81) and was appointed Director of the University of Keele's Management Science Degree (1981-84).

Joe joined Cranfield in 1984 and established the Economics Group ten years later, after his promotion to full Professorship in 1993. In 2017 the Economics Group was ranked Number 1 in the world by the FT for the teaching of economics on MBA programmes and has been consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 in the world for more than a decade. Joe has held a variety of senior posts within Cranfield including Director of the Full-Time MBA Programme, Director of Graduate Programmes and Academic Dean within the School of management. He held the post of Pro-Vice Chancellor of Cranfield University from 2005-08 and from 1st January 2014 until 31st January 2015 he served as Director of the School of Management. He is a recipient of: an 'Outstanding Professor' award in Hungary for his contribution to curriculum development, funded by the TEMPUS Programme of the European Union; a Distinguished Graduate Award' from the University of Ulster, and the 'Best Professor Award' on several occasions from several institutions including Purdue University (USA) and Tilburg University (Netherlands). He was jointly responsible for the research and development of the UK's leading house price measurement systems namely the Halifax and the Nationwide House Price Indexes. Joe lists his hobbies as golf, running (15 marathons) and Ghana (which he describes as his second home' as a result of two years spent there on Voluntary Service Overseas). He was formerly Chairman of Wellingborough Homes Housing Association.

Current activities
Professor Joe Nellis is Professor of Global Economy specialising in global macroeconomics, business environmental analysis, strategic thinking and management development.

He teaches across the full range of the School's portfolio including the Full-time and Executive MBA, General and Customised Management programmes. He is the longest serving member of the School of Management's Executive Board. He also holds Visiting Professorial appointments at various universities in Germany, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Hungary, the USA and Ghana.

Joe has published 19 research and subject-based books and over 200 academic and practitioner journal articles. His research encompasses analysis of business developments in a changing world in terms of the macroeconomy, the role of government, the impact of technology, societal and demographic trends. He is a frequent contributor to a wide range of national and international conferences and is a consultant to a number of UK and international companies in the areas of strategy and business environmental analysis, strategy formulation and management development. He has also acted as a consultant to several central government departments and public sector organisations.

Location & travel details

Grant Thornton offices, 8 Finsbury Circus, London EC2A 1AG

Who should attend

Open to all alumni interested in the subject area.

Cost & concessions

Free to attend