THE WORLD Economic Forum is a unique coming together of people in public life around the globe.

It is probably the only time so many business leaders and politicians are in one place at one time without the usual batteries of aides and advisers hellbent on keeping them apart. Its location, secluded up a Swiss mountain, means people cannot be distracted or just drop in for an hour, and is very effective for concentrating the mind on the matter in hand.

Some sessions are offbeat and thought-provoking, while others concentrate on matters fundamental to different economies in today’s globalised, competitive and scary world.

The event is aimed at creating a comfortable environment in which business leaders are able to share their thoughts and to which world leaders come to advance their ideas and arguments.

Energy, the environment, socially inclusive wealth creation, communications and transport all get on the agenda. This year energy will be a very big topic, especially after the recent flare-up over gas between Russia and Ukraine prompted fears about supplies across Europe.

I go with several aims: to broaden my mind by listening to other people’s ideas and thoughts, to network and fill up the contacts book, and to talk to the global policymakers on behalf of British business.

Odd as it may sound, Davos is an invitation-only gathering set up to be an effective talking shop and that is exactly what it is. It is not a place to do deals, though I dare say this happens in the private meetings.

Quite a few of the people who have appeared at the CBI’s autumn conference in recent years I first spoke to at Davos.

But is the event losing its way? What is its sense of direction? I have been critical that some sessions have tended towards being apologies for business existing — saying sorry for making profits and paying the taxes that build hospitals and schools, for creating jobs and educating people — while Governments tend to be let off the hook of public scrutiny.

This year, I have had enough of apologising. Of course, business has to exercise corporate, social and environmental responsibility, often further than it does. But it is doing more than ever before and it is high time people gave politicians in many countries sterner examination of their behaviour and actions.

There has been a wooing of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) community over recent years — religion one year, global poverty the next . . . now it’s the environment’s turn. I am often troubled that the governance of NGOs is often opaque, funding is sometimes questionable and true aims and motives can differ from what it says on the tin.

Why should business be sheepishly apologetic for a corrupt politician? Why should the school-builders and hospital-providers suck up to an NGO whose real intent is the destruction of democratic capitalism? Although it is hard work, it can have its lighter moments. Last year Tony Blair, having waded through 2ft of snow to get to a debate about the environment, asked: “Why does it always snow when I’m going to talk about global warming?” Is Davos useful? Definitely. But as with most things, you get out only what you put in. UK business should go for it and set the pace for recognition of just what can be achieved when business is allowed to do “the business”.

Sir Digby Jones is the Director-General of the CBI