Future Industry Forum events < Industry Forum

Next Event

17 July 2013 - Lunch Meeting - London

Unions: allies in rebuilding prosperity

As politicians of all persuasions come to accept the need for a proactive industrial policy for the UK, it is also becoming clear that no route to high national productivity and competitiveness will succeed, if  it leaves many workers unemployed, under-employed, under-trained, or under-rewarded. The key to national success, as it is to success in individual organisations, is to get everyone working productively together. Come and discuss this with Frances O'Grady, the new General Secretary of the TUC:  How, in the 21st century, unions can be allies, in economies that are dependent on high skills, high motivation, and the equal involvement of men and women.

Sponsors:

• Intellect

05 September 2013 - Lunch Meeting - London

Prospects for an EU-US free trade deal

According to the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mr Thomas Donahue, companies would race to profit from a free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and the United States, bringing a near instant boost to both economies. The European Commission estimates that a deal could add 0.5 and 0.4 percent respectively to European and U.S. gross domestic product, although it could take a decade to deliver the full benefits. The EU and the US are likely to launch negotiations on such a trade deal by the end of June this year, with discussions set to last at least two years, and an accord coming into force by 2016. Julie Nutter will lead a discussion on prospects for the deal and its implications for business.

14 October 2013 - Lunch Meeting - London

Relaunching UK industrial policy

22 October 2013 - Lunch Meeting - London

Working towards Progressive Capitalism

The neo-liberalism that has dominated economic thinking for the past 30 years is now seen to have serious flaws. In his recent book Progressive Capitalism, Lord Sainsbury proposed a new, Progressive political economy. This is based on the three defining beliefs of Progressive thinking: the crucial role of institutions, the need for the state to be involved in their design because conflicting interests have to be resolved, and the use of social justice as an important measure of a country's economic performance.

Lord Sainsbury argues that the state should play an enabling role in the economy, rather than the command-and-control stance of traditional socialism or the minimalist role of neo-liberalism. His approach would involve reforms for the UK’s equity markets, its system of corporate governance, its national system of innovation, and its education and training system. Come and hear  these important ideas from Lord Sainsbury who speaks from first-hand experience at high levels in government and business.

Making a success of vocational education

Improvements to vocational education are widely seen as a key priority for the UK. Politicians from all sides agree on the need to improve the status and quality of technical education. This will address skills shortages and in time help to restore our economic competitiveness. Stephen Twigg is developing a range of policy ideas to address what he calls the false choice between vocational and academic education. One proposal is for a gold standard, Technical Baccalaureate, to be awarded at age 18. Come and hear Stephen Twigg outline the key issues and his policy proposals, and discuss the needs and priorities of industry for better vocational education.

Sponsors:

• Edelman

Restoring the importance of equity capital

The challenge and the opportunity of housing

Can the UK prosper outside of the EU?

How free is our press?

UK banking reform

Britain's infrastructure challenge

Priorities for broadcasting