With intense interest from business in the industrial and economic policies of the Labour party already apparent, the Industry Forum kicked off 2023 with a broad look at the ‘Future direction of Labour Policies,' covering social, health, industrial relations policies, the treatment of women and minorities, and our relationship with the EU. Anneliese Dodds MP, Chair of the Labour party, Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, and previously an MEP, was the perfect person to lead the roundtable hosted by Paul Morris, Head of Corporate Affairs for Vodafone UK, at their south London HQ. It was attended by major national and international businesses and trade organisations based in the UK. Inevitably there was a lively, broad discussion covering topics such as employment practices, science policy, the energy transition, gender issues, and pensions. It was clear that what businesses need for their own planning and investment purposes, is that government policy makers have consistent, focused objectives and deliver stability. What they value most, however, is good dialogue about how to work together to tackle changing economic and social challenges.

UK international trade is suffering badly from Brexit, the pandemic, the Ukraine/Russia war, supply chain problems and inflation. So, the Industry Forum invited Shadow International Trade Secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds to lead a roundtable on ‘Boosting UK international trade’. The meeting was in the City offices of @Workday the fast-growing, US enterprise software company. @James Johns, head of corporate affairs at @Workday welcomed Nick Thomas-Symonds and representatives from a range of European and US companies to the meeting. Some of the key issues discussed concerned regulating data transfer and storage with the EU and the US, the need for improved trade arrangements with the EU, and the opportunities to work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to support overseas trade. There was wide agreement that the UK, international trade strategy should focus on UK strengths including services and education, and link to an ambitious green programme for the economy. Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed that his plans for international trade include working in lockstep with Labour’s well-received industrial strategy ‘Prosperity Through Partnership’.

Much is happening in the Asia-Pacific region upon which, the UK government is increasingly focused for new diplomatic and trade opportunities. This may mean new trade deals, a more complex relationship with China, new defence alliances like AUKUS, and strengthening relationships with the administrations in Australia and New Zealand. It is not, however, clear what an increased role for the UK in the Asia-Pacific would actually add up to. In particular what would be its significance, and the benefits to the UK? Australian-born, Shadow FCO Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Catherine West MP, will lead the discussion of such issues. A small panel will respond followed by a general Q&A.

The answer to the question ’Can physics supercharge the UK economy?’ discussed this week at an Industry Forum roundtable hosted by the Institute of Physics, was always a foregone conclusion. But physicists, also like to know how theory will be turned into practice. So the ideal person to lead the discussion was Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Digital, Science and Technology, and a qualified engineer with extensive business and Westminster experience. She outlined the steps needed to tackle the daunting range of economic and environmental challenges facing the UK noting, in particular, the need to raise our R&D spend and to maximise diversity in the workforce and academia. Other speakers were Professor Martin Freer VP Science and Engineering at the IoP, Terry Pollard, COO of spinout company, Oxford Brain diagnostics, Dr Hira Virdee, Founder and CEO Lumi Space, and Elizabeth Chamberlain (standing in the picture), Head of Policy at the IoP, who outlined a proposed new R&D blueprint. Priorities identified included: Ensuring that everyone can follow a career in UK physics regardless of their background or gender; Ensuring that there is adequate funding for early-stage research; Providing the conditions needed to enable start-ups to scale up and grow their business within the UK; Encouraging the growth of a sophisticated community of investors in companies based on innovations in physics; Encouraging tech clusters around research universities and strengthening connections between academia and industry. All we need now, is to turn this plan into action!

Speakers were:

Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister Science, Research & Innovation
Professor Martin Freer, VP Science and Innovation, Institute of Physics
Terry Pollard, Chief Operating Officer, Oxford Brain Diagnostics
Dr Hira Virdee, Founder and CEO at Lumi Space

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Only one element has the potential to liberate the world from global warming and the grip of the petrostates - green hydrogen. To achieve this, however, big technical, policy and investment hurdles need to be overcome. So, yesterday the Industry Forum launched the first of a series of meetings on this subject with an expert round table on ‘The prospects and pitfalls for green hydrogen’. The meeting was hosted by BASF and led by renewable energy evangelist, Alan Whitehead MP, Shadow Minister for Energy and the Green New Deal. The other speakers were Darren Budd, Commercial Director of the UK & Ireland Country Cluster, BASF; Diana Casey, Director, Energy and Climate Change, Mineral Products Association; Ian Constance, CEO, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK. Key issues which emerged in discussion of the UK situation were: concerns about the current availability of green hydrogen, doubts about the financial viability of using blue hydrogen plus carbon capture as a means of supplying green hydrogen, agreement that green hydrogen is better than batteries for heavy transport applications, anxiety about the front end investment needed to solve the considerable technical problems and build the large-scale production and distribution network required, unanimity on the need for an overall transition plan. Consumers alone are unlikely to fund a rapid transition, so finance ministers and central banks, world-wide, need to consider whether to provide investment finance for a transition to green hydrogen, or face rising bills from climate-change disasters.

The speakers were:

Alan Whitehead MP, Shadow Minister for Energy and the Green New Deal
Thomas Birk, Vice President UK & Ireland/Managing Director, BASF
Diana Casey, Director, Energy and Climate Change, Mineral Products Association
Ian Constance, CEO, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK

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Leading from the front is what is needed in a pandemic, and this is the speciality of career A&E doctor and politician, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health. In June, she led the first ever Industry Forum expert round table on the key issue of ‘Valuing and sustaining the NHS’, which was hosted in their London office by the Iraq Britain Business Council. She described graphically the trauma of working as a front-line doctor during the pandemic, and lessons that need to be learned. Professor Mohammed Al-Uzri, Consultant Psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director at the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and Alice Sorby, Director Employment Relations the Royal College of Midwives, responded and added their perspectives on mental health care and staff terms and conditions. The wide-ranging discussion that followed indicated that long term planning failures and piecemeal changes may have contributed to staffing and morale issues, as well as wasteful emergency spending on agency staff and procurement. So, in addition to some additional investment, the prescription for NHS recovery is clear goals and bold political leadership.

The speakers were:

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health
Professor Mohammed Al-Uzri, Health and Higher Education Advisor, Iraq Britain Business Council
Alice Sorby, Director, Employment Relations, The Royal College of Midwives

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