To address the climate emergency, the Labour party, in its industrial strategy ‘Prosperity Through Partnership,’ has announced an ambitious mission to deliver clean power by 2030. Achieving the decarbonisation of electricity will involve a range of renewable energy sources, deploying energy storage infrastructure, and improving the grid network for smart energy collection and supply. It will also need active consumer participation, and provide many thousands of new jobs throughout the country. Bill Esterson MP, Shadow BEIS minister will discuss how this can be achieved, and some of the issues to be overcome, besides winning the next election.

Recently, Shadow Further Education and Universities Minister, Matt Western MP, led a spirited Industry Forum roundtable on whether higher education can help solve the UK productivity problem which has persisted since 2008. The meeting was hosted by Workday, the major US cloud-based people management software company, at its UK head office, in the City of London. James Johns, head of corporate affairs for Workday, welcomed the invited audience of executives, university professors and diplomats, and there was a general agreement on the large social and economic benefits of a lifelong approach to learning and skills training. In particular the UK should reverse cuts to the Sure Start programme, reform the apprenticeship levy system, learn lessons from other countries such as France and Germany and take more seriously the benefits of good qualifications and skills.

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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