Thames Valley Health and Life Sciences Working Group convenes

Over 40 delegates were welcomed to the recent Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Thames Valley Health and Life Sciences Working Group, a region-wide sector group, which brings together industry leaders from global corporates, SME’s, spinouts and recently established inward investors. 
 
Sponsored by James Cowper Kreston and Green Park (Reading), and chaired by Sue Staunton, Managing Partner and Head of Life Sciences at James Cowper Kreston, the group welcomed guest speakers Clara Purnell, Head of Procurement and Logistics at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (RBfT) and Simon Clarke, Associate Professor in Cellular Microbiology and Head of Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering at University of Reading. 

After a group discussion on ‘Change NHS:help build a health service fit for the future’, which is a national conversation to develop the 10 Year Health Plan, Clara gave an informative presentation about RBfT and NHS Procurement, followed by Simon who outlined the University’s plans for a new MSc. 

The Chambers’ Health and Life Sciences Manifesto was submitted to all three main political parties’ pre-election and subsequently to the new Secretary of State; Select Committee Chair for Health and Social Care and the new MPs across the Thames Valley. It has also helped form the basis of a small number of briefing notes, to these new MPs, to inform meetings, speeches, and presentations in Whitehall.