The Chamber is proud to host the Thames Valley’s only region-wide, curated, life sciences working group.

The industry-led group serves as a vital platform for collaboration, convening global corporates, innovative SMEs, academic institutions and educational establishments (including those linked to our LSIP), NHS trusts, government stakeholders, professional bodies and pre-eminent thought leaders. 

Driving the debate, our group members consider national policy issues and challenges, shaping the sector response and Parliamentary engagement.  The group informs our policy work.  It helps identify the commercial drivers and opportunities that ensure we position life sciences, one of the UK’s key growth sectors, at the very heart of the government’s ambitions, and recognising the Thames Valley as part of their solution, delivering, growth to the economy and positioning the UK as a science and technology super-power.

Agenda

For October’s working group we will hear from Phil Smith on the life sciences priorities of Skills England, in the context of the life sciences sector plan, and the ambitions and actions for delivering ‘super’ growth and ‘renewal’ for the UK. We will consider the strengths of and opportunities for the Thames Valley to step forward, and how our working group can play a pivotal role in piloting projects and initiatives.  We may also reflect on the move of Skills England, into the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and what implications this may have for business-led Local Skills Improvement Plans for which the Chamber leads in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Drawing on the theme of ambition and action, in the context of health, wealth and growth (including the NHS Ten-Year Plan and the digital technology and Healthtech drivers), Peter Ellingworth will be offering his insight into the purposeful steps the Thames Valley and our working group should be considering – and leading – to deliver impact, and reposition the region’s life sciences profile internationally, and within government, as a location providing solutions and showcasing good practice. Both Phil and Peter will be making ‘calls to arms’ and challenge the working group and its members to convene behind the Chamber, and partners.

Please view the meeting agenda HERE.

Speakers

Peter Ellingworth

Peter is Chair of Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley (HIOTV) and Chief Executive of Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI). Read more about Peter HERE.

Phil Smith CBE

Phil is Chair of Skills England. He was previously the Chair of TechSkills.org, Innovate UK and Cisco, which he also led for over two decades as CEO. Phil was awarded a CBE in 2019 for services to technology, business and skills. Read more about Phil HERE.

Find Out More

This is an invitation only meeting. We welcome expressions of interest from organisations with direct knowledge, expertise and experience in life sciences and an operational link to the Thames Valley.

For Chamber members, to express your interest in attending please contact your account manager. For non-member businesses, please contact the Business Representation and Policy Team.

Photo Credit: University of Reading