Business leaders, parliamentarians, education representatives, and key stakeholders from across the Thames Valley gathered in the Thames Pavilion at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday 21 October for a reception hosted by Clive Jones MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Thames Valley.
The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) event brought together Thames Valley Assembly members and stakeholders from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon to demonstrate the region’s significance to the UK economy and to discuss the infrastructure, investment and policy priorities needed to sustain its growth and competitiveness.
Clive Jones MP, Member of Parliament for Wokingham, opened the programme by welcoming guests and setting out the merit for working at scale and developing a ‘Team Thames Valley’ approach, to deliver mission-based activity such as the Western Rail Link to Heathrow and a Thames Valley Skills Commission to measure up new national policies to ensure strategic fit for our local skills system.
Speaking about the Thames Valley economy and regional leadership Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, spoke to the importance of universities as anchor institutions in delivering growth, and laying the foundations for Devolution working with businesses and local authorities in what Government is calling a “triple helix approach”. He also pointed to the recent Thames Valley inward investment value proposition study initiated by the APPG as an example of the work underway to help present the regions contribution to UK plc and mobilise MPs and other civic leaders to promote the regions attributes.
Global connectivity, trade and supply chains, and the value of an effective competitive Hub airport to attract inward investment were then shared by Laura Vallis, Director of Communication at Heathrow Airport. Concerns were raised about the global status of the airport’s international connections and capacity, and the need for Government to unlock future jobs and economic growth by supporting the plans for expansion.
Warwick Lowe, Rail Planning Director at AtkinsRéalis, introduced the benefits of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow Phase 2 study, and how it will reduce journey times to Heathrow for 14 million people across the South of England. He shared initial findings from the latest updated business case for project, and paid tribute to the contribution of the APPG and local authorities to the study and development of what will be a transformational project.
In closing, Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith of the House of Lords, an APPG Officer, spoke about backing a winning economy, the region’s risk register, and the need for impactful partnership and regional leadership between business, anchor institutions, the APPG and Heathrow. She set out the challenges facing the Thames Valley and closed with a call to action for all those present to not take the competitiveness of the region for granted.
Paul Britton, Chief Executive of TVCC, which provides the secretariat to the APPG, said: “This is the first APPG for the Thames Valley, at a critical time as Government seeks to rewire the state and deliver devolution. It has been a remarkable year, and we are proud to be associated with the work of the APPG. What striking is the willingness of MPs of all parties to contribute to the future success of our business communities across the Thames Valley and this will play a significant role in the future.”
