Convening to consider and explore the themes of skills, growth, and the region’s pivotal role in shaping the UK’s life sciences future, the working group met on Wednesday 15th October 2025.
Our keynote speakers commended the role of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) in convening the sector, not only encouraging business, academia, industry stakeholders and government partners to collaborate, but emphasising the need to be a part of the coalition TVCC have established and are developing.
They outlined the potential for the Thames Valley to deliver ‘super’ growth to UK plc and supercharge government’s ambitions for the NHS and the wider life sciences sector.
Phil Smith CBE, Chair of Skills England, outlining his organisations priorities for the sector, highlighted the key role employer-led initiatives, such as the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), are playing in driving better skills outcomes for business. He commented,
“Skills England are looking for examples of good practice, showcasing how business and educational establishments are connecting and delivering solutions to the challenges business are facing. Through TVCC, I am inviting the Thames Valley business community to come forward and lead a skills pilot where the region can showcase how regional partnerships can be transferred to deliver national impact and power the next wave of innovation and economic growth.”
Peter Ellingworth, Chair of Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley (HIN) and Chief Executive of the Association of British HealthTech Industries, welcomed the purposeful leadership TVCC is giving to the sector in the Thames Valley. He drew 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), calling on the region to lead by example, on one or two specific areas (only) of Healthtech where we have evidential strength and greatest potential for impact (including economically and in patient outcomes).
Peter commented,
“If businesses, and wider stakeholders, are not already a part of the Thames Valley’s life sciences working group and its ambitions … they need to be. The power of the TVCC, and wider Chamber network, is a force for good in helping ensure the Thames Valley is firmly on the map as a global destination for life sciences excellence. As stakeholders, we have a collective role to play, and shared challenges (e.g. women’s health, attracting foreign direct investment, patient outcomes, economically) to contribute to addressing. If we are successful, the impacts are potentially significant.”
Sue Staunton, Managing Partner and Head of Life Sciences, James Cowper Kreston and the HLS working group Chair, added,
“Our meetings continue to highlight the unique position, and opportunity, the Thames Valley has in promoting the action that can deliver national solutions and ambitions.
We have a strong, business-led, industry group that is more than well placed to rise to the challenges presented today and consider developing the pilot projects to shape national thinking. We will continue to work with the region’s key stakeholders and industry leaders, including Skills England, the HIN, and our NHS Trusts, to advance this programme of work.”
Background
The Thames Valley’s Health and Life Sciences Working Group (HLSWG) is the only business-led, curated sector group for life sciences. The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts the group in partnership with James Cowper Kreston and Green Park, Reading.
The HLSWG continues to be only business-led forum for discussing and shaping the future of life sciences in the Thames Valley and beyond.
For more information about the working group, or to express interest in future sessions, please contact the Business Representation & Policy team: brp@tvchamber.co.uk.
