News
Industrial Strategy Commission holds evidence session at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
30 March 2017
On Wednesday 29 March the Industrial Strategy Commission held an evidence session at Factory 2050, part of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Sheffield. The AMRC is a core part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, which comprises seven leading manufacturing research centres across the UK.
Our evidence session was attended by 50 representatives of businesses from across Sheffield City Region and by academics and policymakers. Keynote speakers at the event were Julie Kenny CBE DL and Paul Houghton, two leading local business figures and board members of Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.
Paul and Julie shared their views on what a new industrial strategy should focus on. Paul argued that a new industrial strategy must have four key features:
It must provide certainty for businesses.
It must provide clarity for businesses.
It must be entrepreneur-led.
It must be focused on the needs and strengths of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Julie stressed the importance of long-term investment in order to help SMEs grow and how she believes devolution is vital to ensuring a new industrial strategy is a success.
A wide ranging discussion then followed and attendees shared their views and ideas about what a new industrial strategy should focus on.
Amongst others, the themes discussed included
how best to ensure new devolved powers are used to support industrial strategy aims
the opportunities and risks presented by Brexit
how to encourage a long-term investment mindset
how to improve procurement in the public and private sector to increase competition and value
the skills and investment needs of SMEs
the opportunities to improve health and social care by utilising the expertise of medical technology companies
The event at the AMRC was just one of a series of events, meetings and evidence sessions that the Commission is holding in the coming weeks. These events which include sessions in Manchester and in Parliament will help to inform our work.
Find out more about upcoming evidence sessions and how you can attend. Our next event is in Manchester on Tuesday 4 April and will focus on health and social care.
All of the ideas and comments from the evidence session at the AMRC will be considered by the Commissioners and used to inform the Commission’s recommendations and analysis. Details of how to submit evidence to the Commission are available on the contribute page. The submission deadline is 2 May 2017.