Following yesterday’s reflections on the Labour conference, we share our thoughts on the Conservative gathering
As the curtains fell at Liverpool’s ACC were closed, around 100 miles away in Birmingham the ICC open its doors to the Conservative Party.
We began by attending an event hosted by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, focussed on the pressing question of how to fuel growth in the 21st century, with the need to invest in infrastructure was highlighted as a key driver. Within our own sector, demand for lab space far outweighs supply – hindering growth – so we know first-hand how important it is to provide places to do business.
PHTA not only enables the advancement of medical technology by providing an environment for the scaling up of life science SMEs but is itself an SME, so we were keen to attend Sunday’s SME day events. There, we heard shadow business minister Kevin Hollinrake emphasise the importance of SMEs to the economy and communities, and the opposition’s plans to ensure SMEs are supported. It was encouraging to hear Hollinrake acknowledge that ‘large companies don’t start out big’, highlighting how important it is to support SMEs as they grow and move through different stages of the business cycle.
This is particularly resonant to us as the support we provide goes far beyond lab and office space. We provide curated access to clinical-academic experts from across the Birmingham Health Partners’ ecosystem to help develop, refine and validate innovations – for example feasibility studies, health data modelling, clinical trial design and usability testing. Away from the lab, we also facilitate legal and financial support to help our residents succeed commercially.
As in Liverpool, the Conservative conference provided a plethora of local engagement opportunities, with our CEO Professor Gino Martini attending an event hosted by the University of Birmingham and former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street. The now Chair of Birmingham Repertory Theatre spoke of his tenure in office and the number of skilled jobs bought to the region providing a legacy of skilled jobs for future generations – with PHTA receiving a specific mention in the conversation.
Lastly Gino had the opportunity to listen to all four leadership contenders pitch to the membership in what has been a competitive contest, and was pleased to hear consensus amongst all prospective leaders regarding a recognition of what British science and technology has achieved in the last decade, in conjunction with a commitment to support British scientists.
Gino commented: “As the Conservatives transition from 14 years in government to the opposition benches, many interesting policies were up for debate – specifically those concerning SMEs, science, innovation and technology, and the West Midlands. I was encouraged to hear commitments to supporting British science and technology by the leadership contenders given the breakthrough advancements that have been achieved in the last decade and the growth potential offered by the industry. Overall, conference season has demonstrated that the main opposition and government will continue to champion the life science industry.”
Read Professor Gino Martini’s insight on the Labour Conference here.
