With the tide shifting in Westminster and a new Labour government, our CEO Professor Gino Martini kicked off conference season by heading to Liverpool to represent PHTA and the Birmingham life sciences ecosystem at the Labour Conference.
The first major event was Saturday’s West Midlands reception. Our region is uniquely positioned as an advanced manufacturing and industrial heartland, innovating breakthrough technologies in a variety of industries. Providing approximately 70,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art incubation space in partnership with the University of Birmingham and working closely with Birmingham Health Partners, PHTA is busy enabling groundbreaking advancements in life sciences and medical technology which will eventually be implemented into the NHS; helping to cut waiting lists and improve the health of the nation. The West Midlands reception provided the perfect opportunity for Professor Gino Martini to catch up with local MPs and cabinet ministers, updating them on the newest tenants PHTA has welcomed and explaining how its work is supporting the region and the wider UK.
Next on the agenda was an insightful Sunday attending ‘The Future for Science, Innovation and Technology’ event which outlined not only the role the Labour Government has assigned Science, Innovation and Technology in an economic and health sense, but its aspirations for how the industry will develop after its first term in office. PHTA welcomes the assigning of the life sciences industry as a major partner to reforming and fixing the NHS. The industry has historically shown its effectiveness and leadership in moments of crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Laboratories across the country – including at the University of Birmingham – mobilised quickly to establish and analyse Covid-19 tests and develop lifesaving vaccines and treatments. The approach the life sciences industry will adopt to grapple the challenges facing the NHS will be no different, hence the significance of the support from government and other political bodies.
Sunday also included the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayners’ speech, where she announced that the Ministry of Housing, Local Government & Communities will move forward with two Investment Zones situated in the West Midlands and West Yorkshire – creating high quality jobs in advanced manufacturing in the West Midlands and life sciences in West Yorkshire. This signalled that even at times of economic downturn, the life sciences industry maintains support from the government.
Following these announcements, Monday was a day dominated by life sciences fringe events hosted by the ABPI, Moderna, Midlands Innovation Universities, the UCB, Health Care Forum and Royal Society – an opportunity for Gino to contribute to the debate with politicians and other political stakeholders. He was able to highlight the challenges facing PHTA and how the Government can best support the West Midlands and the life sciences sector, not least by recognising that PHTA can provide capacity much needed by those operating in the Golden Triangle.
In addition to the announcement made by Rayner on Sunday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves shared her employment vision for the country, prioritising the northwest as a life science hub. This is significant as there is clear evidence of world-leading and life-changing research taking place in many centres of excellence across the country – not least here in Birmingham – and expanding support for life sciences in areas beyond the Golden Triangle will build resilience and futureproof the sector as a whole in the UK.
Just as Conference began with engaging with key local stakeholders, it was rounded off on the Tuesday by supporting and attending a ‘Centre for Cities’ event with Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker. The well-attended Q&A session covered a range of economic and social challenges facing the Mayor, with questions put to him by Centre for Cities as well as those in the audience. Gino and the Mayor focused on the need to deliver a successful life sciences approach and strategy for the West Midlands and how this could best be achieved.
Reflecting on the conference, Gino said: “The first conference in 14 years where Labour holds the keys to Whitehall proved to be a productive time for those involved in the life sciences industry. I was pleased to hear about the key role assigned to the sector by government, along with Labour’s commitment to support the sector as it addresses challenges within the NHS and advances research and innovation. I look forward to seeing how this support is deployed given the significant expectations placed on the industry – which I have no doubt it will deliver, if properly supported.”
