New speakers announced in Onward's Conservative Party Conference programme
We are thrilled to share new speakers who will be joining us on the Onward stage in Manchester in just over a week’s time.
All our events will take place at the Radisson Blu Edwardian, just outside of the secure zone. For those not in Manchester, we will also be streaming all our events live to our wider network.
More events to be announced in the coming days.
We hope to see you there!
On Monday
Green jobs will be crucial to levelling up. The question for policy makers now is how to train, upskill and create jobs in green industries. This event will consider how best to unleash a wave of green jobs in the regions that need them most, whilst ensuring we have a skilled workforce in place for the long-term green economy.
This event will consider how best to maintain a competitive financial and professional services sector in the UK. It will be a chance to discuss how the government and private sector can work together to support the recovery from coronavirus, think ambitiously about what a competitive “Global Britain” really means, and the tools to support that ambition.
Levelling up is the centrepiece of the Government’s domestic agenda, but there is a risk that it could become focused on urban areas and fail to acknowledge the distinct issues faced by rural communities. This event will seek to understand the role of the rural economy in the levelling up agenda.
Register your interest for "Rural Resurgence : The role of the rural economy in levelling up" here.
The Government has praised the UK’s regional cities as engines of growth. This panel will consider what policymakers can do to make UK cities more globally competitive, make best use of their world-leading universities, harness green investment to deliver net zero, and build the infrastructure that connects city and regional opportunities.
Register your interest for "Municipal recovery: How can we use cities to drive levelling up?" here.
Technological innovation has changed almost every aspect of our lives, and many businesses are adopting new ways of working fit for the digital age. This event will consider the UK’s innovation landscape, including AI and big data in professional services, and how this can drive down costs and improve quality for customers.
Register your interest for "Byte Back Better: Using innovation to transform service delivery" here.
A private Onward dinner to discuss how transport connectivity can support levelling up. Kindly supported by West Coast Partnership. By Invitation only.
On Tuesday
There is an urgent need to accelerate food innovation to improve food security and decrease emissions from the agricultural sector. This panel will look at the future of agriculture in the UK, including the potential market for cultured meat and how the Government can catalyse the growth of the industry.
Stable and secure housing has always been essential. But it is out of reach for many, a fact only exacerbated by the pandemic. How can we use this moment to deliver lasting change to the private rented sector, working with renters and landlords? This event will discuss the future of renting in the context of the return of the Renters’ Reform Bill.
The pandemic represents an opportunity to seriously think about how best to level up left behind communities. This panel will discuss how best to encourage locally-led neighbourhood-level regeneration over the long term, and consider practical solutions to promote better social and economic outcomes for a greater number of people who need it most.
Register your interest for "Community Renewal: How to turnaround left behind neighbourhoods?" here.
There is significant optimism for the future of life sciences in the UK. The Government increasingly recognises the importance of the industry and has outlined its ambition for the UK to become a science superpower. This event will bring together parliamentarians and industry leaders to discuss the future of life sciences research and development.
Register here for Healthy investment: How can life sciences clusters drive economic growth?
The Government has pledged to ‘build back greener’. This panel will consider how best to overcome the obstacles that are holding back a green housing revolution, and discuss incentives to homeowners, the regulatory and financial structures to drive technological development, and the responsibility for decarbonising social housing stock.
Register your interest for "Build Back Greener: How can we decarbonise housing?" here.
Innovation is one of the driving forces behind modern economic growth. In a world where data is increasingly key, the UK has a unique opportunity to leverage digital technologies to transform our competitiveness. Following the Government’s Plan for Growth, parliamentarians and industry leaders will discuss the building blocks of boosting innovation.
Annual Onward Conservative Party Drinks Reception. Strictly by invitation only.
If you have any questions regarding our conference programme please contact Katie Fairclough, Head of External Relations, at katie.fairclough@ukonward.com.