A key priority for the Government is rebalancing the UK economy so that growth in the manufacturing sector can match that of the services sector. Increasing our exports to the fast-growing emerging markets in the East is a key goal. Achieving this requires top-level government support, industry focus and continuing dialogue with countries and companies with whom we wish to build business. Alok Sharma MP works in the Cabinet Office on these issues and established the successful East-West Leaders’ Forum in 2014. Come and hear Alok outline the Governments’ views and plans on this important subject.

Since the 2008 banking crisis, economic growth in both the UK and the EU has been lacklustre. Great efforts have been made to restrain spending by governments and the behaviour of the financial sector but measures to encourage growth in the real economy have been piecemeal and half-hearted. Iain Wright will outline the views of the Select Committee on Business Innovation and Skills on future priorities for the UK and the EU.

For more information on this event

Seven years after the banking crisis, the UK banking sector still faces challenges. Technology failures indicate that core systems are fragile; the RBS share price is still well below the price paid by the government, banks are complaining about the cost of ring-fencing and some are considering relocation out of the country. Above all it is not clear that the vital SME sector is getting the type of lending services that it needs, although these may well be provided by new entrants, using new technology platforms that threaten the traditional players. Come and hear a group of banking sector experts discuss the challenges faced by the banks and possible ways forward.

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Science and technology are key determinants of prosperity and growth but the impact and benefits of specific government policies are often hard to ascertain. What is clear is that high quality STEM education and government -funded research provide the foundations on which technology industries are built and flourish. In a time of severe budgetary constraints, balancing priorities between sectors and short and longer term investment is challenging. Come and hear Nicola Blackwood MP discuss the overall importance of science and technology and the work and priorities of the Select Committee on Science and Technology.

EU membership is a contentious topic in the UK where many of the electorate cherish the idea of proud independence, and where the press is largely eurosceptic. Nevertheless, there is strong support for EU membership from many sections of business, the unions, and the general population, especially young people. Labour party policy has been to strongly support EU membership on the basis that it best serves UK economic and security interests, and that necessary reforms are most likely to be achieved by cooperation rather than confrontation. Come and hear Alan Johnson, the popular former minister, put the Labour case to say 'Yes' to Europe.

This was a panel discussion held with the Federal Trust.

The speakers were:
Dr Stephan Hesselmann, Senior Expert on Economic Issues, CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group
Catherine Stewart, Senior Advisor, Interel
Rod Dowler, Chairman, Industry Forum