October 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will be an opportunity for policymakers and stakeholders to examine the next steps in delivering the Economic Vision for the Oxford - MK - Cambridge Arc, and implementing and co-ordinating the Local Industrial Strategies for Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Oxfordshire, and the South East Midlands.
The discussion at a glance:
- key goals - how to achieve the ambitions set out in the strategies around productivity, place-making, skills, connectivity and the environment - and what can learned from progress so far
- the four Local Industrial Strategies - and a single economic vision for the Arc
- innovation - and maximising the Arc’s knowledge economy
- the ‘Arc’ brand
- priorities for the Arc’s economic and social recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
Relevant developments:
- planning - commitment in the Budget earlier this year to develop a long term spatial planning framework to support planning decisions in the Arc region
- Northstowe - plans for a new town in Cambridgeshire
- Nature’s Arc - principles put forward by the RSPB and partners, which aim to protect existing nature, restore nature across the Arc, and set new standards for sustainable development
- the Oxford to Cambridge expressway - next steps following the Government’s decision to pause work
- the Draft Transport Strategy - published by England’s Economic Heartland, which calls for investment in digital infrastructure and decarbonisation of the transport system
The discussion in detail:
- innovation - including the ways in which the region’s universities and businesses can further contribute to the fight against the pandemic and increase collaboration
- investment - promoting the Arc as a place to invest and the region’s likely impact on wider UK growth in economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
- coordinating priorities - strategies for tackling the challenges for bringing together the distinct priorities of each constituent part of the Arc into a coherent strategy for the region as a whole - including the governance and joint working arrangements to deliver the plans and the recovery from COVID-19
- sustainable development - building natural recovery, biodiversity and environmental sustainability into development proposals
- skills - assessing the policy set out in the region’s LIS for a system that responds to local demand, supports businesses in the region, and meets the aspirations of the economic vision for the Arc
- infrastructure - how to maximise the benefits of the significant developments planned for the region - including East-West Rail, the roll-out of fibre broadband and 5G, and potential road projects, with questions over the Oxford to Cambridge expressway
- The Arc’s clusters - next steps for further development - including the seven Enterprise Zones - and how to achieve the ambitions in the joint declaration to position the Arc and its research and development resources to provide a testbed for new technologies
- The supply chain - examining the support available for SMEs to scale-up and increase exports, amidst concern that some start-ups could be priced out of the region because of high rents and about lack of laboratory space
- Marketing the Arc globally - how the Government and local partners can work together to build the region’s international profile, looking at:
- broadening the established brand of the regions to attract businesses, investors, talent, and visitors
- building on existing strengths of the region’s constituent areas
- learning from the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine concepts
The agenda:
- The economic vision for the Oxford-MK-Cambridge Arc and key priorities in the wake of COVID-19
- Developing strategic infrastructure, implementing an overarching transport strategy and improving East-West connectivity
- Bringing the four LIS together and implementing the economic vision for the Arc - skills, infrastructure development, and business support across the Arc
- Building on the region’s research base - priorities for investment in new technologies, industry-university collaboration, developing clusters, and the continuing contribution to tackling COVID-19
- What next for the region’s brand and attracting inward investment
- Policy priorities for growing the Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge Arc economy and COVID-19 recovery
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.
It is certainly the case with this conference. Places have been reserved by representatives from BEIS; MHCLG; DCMS; Defra; the Department for Transport; the National Infrastructure Commission; the Office of Rail and Road; Homes England; the Infrastructure & Projects Authority; the Department for International Trade; HM Revenue & Customs; and the Government Legal Department.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference