• Swindon & Wiltshire Events
• Thursday March 28 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

New institute to drive West economy to be launched

A new research institute to investigate, analyse, and propose solutions to vital issues affecting the economic performance of the West of England will be launched at a conference in Bristol next month.

The launch of Futures West will form part of the programme of events at the day-long Bristol Ideas event led by the Growing Together Alliance, a partnership between Bristol-based Business West and the Northern Powerhouse, BusinessLDN, Business South, Cambridge Ahead, and the North West Business Leadership Team.

The first part of the event – How Do We Build Flourishing Regions? – will look at regional devolution, and what the next government should and can do to secure better and fairer economic growth.

The event will include three panel discussions.

The first – Where are we with devolution and what can the next government do better? – will hear from Andrew Carter, CEO of the Centre for Cities; Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council and chairman of the Core Cities Group; Jane Robinson, pro-vice chancellor, engagement and place at Newcastle University; and Philip Rycroft, former permanent secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union.

The discussion will be chaired by Heather Stewart, special correspondent at The Guardian.

The second discussion – Does the next government have a southern strategy and what does this mean for the West of England? – will hear from a panel of experts including Ahmed Goga of Great South West; Hannah Hickman, academic at UWE and professional planner; Angus Horner, founder of property development and investment company Prorsus; and Dan Thorp, CEO of Cambridge Ahead.

The discussion will be chaired by Peter Foster, public policy editor at the Financial Times.

The third discussion – How can the next government spur economic growth with constrained finances, and how can devolved areas help deliver? – will be chaired by Andrew Kelly, director of Bristol Ideas with Muniya Barua, deputy CEO at Business London; Diane Coyle, professor of public policy at the University of Cambridge; Darren Jones, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury; and Henri Murison, CEO of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

A second evening event – Growth and Devolution in the West of England – will look at how the public and private sectors can work together to drive economic growth. The event will include the launch of Futures West.

Speakers will include Richard Bonner, market director for buildings and places at design and planning consultancy Atkins; Jessica Lee, director of strategy for the West of England Combined Authority; Jack Newman of the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol; and Nick Pearce, professor of public policy and director of the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath.

The conference will be held at Watershed on Thursday, April 18. The first event runs from 1pm to 6pm and the second from 6pm to 7pm.

Image courtesy of Ben Kirby at Pexels

Latest: What is English devolution and why should it matter to West businesses?

Latest: Futures West Foundation appoints new chair and director 

Latest: University-business partnership launched to power economic growth