• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Tuesday August 5 2025

Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce launches All Party Parliamentary Group for region

Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce has launched an All-Party Parliamentary Group for the region, aimed at advancing the region’s global reputation as a business location of choice.

Covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon, the aim of the group is “to advance the Thames Valley’s global reputation as a business location of choice and an engine of growth for the UK.

“The ambition is to shape local and national growth plans that can serve the thriving, green, healthier future we want for a truly competitive Thames Valley.”

The APPG is sponsored by global and national brands including, Honda Motor Europe, Heathrow, the University of the Built Environment and the University of Reading.

As the apolitical secretariat for the APPG, the chamber will bring together the region’s key employers, educators and other institutions with the twenty parliamentarians who represent the new cross party group.

Clive Jones, MP for Wokingham, was elected Chair of the APPG.

“The APPG will provide a voice and the leadership for the Thames Valley,” said Clive.

“By convening Parliamentarians, business and academia, we are providing a unique framework for commercially-focused action that will highlight the success of the Thames Valley, and showcase how we are, and can, provide the ideas and solutions to deliver productivity growth.”

Will Stone, MP for Swindon North added: “Swindon’s future is very much the Thames Valley.

“There is a cluster of skills and job opportunities in high growth industries including defence, science and technology across the Thames Valley region which Swindon is a key player in and I look forward to working together to further grow our economy in the region.”

Chamber of commerce CEO Paul Britton said: “The Thames Valley is a vibrant and international business community and with one clear coherent voice the APPG will set out the hugely significant contribution businesses and educators can make to prospects for the future of the whole of the UK.

“As the largest and most influential business membership organisation in the Thames Valley, we are proud to work with businesses large and small, home grown and international to champion the economy of the Thames Valley.

“The Thames Valley economy is the strongest in the country outside London, but we do so whilst being green and safe. We have a secret sauce that could help drive a happy and healthy economic growth nationally. I look forward to standing up for this ambition both locally and in Parliament.”