Tories and Labour out in force for Make UK national conference

Staged at the QEll Conference Centre in London, the event will also feature a keynote speech from Tony Blair’s former communications chief Alastair Campbell and ex-Tory Cabinet minister Rory Stewart, now the joint presenters of popular podcast The Rest is Politics.

Broadcaster and former engineer Steph McGovern will return as chair of the event, with the CEO of GDI Hub CIC Vicky Austin – previously head of the London 2012 Paralympic Legacy – as final guest speaker.

Make UK chief executive Stephen Phipson noted that the conference came at a critical time with pressure from energy prices, chronic labour shortages and challenging global supply chain difficulties.  

“This conference provides an important collaborative platform for industry and Government to work together to help grow this resilient sector which already provides 2.7 million jobs around the whole of the UK,” he stated. 

These challenges form the theme for the keynote speeches with Ghani focusing on opportunities to boost the manufacturing sector and Reeves outlining the Labour vision for industry. 

Added Phipson: “Going forward, it is essential that we look to build resilience across the sector to protect our supply chains and at the same time looking to grasp new trade opportunities as we continue to build free trade agreements with the rest of the world.”