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21 Aug 2024

techUK Political Party Conference Schedule 2024

#techUKPartyConference2024

techUK is bringing back a busy agenda at the political party conferences again this year, with events planned across Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Conferences. Marking the first conference season since the General Election, we will be hosting a range of events across the secure zone but also externally for members and stakeholders to attend during the Labour Party Conference.  

In partnership with a range of members, we will be exploring some of the key issues facing the UK’s tech sector and wider society with our programme of events.  

techUK will also have multiple colleagues attending all three conferences. If you would like a techUK speaker for your own event, or would like to invite us to attend any events you're hosting, then please do email [email protected].

Please note that more events may be added in the coming weeks, and that the below events may be subject to change. For any questions, please email [email protected] or [email protected].  

Labour Party Conference 

Please note, unlike previous years, techUK’s events will not be in the same room at this conference. If you are planning on coming to any techUK events, please check the event location to avoid missing any of the session. 

Monday 23 September

14:00-15:00pm What does Labour's landslide mean for tech? - A discussion with new MPs on how Parliament will approach the tech industry 

20:00-21:30pm CBI Business Reception [private event – by invitation only] 

Tuesday 24 September 

08:30-09:30am In-conversation with The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (invited) [techUK members only] 

10:00-11:00am Improving AI adoption to support Labour’s mission for growth in partnership with RELX 

10:30-11:30am Digital Resilience and Risk: Building an economy able to withstand the threats of tomorrow in partnership with Cisco 

11:30am-12:30pm techUK and the Startup Coalition roundtable: Harnessing scale ups for growth & productivity across the UK economy [private event – by invitation only] 

 

Conservative Party Conference 

Monday 30 September  

20:30-22:00pm CBI Business Reception [private event – by invitation only] 

 

Liberal Democrat Party Conference 

Monday 16 September 

18:00-20:00pm Digital Lib Dems Party Conference drinks, supported by Startup Coalition and techUK 

 

Additional details: 

 

Labour Party Conference

22-25 September, at the ACC in Liverpool

Panel: What does Labour's landslide mean for tech? - A discussion with new MPs on how Parliament will approach the tech industry 

  • Date: Monday 23rd September 
  • Time: 14:00pm-15:00pm 
  • Location: Arena Room 5, Liverpool ACC (secure zone) 
  • Admission: Open to all conference attendees with a secure zone pass 

Confirmed speakers: 

  • Andrew Pakes MP for Peterborough
  • Kanishka Narayan MP for The Vale of Glamorgan
  • Lucy Rigby MP for Northampton North
  • Samantha Niblett MP for South Derbyshire
  • Chair: Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK

During the election campaign, and in Labour’s Manifesto, it became evident that technology is pivotal in realising the Government’s vision for a better future. However, developing successful technology policies and regulation that can help to support on the delivery of these ambitions requires collaboration between those with technical expertise in Parliament and businesses within the sector throughout the policymaking process.  

We hope to bring together industry and members of the Labour Party a chance to hear from new MPs with a background in the technology sector on how they and their colleagues are likely to approach digital issues in this new Parliament. 

 

CBI Business Reception 

  • Date: Monday 23rd September 
  • Time: 20:00-21:30pm 
  • Admission: Invite only 

 

In conversation with: The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology 

  • Date: Tuesday 24th September 
  • Time: 08:30am-09:30am 
  • Admission: Private event for techUK members  

A fireside conversation between techUK’s CEO Julian David and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology the Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, followed by a Q&A session for attendees. 

For more information, or to register to attend as a techUK member, please email [email protected].  

 

Panel: Improving AI adoption to support Labour’s mission for growth in partnership with RELX 

  • Date: Tuesday 24th September 
  • Time: 10:00am-11:00am 
  • Location: Madre, Unit 6, Atlantic Pavilion, Liverpool L3 4AE 
  • Admission: Open to all conference attendees 

Confirmed Speakers:

  • Josh Simons MP for Makerfield
  • Imogen Parker, Associate Director - Society, Justice & Public Services, The Ada Lovelace Institute
  • Richard Mollett, Head of European Government Affairs, RELX
  • Federico Cilauro, Senior Manager - Public Policy Practice, Frontier Economics 
  • Chair: Neil Ross, Associate Director for Policy, techUK   

Throughout Labour’s Five Missions, it is clear that technology – including AI - is seen as a tool that can help to deliver on the Government’s vision for a better future and the effective delivery of public services. However, to reap the benefits of AI solutions, there needs to be widespread adoption across both the private and public sectors, and little time has been afforded to coordinating how AI solutions could be more widely adopted, and how we can see the potential benefits from widespread uptake achieved in the future.

This session will consider what the current barriers are to AI adoption, and what policy changes could be made to make the uptake of AI solutions simpler and more accessible. The conversation will discuss the potential productivity gains that could be made across government, the public sector and businesses – and how we work to achieve them.  Themes that are likely to come up include how regulation can best support wider uptake, the skills gap that needs to be closed to ensure that AI solutions are understood and widely implemented and whether the UK currently has the right investment landscape to allow for innovative AI solutions to be explored and used. 

 

Panel: Digital Resilience and Risk: Building an economy able to withstand the threats of tomorrow in partnership with Cisco 

  • Date: Tuesday 24th September 
  • Time: 10:30am-11:30am  
  • Location: Arena Room 5, Liverpool ACC (secure zone) 
  • Admission: Open to all conference attendees with a secure zone pass 

Confirmed Speakers:

  • Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee
  • Professor Sadie Creese, Professor of Cybersecurity, The University of Oxford
  • Gordon Morrison, Global Policy Lead, Defence and National Security
  • Joseph Jarnecki, Research Fellow – Cyber, RUSI
  • Chair: Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK

It is widely accepted that the UK has, in recent years, fallen behind its counterparts in terms of our cybersecurity framework – particularly as the NIS Regulations have become outdated considering the everchanging nature of cyber threats. In February, the previous Government opened a review into cybersecurity and economic growth in the McPartland Review.  The self-published findings suggest that a two-pronged approach was needed to address obstacles and barriers, including both regulatory changes and non-legislative levers. We have already seen in the King’s Speech the new government’s plans for the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, but the Labour Party’s thinking around the other non-legislative actions to improve resilience are not as clear.  

With multiple significant cyberattacks taking place in recent years – including one on the NHS during the election campaign – it is vital that resilience is considered by any government as a priority during any adoption or rollout of technological solutions across public services in order to reap the benefits that the technology sector can bring to the UK and its public services. The session will focus on the need to consider resilience within the rollout and adoption of technological solutions, and what steps the government should consider when building on the UK’s current cybersecurity framework. It will also touch upon how technology can often be the solution to defending the UK’s public services, given examples of solutions specifically focussed on countering such threats, and how it can support wider economic growth. 

 

Roundtable: techUK and the Startup Coalition: Harnessing scale ups for growth & productivity across the UK economy 

  • Date: Tuesday 24th September 
  • Time: 11:30am-12:30pm 
  • Admission: Private event - by invitation only 

Confirmed Speakers:

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Minister for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety, The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

For the new Government, solving the economic growth puzzle is vital to the nation’s short and long-term prosperity. Scale-ups—fast-growing companies with the potential to significantly impact productivity and innovation—are crucial for delivering economic growth. Despite the UK's success in creating tech unicorns, with over 150 calling the UK home, there are many different barriers preventing these companies from becoming global champions. This event aims to discuss these challenges and identify actionable solutions to help the scale-up economy thrive. 

This event will explore how fostering and supporting scale-ups can drive growth, productivity and solidify the UK's position as a global technology leader. It will examine what steps the Government should take to support scale-ups with access to finance, access to talent and pro-innovation regulation.  

 

Conservative Party Conference 

29 September – 02 October, Birmingham 

CBI Business Reception 

  • Date: Monday 30th September 
  • Time: 20:30-22:00pm 
  • Admission: Invite only 

Liberal Democrat Conference 

14-17 September, Brighton 

Digital Lib Dems Party Conference Drinks supported by the Startup Coalition and techUK 

  • Date: Monday 16th September 
  • Time: 18:00-20:00pm 
  • Admission: RSVP to this link for more details and to attend 

 

 

Alice Campbell

Alice Campbell

Head of Public Affairs, techUK

Archie Breare

Archie Breare

Public Affairs Manager, techUK

Antony Walker

Antony Walker

Deputy CEO, techUK

Neil Ross

Neil Ross

Associate Director, Policy, techUK

Samiah Anderson

Samiah Anderson

Head of Digital Economy, techUK

 

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