Inclusive Growth Conference 2024

A critical mission for growth

28 November 2024
10:00am–5:00pm
The Royal Society, London

The Centre for Progressive Policy invites you to attend our annual Inclusive Growth Conference at the Royal Society in London, hosted by Labour Peer, Broadcaster, and Political Commentator, Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE.

About the event

Delivering higher economic growth in every part of the country is one of the new government’s defining missions. Keir Starmer and his Cabinet want to ‘fix the foundations’ to deliver a ‘decade of national renewal’ - and have made clear that growing the economy is a prerequisite to much of the change they would like to enact.

But is Labour prepared to deliver the step-change in our economic model that is needed to deliver sustained higher growth in all corners of the UK during this parliament? Will ambitious agendas on workers’ rights, devolution, and the transition to net-zero be matched with bold action on public health and childcare? Will the first Labour Budget in 14 years demonstrate a level of ambition on public investment that matches its rhetoric – or will short-term notions of ‘fiscal credibility’ prevail? Can the government deliver tangible improvements to the people and places most excluded from prosperity, in such a way that can stem the tide of populism?

As the leading think tank focused on inclusive economic growth, the Centre for Progressive Policy believes Labour’s mission is the right one. But our years of research and policy on inclusive growth demonstrate the scale of ambition needed. Join us as we bring together leading economic and political voices to explore how the Labour government can deliver its critical mission for growth.

Agenda

A summary agenda is included below. A full programme will be available online and on the day closer to the event. Speakers to be announced soon.

The conference is expected to run from 10.00 – 17.00.

Morning:

  • Opening keynote and Q&A
  • Panel discussion: Whose growth is it anyway?
  • Panel discussion: Handing power away to deliver prosperity to every community
  • Lunch and networking

Afternoon:

  • Panel discussion: Raising public investment
  • Panel discussion: National renewal for political survival: how can Labour win again?
  • Closing keynote and Q&A
  • Drinks reception

Check out our 2023 and 2022 conferences.

Event bookings and tickets

Tickets for this event are FREE. In-person tickets include access to all discussion panels, keynotes, refreshments, lunch and a drinks reception and networking at the end of the day. Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited.

Location and venue

CPP’s 2024 Inclusive Growth Conference will take place in London at the Royal Society, the UK’s national, and oldest, scientific academy.

The Royal Society is a 10-minute walk from London Charing Cross (rail and tube station) and Piccadilly Circus (tube station) and a 15-minute walk through the park from St James’s Park station. There are cycle racks along Carlton House Terrace on either side of the Duke of York monument, and a limited number of metered car parking spaces. The venue is fully accessible (more information below).

https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

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Arrival time and registration

We expect the conference to run from 10.00 until 17.00. Attendees should arrive at the venue 20 mins before the first panel for registration. The conference will end with a closing keynote, followed by a drinks and networking reception.

Accessibility

The closest step-free underground station to the Royal Society is Westminster. The Royal Society is a fully accessible building. Registration, refreshments and the Lecture Theatre are all on the ground floor, cloakrooms in the basement are accessible by lift. The Lecture Theatre has ample space for wheelchair users. Please let us know if you have any other accessibility requirements when booking your ticket.

Auto-generated subtitles will be available for those watching the conference streamed and recordings of the event.

Dietary

Vegetarian options will be available as standard. Non-dairy milk will be available for tea/coffee. If you have specific dietary requirements or severe allergies, please indicate this when booking your ticket.

Environmental awareness

We have made every effort to consider the environmental impact of this event during planning and delivery. Event materials are digital where possible and if printed we use environmentally friendly paper and ink. We have catered with minimum waste in mind. We encourage attendees to use public transport, walk or cycle if possible.

Attendee information

This conference is free and open to all. Spaces are limited so please book early. If you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket so that we can make it available for someone else. This event will be photographed and recorded for use by CPP only, please indicate at registration if you do not wish to appear in photos. A cloakroom will be available.

For any questions check the FAQs on Eventbrite or contact us at events@progressive-policy.net

Speakers

Baroness Ayesha Hazarika, MBE

Broadcaster, comedian and writer

Baroness Hazarika is known for her insightful, witty opinions, and informed observations on current affairs and politics. Host of Times Radio Weekend Drivetime and The Power Test podcast, and regular contributor to TV, radio and print. Ayesha started her career as a stand-up comedian before going into politics, becoming Special Adviser for the Labour Party for eight years, in Government and Opposition. She worked for Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband on media and policy as well as heading up initiatives on topics such as Women and Equality. In 2024 she was granted a lifetime Labour peerage to the House of Lords.

Yuan Yang, MP

MP for Earley and Woodley

Yuan Yang is the Member of Parliament for Earley and Woodley, a new constituency in Reading which also covers Shinfield and Whitley. She is an economist by training, and after her master's degree, founded Rethinking Economics, a charity that campaigns to make economics teaching more relevant to the real world. Before being selected by the Labour Party to stand for Parliament, she spent eight years working as a journalist at the Financial Times. She began her career in journalism on the economics desk of The Economist.

Dan Tomlinson, MP

MP for Chipping Barnet

Dan Tomlinson is the first Labour MP to be elected to serve Chipping Barnet, where he lives with his family. He is focused on crime and community safety, improving access to the local NHS, and on reducing the cost of living for local residents. Dan was recently appointed as the Government’s National Mission Champion for Growth.

Before being elected, Dan worked as an economist, primarily focused on improving family living standards and growing the economy. He has previously worked at HM Treasury, and the Resolution Foundation, where he co-authored the paper calling for the furlough scheme. Most recently, Dan was Principal Policy Advisor at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the UK's leading anti-poverty charity.

Mayor Claire Ward

Mayor of the East Midlands

Claire Ward is Mayor of the East Midlands, representing 2.2 million people across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Mayor Claire has responsibility for transport, skills and adult education, housing and land, net-zero and economic development.

Before being elected Mayor in May 2024, Claire Ward was the Chair of Sherwood Forest Hospitals in North Nottinghamshire, as well as other roles at the Pharmacists' Defence Association and the Institute of Collaborative Working. From 1997 to 2010, Mayor Claire was MP for Watford and served as a Justice Minister under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Ben Franklin

Interim Chief Executive, CPP

Ben is CPP’s Interim Chief Executive. At CPP he has overseen impactful programmes of work on the importance of health, adult education and childcare to inclusive growth. His research has appeared in all major national and regional media – print and broadcast, and he has advised national politicians and local leaders on the linkages between growth, inequality and public services. Before this, Ben was Assistant Director at the International Longevity Centre, where he led major projects on the employment challenges facing the over 50s and the future of the UK’s pensions landscape. Prior to working in thinktanks, Ben undertook economic analysis for the Financial Conduct Authority and HM Treasury. He has also worked for a professional body in the insurance industry.

Ben Lucas

Founding Director, Metro Dynamics 

Ben is an expert on the political and economic drivers that are needed for growth. As Founding Director of Metro Dynamics he leads major strategy projects across the UK advising on governance, inclusive growth and how best to work with Westminster and Whitehall.

Before Metro Dynamics, Ben had a long career in public policy and communications, advising cities, businesses, and charities on how to achieve their public affairs objectives.

He is a Policy Associate at the Future Governance Forum, a member of the Evidence to Impact Committee of Foundations, The What Works Centre for Children and Families, and Founding Director of The Power Test podcast.

Annabel Smith

Director of Place and Practice, CPP

Annabel is Director of Place and Practice at CPP and works to translate inclusive growth from theory to practice across national, regional and local government. Leading our Inclusive Growth Network, she works with cities and regions across the UK to build a better understanding of what inclusive growth looks like and how it works in practice, as well as informing policy at the national level.

Dr Henry Kippin

Chief Executive, North East Mayoral Combined Authority

Dr Henry Kippin is the Chief Executive of the North East CA, responsible for its delivery programme spanning inclusive economic growth, transport, skills, housing, culture, public service innovation, net zero and devolution. He previously served as Chief Executive of the North of Tyne Combined Authority, and as an Executive Director at the West Midlands Combined Authority. Prior to this he held a number of roles in UK and international public policy, including as CEO of Collaborate and managing the cross-party RSA Public Services Commission. He is a trustee of the Young Foundation, a visiting professor at Newcastle University and was a visiting fellow of the UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence from 2013 – 2018. In 2024 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law by Northumbria University.

Danny Sriskandarajah

Chief Executive, New Economics Foundation

Dr Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah is Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation and author of "Power to the People: Use your voice, change the world" (Headline Press, 2024). Danny's previous roles include CEO of Oxfam GB, Secretary General of CIVICUS, Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Interim Director of the Commonwealth Foundation and various posts at the Institute for Public Policy Research. He is a Trustee of the Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation and has previously been a Trustee of the Baring Foundation, Comic Relief, Disasters Emergency Committee and Praxis Community Projects. He has been a member of two United Nations High Level Panels, on digital co-operation and humanitarian finance. Danny holds a Masters and Doctorate from Oxford University, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Sydney.

Alfie Stirling

Director of Insight and Policy and Chief Economist, JRF

Alfie is Director of Insight and Policy and Chief Economist, leading the evidence, economics and policy teams at JRF. Previously he was Director of Research and Chief Economist at the New Economics Foundation (NEF), leading research teams across economics, environment and social policy. Prior to that, Alfie was senior economist at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), leading macroeconomic and fiscal policy research for the Commission on Economic Justice. Alfie is a regular contributor in national media through TV, radio and print.

Claire Ainsley

Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal, Progressive Policy Institute

Claire is Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal at the Progressive Policy Institute. Prior to PPI, Claire was the Executive Director of Policy to Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition and the U.K. Labour Party, 2020-22. Claire also served as the Executive Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, where she led work on the social and political attitudes of people with low incomes. She is the author of "The New Working Class: How to Win Hearts, Minds and Votes," Claire is a trustee of Involve, the public participation charity.

Anushka Asthana

Deputy political editor, ITV News and co presenter, Peston programme

Anushka Asthana is deputy political editor at ITV News and co presenter of the Peston programme. She has previously worked as policy editor at the Observer, chief political correspondent at the Times, senior political correspondent at Sky News as well as joint political editor at the Guardian- and presenter of its award-winning daily podcast, Today in Focus. Her book, Taken as Red: How Labour Won Big and the Tories Crashed the Party was published in September 2024.