IChemE convenes expert roundtable on industrial strategy at CHEMUK 2025

22nd May 2025
On 22 May, IChemE hosted an expert roundtable to discuss the UK Government’s forthcoming Industrial Strategy.
The UK Government has set growth as its most important mission, and in October 2024, it published out its plans to achieve this in a draft industrial strategy.
With the final strategy expected in a matter of weeks, IChemE convened a roundtable at this year’s CHEMUK, chaired by IChemE Deputy President Professor Raffaella Ocone, to discuss the strategy and what is needed to make it a success. The other panellists were Lisa Craig, Director of Process from BakerHicks, Duncan Lugton, Head of Policy and Impact from IChemE and Gbemi Oluleye, Lecturer and Head of Market Interventions Deep Decarbonisation Lab from The Grantham Institute, Imperial College London.
A number of key themes emerged in the discussion including the need for the strategy to give proper attention to foundational sectors such as chemicals that underpin the rest of the economy; the vital role of workforce in delivering the strategy (and the current shortage of STEM professionals); and the need for sustainability to be a fundamental part of the strategy if the Government is to achieve its climate ambitions.
IChemE will be uploading an anonymised write-up of the discussion shortly.
Find out more about the IChemE policy team and keep up with its wider work.
Links
Contact
For further information contact:
Duncan Lugton, Head of Policy and Impact, IChemE
t: +44 (0) 1788 578214
e: dlugton@icheme.org
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The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) advances chemical engineering's contribution for the benefit of society. We facilitate the development of chemical engineering professionals and provide connections to a powerful network of around 32,000 members in more than 100 countries.
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