POLICY & INWARD INVESTMENT
Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Hosts Political Working Lunch with Maidenhead MP Joshua Reynolds
Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce welcomed Joshua Reynolds, Member of Parliament for Maidenhead, to its latest Political Working Lunch, hosted by Ultra Cyber UK at its Maidenhead office.
The event brought together business leaders from across the Thames Valley to discuss the economic and political issues shaping the region, providing an opportunity for open dialogue between the local business community and its parliamentary representative.
Opening the discussion, Joshua Reynolds MP shared insights from Westminster, his role as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Investment and Trade, and his work on the Business and Trade Select Committee. He spoke about a range of issues affecting businesses, including the rising cost of doing business, regulatory compliance, UK – EU relations and the challenges many firms face in accessing finance.
The discussion was chaired by Juliette Wilcox CMG, UK President of Ultra Cyber,
Chamber President, Bill Gornall-King, Joshua Reynolds MP, Juliette Wilcox, Ultra Cyber, Gareth Ralphs, TVCC
with businesses raising concerns around ongoing political uncertainty, declining exports in the post-Brexit environment, the profile and future of the local screen industry, and difficulties experienced when engaging with HMRC.
Attendees also explored the Liberal Democrats’ approach to rebuilding the UK’ s relationship with the European Union, and how closer cooperation could be balanced with maintaining regulatory agility. Wider discussions focused on innovative approaches to defence investment, the evolving definition of national security, and the importance of resilient supply chains.
Reflecting on the event, Joshua Reynolds MP said:
“ It was a pleasure to join the Chamber to hear directly from businesses at the Political Working Lunch. The mix of businesses in the room underlined the strength of many sectors in the area, including creative industries, health and life sciences, and defence. I am looking forward to further roundtables with SMEs and business leaders as we gather evidence for the Clearing the Way for Growth initiative.”
The Chamber’ s Political Working Lunch series continues to provide a valuable forum for business leaders and elected representatives to discuss the issues that matter most, ensuring the voice of Thames Valley businesses helps shape local and national policy.
The road map for future skills in the Thames Valley approved as Skills England endorse the latest Local Skills Improvement Plans for Berkshire and Oxfordshire
Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce( TVCC) delivers the programme and has welcomed the approval of the updated Local Skills Improvement Plans( LSIPs) for both Berkshire and Oxfordshire, which reflects the all-important and strengthening links between employers and the education and skills system across the region.
The approval by the Secretary of State follows the submission of the refreshed LSIPs that have been developed during a time of significant technological change. The role of the Chamber is to bring extensive engagement with businesses, education and training providers, local authorities and other stakeholders. As a result, the plans identify the priority skills challenges facing employers and set out practical actions to ensure local skills provision better reflects the needs of the economy.
Skills England has described the publication of the LSIPs as“ an important step in the ongoing work to strengthen the role of employers in shaping the skills system” and given the feedback from business that access to the right skills is fundamental to future growth, the LSIP is central to the Chambers work.
As the designated Employer Representative Body( ERB) for both Berkshire and Oxfordshire, TVCC has steered the development of the plans, gathering evidence from employers and helping to shape changes to the curriculum of educators and training providers in response.
The updated LSIPs build on the foundations established in the first plans and recognise the changing demands of employers as technologies evolve, industries grow and new opportunities emerge across the Thames Valley.
The reports highlight priorities including improving pathways into employment, addressing sector-specific skills shortages, strengthening technical education, supporting lifelong learning and ensuring the workforce has the skills needed for future economic growth, including digital, green and advanced technologies.
The Berkshire and Oxfordshire LSIPs will be published on 10 July following the Government’ s national announcement and will be available at:
Berkshire LSIP: https:// www. berkshirelsip. co. uk / Oxfordshire LSIP: https:// www. oxfordshirelsip. co. uk /
40 Autumn 2026