The first month of 2025 saw the IPT’s Fellowship Programme continue in full swing with some of the new MPs who have signed up to the scheme starting their programmes. Here we take a look back at the different visits and briefings which took place throughout January.
On the 9 January, Gregor Poynton MP began his Fellowship in Financial and Business Services with a visit to the Shoosmiths’ offices in London. Through a roundtable discussion Gregor got to learn about the work Shoosmiths do in the sector. The discussion then moved on to the challenges they are facing, regulation and their work on sustainability.
The following week, Baroness Blower continued her Fellowship programme on Creative Industries with a visit to the National Theatre in London. During her tour, she had the opportunity to explore behind the scenes, observing prop and set design in action, while learning about the National Theatre’s efforts to promote sustainability through set recycling. She also engaged in discussions regarding the National Theatre’s response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review Consultation, as well as their initiatives to involve young people in theatre, including apprenticeship programmes and the work of their skills centre.
Then, on 20 January, Baroness Sater continued her Fellowship on Volunteering's Impact on Industry with a visit to SimplyHealth. She explored their colleague volunteering initiatives, including the Let’s Care Together programme in partnership with Business in the Community and Carers Trust, as well as the BrightBites programme with Dentaid the Dental Charity. The discussion also covered their environmental and social responsibilities and priorities.
On 22 January, Peter Fortune MP kicked off his Fellowship on the Impact of AI with a briefing with CPI. They discussed the rapid pace of technological evolution in recent years, the inner workings of AI, and the steps the UK must take to become an AI superpower. CPI also highlighted the diverse sectors they work in, including pharmaceuticals, engineering biology, formulation science for EV batteries, new metamaterials for defence applications, and health tech.
On 23 January, Steve Race MP continued his Fellowship in Technology with a visit to the ADS offices, where he explored the role of AI in the aerospace and defence sectors. The discussion focused on the advancements in AI and the challenges that have come with these developments. They also highlighted the increasing need for AI progress in the UK to address the evolving and uncertain demands of defence.
On 30 January, the IPT arranged a cross-party visit to British Airways’ Waterside Headquarters in Harmondsworth, Greater London, attended by eight parliamentarians. As one of the world’s leading airlines, British Airways operates over 800 flights daily to more than 170 destinations and is undergoing a £7bn transformation to enhance efficiency, safety, and service. Parliamentarians received an exclusive insight into the airline’s extensive planning and logistical coordination, beginning with a briefing from senior management on flight operations, including airspace congestion and regulatory challenges. They visited the Integrated Operations Control Centre, where schedules, crew rostering, and aircraft deployment are managed, and later experienced the state-of-the-art flight simulator at the Flight Training Centre, highlighting the rigorous pilot training process. The delegation also met apprentices and cadets from the Speedbird Pilot Academy, learning about British Airways’ investment in future talent through fully funded pilot training.
We would like to thank all the businesses and parliamentarians involved in January’s IPT Fellowship Programme for their support and hard work on these engagements. We look forward to continuing our engagement with parliamentarians on Fellowship programmes throughout 2025, furthering their understanding of business.