The Labour Party Annual Conference 2025

SME4Labour and JobsFoundation fringe: HOW LABOUR CAN WORK WITH BUSINESS TO BOOST GROWTH AND GET BRITAIN WORKING AGAIN

Speakers:

• Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability
• Lee Barron MP, MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire
• Douglas McWilliams, Founder of Centre for Economics and Business Research
• Georgiana Bristol, CEO, the Jobs Foundation
• Rupa Huq MP, MP for Ealing Central and Acton
• Jas Athwal MP, MP for Ilford South

Chair: Jamie Booth, Business Council Director

The event brought together leading politicians, economists, and business leaders to explore how collaboration between government and business can drive economic growth and reduce unemployment in the UK. Opening with a short film, Ladders of Opportunity, participants highlighted how practical initiatives can transform lives, providing young people and those returning to work with the training, support, and opportunities they need.

Georgiana Bristol outlined The Jobs Foundation’s mission to champion business as a force for good, sharing insights from their report on best practices in hiring, training, and retaining staff. The discussion emphasised that securing good jobs, rather than zero-hours contracts, is key to building sustainable local economies. Lee Barron MP and Jas Athwal MP highlighted local examples where political leadership and business engagement are creating tangible opportunities, including workforce planning, apprenticeships, and long-term career pathways.

Douglas McWilliams stressed the critical role of economic growth in boosting living standards, employment, and fiscal stability. He highlighted policies to attract inward investment, encourage entrepreneurship, and improve infrastructure, including planning reforms and support for small housebuilders. Rupa Huq MP drew attention to the challenges faced by small and micro-businesses, emphasising lifelong learning, digital skills, and fair access to opportunities as essential components of inclusive growth.

Throughout the session, panelists agreed that a multi-faceted approach is required: combining skills development, job creation, investment in infrastructure, and policies that reward work and drive productivity. The event underscored the central theme that collaboration between government and business is essential to get Britain working again and to provide meaningful, sustainable employment for all.

• Douglas McWilliams: 'Douglas is prominent economist, who served as Chief Economic Adviser to the CBI and as Chief Economist for IBM UK. Douglas founded the Centre for Economics and Business Research, which publishes the World Economic League Table. Douglas is the author of several books, including “The Flat White Economy” and “The Inequality Paradox”.'
• Georgiana Bristol, CEO, the Jobs Foundation: Georgiana leads the work of the Jobs Foundation, helping support businesses provide the vital ladder of opportunity from poverty into employment. She started her career working at Open Europe, moving on to lead the development for a range of public policy and referendum campaigns. She has also worked with various charities, including Venice in Peril, Project Trust and the Imperial War Museum.