Building a Britain for the future: Understanding the industrial strategy white paper

Key points

• The government published its long awaited industrial strategy white paper on 27 November 2017. The Industrial Strategy white paper sets out the government’s long-term plan to create an economy that boosts productivity and earning power throughout the UK.
• The strategy identifies four ‘grand challenges’ which will put the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future and five ‘foundations of productivity’ to transform the economy. Many of these relate to the health sector. An independent Industrial Strategy Council will assess progress and make recommendations to government.
• Local industrial strategies will be developed (with the first to be agreed by March 2019), led by metro mayors or local enterprise partnerships (LEPs). These will bring together the public and private sectors to identify local priorities to improve skills, increase innovation and enhance infrastructure and growth. Importantly, they will also guide the use of future local funding streams and any spending from national government.
• Local industrial strategies will be developed (with the first to be agreed by March 2019), led by metro mayors or local enterprise partnerships (LEPs). These will bring together the public and private sectors to identify local priorities to improve skills, increase innovation and enhance infrastructure and growth. Importantly, they will also guide the use of future local funding streams and any spending from national government.
• NHS leaders should seek to understand the areas mentioned in the industrial strategy of most relevance locally and establish relations with mayoral combined authorities or LEPs, with a view to being involved as local industrial strategies are developed and agreed.
• The NHS Confederation, through its local growth adviser, is the only national NHS body helping local leaders to understand, engage with and benefit from the industrial strategy. Contact our local growth adviser Michael Wood discuss how you might make links in your area.