The Prime Minister hosted her Industrial, Infrastructure and
Manufacturing Business Council at Downing Street earlier today.
The council, co-chaired by Sir Roger Carr, Chairman, BAE Systems
and Sir Ian Davis, Chairman, Rolls Royce, discussed important
issues affecting the UK business environment including the
apprenticeship levy and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
They also discussed green mobility, the UK automotive sector’s
transition to ultra-low emissions, and the importance of smart
construction.
The Prime Minister welcomed the hard work by all members of the
council in producing their recommendations and emphasised that
hearing directly from business had been a key focus during her
premiership. She reiterated that the council’s contributions are
important and valued across Government.
On the apprenticeship levy the Prime Minister welcomed the
council’s proposals for increased flexibility and transparency.
She emphasised the importance of continuing to deliver higher
level apprenticeships to meet current and future skills needs.
She agreed the detailed proposals should continue to be worked up
by members and feed into the ongoing review into the
apprenticeship system being led by the Treasury.
On green mobility, the Prime Minister welcomed proposals for a
transition council and the plans to scope future opportunities
for alternative fuels, such as hydrogen. She agreed that the
council should continue to work with BEIS officials to push the
work forward.
The Prime Minister agreed that there were tangible economic
opportunities for the UK in progressing carbon capture storage
and that the technology was vital for meeting net zero emissions
targets. She set out that the Government would continue to work
closely with the council to test out investment opportunities and
agreed that both Government and industry needed to move at
greater pace and scale to make this a reality.
The Prime Minister recognised the role that smart construction
has to play in the future and that this should be used to set a
standard in the sector.
The Prime Minister concluded the session by thanking the council
for their constructive proposals and confirmed that the
Government would continue to push the agenda forward.
