Difference between revisions of "Policy Connect"

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Policy Connect are involved with a number of different groups that fall under their five key topic remit of Skills, Environment, Health, Design and Sustainability.
 
Policy Connect are involved with a number of different groups that fall under their five key topic remit of Skills, Environment, Health, Design and Sustainability.
 
===Skills===
 
===Skills===
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Policy Connect is associated with The Skills Commission, which is a select group of key individuals in the skills sector which acts as a steering body to the National Skills Forum and the Associate Parliamentary Skills Group (APSG). They oversee and give direction to the work of the National Skills Forum and APSG, bringing "fresh thinking to the skills debate and campaigning on major skills issues in Parliament and beyond." The Skills commission is Co-chaired by Policy Connect founder Barry Sheerman MP and Dame Ruth Silver who is the Principle of Lewisham College. <ref> Policy Connect[http://policyconnect.org.uk/content/skills/sc/aboutus Policy Connect Skills] accessed April 22 2010 </ref> Policy Connect provides administrative support to the Skills Commission to help fund meetings; provide staff who act as clerks to the group; project and events management; share costs of telephone, IT, web and email hosting; provide financial services and provide office space external to Palace of Westminster. <ref> All Party Groups[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/register.pdf Register of All Party Groups]accessed 23 April 2010 </ref>
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Policy Connect is associated with [[The Skills Commission]], which is a select group of key individuals in the skills sector which acts as a steering body to the [[National Skills Forum]] and the [[Associate Parliamentary Skills Group]] (APSG). They oversee and give direction to the work of the National Skills Forum and APSG, bringing "fresh thinking to the skills debate and campaigning on major skills issues in Parliament and beyond." The Skills Commission is co-chaired by Policy Connect founder Barry Sheerman MP and Dame Ruth Silver who is the Principle of Lewisham College. <ref> Policy Connect[http://policyconnect.org.uk/content/skills/sc/aboutus Policy Connect Skills] accessed April 22 2010 </ref> Policy Connect provides administrative support to the Skills Commission to help fund meetings; provide staff who act as clerks to the group; project and events management; share costs of telephone, IT, web and email hosting; provide financial services and provide office space external to Palace of Westminster. <ref> All Party Groups[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/register.pdf Register of All Party Groups]accessed 23 April 2010 </ref>
  
 
===Environment===
 
===Environment===
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For their key topic of the Environment, Policy Connect deals with the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group who want to "develop a deeper understanding between government, parliamentarians, business leaders and the waste sector in the sustainable management of waste" <ref> All Party Groups[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/register.pdf Register of All Party Groups] accessed 23 April 2010 </ref> and the Strategic Waste Forum, who run a number of select member only events. Policy Connect provides services to the Sustainable Resource Group as the group’s secretariat which includes staff who act as clerks to the group, office space, telephone, IT and secretarial services.
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For their key topic of the Environment, Policy Connect deals with the [[Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group]], which aims to "develop a deeper understanding between government, parliamentarians, business leaders and the waste sector in the sustainable management of waste"<ref> All Party Groups[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/register.pdf Register of All Party Groups] accessed 23 April 2010 </ref> and the Strategic Waste Forum, who run a number of select member only events. Policy Connect provides services to the Sustainable Resource Group as the group’s secretariat which includes staff who act as clerks to the group, office space, telephone, IT and secretarial services.
 
Policy Connect Manager Philip Armstrong is also paid member of the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group <ref>  All Party Groups [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/register.pdf Register of All Party Groups] accessed April 23 2010 </ref>
 
Policy Connect Manager Philip Armstrong is also paid member of the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group <ref>  All Party Groups [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/register.pdf Register of All Party Groups] accessed April 23 2010 </ref>
  

Revision as of 10:29, 7 June 2010

According to their own account:

Policy Connect is a not for profit organisation which bridges Parliament and industry to promote effective policy in five key areas: Skills, Environment, Health, Design & Sustainability. Established in 1995, Policy Connect has developed a niche position within the policy-making process, working across the political spectrum with parliamentarians and decision-makers.[1]

This and their activities suggest that Policy Connect is a lobbying outfit which helps clients to get close to decision makers.

Policy Connect deals with All-Party Parliamentary Groups by bringing their cause to the attention of MP's and lobbying to have the groups concerns raised in Parliament. All Party Groups are an amalgamation of MPs from across the political spectrum uniting over a particular subject. These groups in theory have no official political power over legislation, but are extremely influential in their given topic. [2]

One of the All Party Groups that Policy Connect deals with is the Associate Parliamentary Health Group. [3] This group is comprised of both private institutions, MPs, professors and other individuals with connections to the health sector. The group aims to inform poilcy makers with up to date information about the health sector through publications and various events. [4]

History

Policy Connect was co-founded by Barry Sheerman MP, a Labour politician for Huddersfield. Since it's establishment, Policy Connect has worked with parliamentarians and decision makers to ensure that positive relationships between key sectors and parliament are maintained and that the economy remains competitive yet sustainable. Policy Connect has done this through the production of research and policy reports, sharing latest policy with all stakeholders and by running events which allow greater communication between different sectors, experts and stakeholders. [5]

Affiliations

Policy Connect are involved with a number of different groups that fall under their five key topic remit of Skills, Environment, Health, Design and Sustainability.

Skills

Policy Connect is associated with The Skills Commission, which is a select group of key individuals in the skills sector which acts as a steering body to the National Skills Forum and the Associate Parliamentary Skills Group (APSG). They oversee and give direction to the work of the National Skills Forum and APSG, bringing "fresh thinking to the skills debate and campaigning on major skills issues in Parliament and beyond." The Skills Commission is co-chaired by Policy Connect founder Barry Sheerman MP and Dame Ruth Silver who is the Principle of Lewisham College. [6] Policy Connect provides administrative support to the Skills Commission to help fund meetings; provide staff who act as clerks to the group; project and events management; share costs of telephone, IT, web and email hosting; provide financial services and provide office space external to Palace of Westminster. [7]

Environment

For their key topic of the Environment, Policy Connect deals with the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group, which aims to "develop a deeper understanding between government, parliamentarians, business leaders and the waste sector in the sustainable management of waste"[8] and the Strategic Waste Forum, who run a number of select member only events. Policy Connect provides services to the Sustainable Resource Group as the group’s secretariat which includes staff who act as clerks to the group, office space, telephone, IT and secretarial services. Policy Connect Manager Philip Armstrong is also paid member of the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group [9]

Health

Under their Health umbrella, Policy Connect support the Associate Parliamentary Health Group (APHG). The APHG is a forum which is dedicated to the sharing of impartial and high quality information as well as the stimulation of discussion on health issues that are dealt with by local and national UK Parliament. "The Group enables parliamentarians, policy makers, healthcare professionals and the health industry to promote and discuss the national health agenda, bringing them together in a forum that encourages constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue". [10] Policy Connect has several ties with the Associate Parliamentary Health Group . Founder of Policy Connect, Barry Sheerman MP, is one of the 20 members of the All Party Group for the APHG and according to the Register of All Party Groups, Policy Connect serves as the ASHG's secreteriat, which "includes staff acting as clerks to the group, telephone, IT, web and e-mail hosting, accounts administration and office space". Another link between the two organisations is Sally Percy who is a Group Manager for Policy Connect and also a paid member of the APHG [11]

The other group that Policy Connect deals with under their Health banner is the Chronic Pain Policy Coalition (CPPC). The CPPC provides a forum for patients, professionals & parliamentarians who believe in raising the profile of chronic pain as a pressing health and social issue amongst policymakers. The CPPC seeks to develop policies that will enable patients and their families to better manage their pain. [12] Policy Connect provides this group with administrative support which takes shape in the form of staff who act as clerks to the group and by funding office space; funding meetings, telephone, IT and email and web hosting. [13]

Design

Under their design remit, Policy Connect works with the Associate Parliamentary Group for Design and Innovation which exists to generate an exchange of knowledge and understanding between Parliament and the design industry about the role of design and innovation in improving competitiveness and quality of life. [14] Policy Connect Policy Connect provides services as the group's secretariat which consists of staff acting as clerks to the group, funding telephone, IT, web and e-mail hosting, accounts administration and office space). This was funded by funded by £10,000 from the Design Council and £10,000 from the Design Business Association. Policy Connect Manager Jocelyn Bailey Manager and Policy Connect Events Manager Daniel Golding are also on the pay roll of the Associate Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group [15]

Sustainability

Regarding sustainability, Policy Connect is linked with the Westminster Sustainable Design Forum (WSBF), Carbon Connect and the Mars & Pluto Financial Forum. The Westminster Sustainable Business Forum aims to stimulate discussion and understanding amongst parliamentarians, business leaders and other stakeholders about issues relating to sustainable business. In doing so, the WSBF aims to ensure a platform for dialogue to discuss best practice in the UK. The aim of the forum is to demonstrate that to be sustainable is to be competitive. [16]

Carbon Connect is a coalition of Parliamentarians and industry leaders committed to advancing the low carbon agenda. It was launched in June 2009, by Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. [17]

The Mars & Pluto Financial Forum says it was

established to foster a constructive and lasting dialogue between the financial services sector, policy-makers and Parliament on issues crucial to the financial services sector. Politically neutral, the Forum provides an invaluable platform to inform debate between industry and policy leaders. Our vision is a sustainable future for the financial sector built through informed, high-level debate. It provides a unique opportunity for industry leaders, policy-makers and legislators to engage at the centre of debate surrounding the future of the financial services sector in the UK. [18]

People

Policy Connect is formed by a 9 member board, as well as 15 other team members, all with a range of knowledge and experience in the private and public sector. [19]

Board Members

As of February 2010:[20]

Team Members

As at February 2010:[21]

Lobbying groups

Policy Connect provides the secretariat for a number of Parliamentary lobby and policy discussion groups:[22][23]

Contact Details

POLICY CONNECT LIMITED

CAN Mezzanine

32-36 Loman Street

Southwark

London

SE1 0EH

Company No. 03117836


Notes

  1. ↑ Policy Connect About Us, accessed 14 August 2008
  2. ↑ Dr. Howard Stoate. What is an All Parliamentary Group? Accessed April 21 2010
  3. ↑ Policy Connect. Policy Connect Health. Accessed March 16 2010
  4. ↑ Associate Parliamentary Health Group Associate Parliamentary Health Group Accessed April 26 2010
  5. ↑ Policy Connect Policy Connect, about us accessed on Feb. 23 2010
  6. ↑ Policy ConnectPolicy Connect Skills accessed April 22 2010
  7. ↑ All Party GroupsRegister of All Party Groupsaccessed 23 April 2010
  8. ↑ All Party GroupsRegister of All Party Groups accessed 23 April 2010
  9. ↑ All Party Groups Register of All Party Groups accessed April 23 2010
  10. ↑ Globalisation: Associate Parliamentary Health GroupAssociate Parliamentary Health Group accessed April 22 2010
  11. ↑ All Party Groups Register of All Party Groups accessed April 23 2010
  12. ↑ Policy Connect Policy Connect, Health accessed on April 22 2010
  13. ↑ All Party Groups of All Party Groups accessed April 23 2010
  14. ↑ SCDF APGFDAI accessed April 23 2010
  15. ↑ All Party Groupsof All Party Groups accessed April 23 2010
  16. ↑ Sustainability Forum WSBF accessed April 23 2010
  17. ↑ Policy Connect Carbon Connect Accessed April 23 2010
  18. ↑ Policy Connect Mars & Pluto Financial Forum accessed 23 April 2010
  19. ↑ Policy Connect Policy Connect, our Board accessed on Feb. 23 2010
  20. ↑ Policy Connect Policy Connect, our Board accessed on Feb. 23 2010
  21. ↑ Policy Connect Policy Connect, Our Team accessed on Feb. 23 2010
  22. ↑ About Us, Policy Connect website, acc 7 June 2010
  23. ↑ Liz Stephens and Jim Pickard, All-party groups urged to be open on funds, Financial Times, 28 Mar 2010, acc 7 Jun 2010
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