Thames Valley Growth Conference Highlights ambition, collaboration, and opportunity across the region

Business leaders, educators, policymakers, and innovators gathered for the 2026 Thames Valley Growth Conference, hosted by Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and supported by the University of Reading. The Conference brought together organisations from across the region to discuss the future of economic growth, workforce skills, investment and innovation in the Thames Valley, with a strong focus on collaboration, long-term regional prosperity and the growing use of technology and AI to enable growth and support continued investment, particularly amongst our SME business community.

Hosted by Phil Smith CBE, Chair of Skills England, and Becky Wirth, Head of Government Affairs at 3M, the conference featured keynote addresses from Andy Haldane, former Chief Economist at the Bank of England and President of the British Chambers of Commerce, Ian Wakefield, VP and General Manager at BD, and Professor Robert Van de Noort CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading.

Clive Jones, MP for Wokingham said “The Thames Valley is a powerhouse in the UK’s economy, home to world-leading businesses that drive growth and create skilled jobs. As the Chair of the Thames Valley APPG, I will continue to make it clear to the government that investing in the Thames Valley means boosting growth for the entire nation.”

Read more HERE. Watch HERE.  Read the full article in TVCC’s Business Voice.