Henham Strategy

Today sees Henham Strategy support the launch of techUK’s ‘Foundations For The Future: How Data Centres Can Supercharge UK Economic Growth’ report (https://lnkd.in/eUiw5pBa), shining a light on the significant economic contribution data centres make to the UK economy.   It’s great to see the report attracting attention in the press, and Charlie Courtney (Senior Consultant) will be presenting the report’s key findings at today’s launch event, kindly hosted at Shoosmiths offices in central London. Whilst the report may be launching in central London, regions across the UK can seize the data centre opportunity and further collaboration between industry and all levels of government is required to realise data centres’ substantial economic potential.   Our Managing Director, Nick King, offers his thoughts on the importance of this report and why data centres need to remain at the forefront of policy makers’ thinking.

We are delighted that our data centres economic impact report (https://lnkd.in/eUiw5pBa) produced with techUK has been published. The report shines a light on an industry that is essential to our modern-day economy, with data centres enabling the technology we rely on every day. It has been a pleasure engaging many industry and government colleagues, exploring how data centres’ economic contribution can be boosted across the UK. On an annual basis, the report outlines that data centres are contributing: ▪️ £4.7 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) annually to the UK economy.  ▪️ 43,500 jobs across the UK economy.  ▪️ £640 million in tax revenue to the exchequer. Whilst already significant, there is a huge amount of further potential to be unlocked. Data centres are a growth market and if the UK can increase capacity above its recent growth rate of 10% to 15% a year, this could have a transformative impact over the next 10 years, unlocking: ▪️ £44 billion in additional GVA ▪️ 58,400 additional jobs ▪️ £9.7 billion in additional tax revenue Our very own Senior Consultant, Charlie Courtney, will be presenting at tomorrow’s launch event and you can sign up here: techUK Report Launch - Foundations For The Future: How Data Centres Can Boost UK Economic Growth (https://lnkd.in/efBY_-j7). Equally, if you’d like to discuss the report over the coming weeks, do feel free to contact us directly through our data centres email (datacentres@henhamstrategy.co.uk). A huge thank you to all those who contributed their time and expertise to the report, Steve Hughes for his economic analysis and our colleagues at techUK for delivering such a timely report. Nick King, Nick Glover, Anna Howard, Luisa Cardani, Matthew Evans, Matt Robinson, techUK, Shoosmiths, Pulsant Ark Data Centres, KeySource, Colt Data Centre Services, Telehouse Europe.

📢 New Blog Post In our latest blog, Nick Glover shares his insights into the recent Budget, discussing the government’s commitment to tackling supply-side challenges and supporting vulnerable sectors. Read more about how these changes could shape the business landscape and the potential impacts on skills, infrastructure, and investment. 👉https://lnkd.in/dRHizmgd #Budget2024 #BudgetResponse #PublicAffairs

One of our Directors, Kate Fairhurst, recently wrote for techUK about the unrealised potential of AI in local government. Read the full blog below 👇

As a group by and for founders, we understand better than most the time, resource, and money that goes into starting and scaling a business. Something that makes the UK a great place to start a business is knowing that when it's time to exit, founders will be compensated for taking the risk in the first place. Although the Prime Minister has said that CGT increases up to 39% is "wide of the mark", our members remain concerned about what higher taxes upon exiting will mean for future potential founders. Thanks to Lars Mucklejohn for writing about our letter in City AM and helping us make sure the voices of founders are heard in the policy debate. https://lnkd.in/eYR-HsbJ

Thank you to Stephen Rosevear, Director at Avison Young and Consultant Uma H. for coming to speak to us yesterday about the drivers of local growth.   Hearing Steve's experiences as an economist working in this space over his career, including time in the Civil Service, helps us understand how the conversation has changed over time and what the guiding economic schools of thought are in the current debate. It's great to hear that we can all agree that investing in local places is worth it, even if there are differences in how to make that happen!

New clients landed, a new Government in place and new opportunities lie ahead - so it's time for some new senior leaders at Henham Strategy. We're #hiring for a brand new position: a Director of Public Affairs. We are looking for someone to come in to lead this core part of the business and to take it from strength to strength. If you have strong agency experience, an entrepreneurial streak and you are looking for a new challenge, this could be the role for you. More details below!

Those of a certain vintage might remember ‘It’ll Be Alright On The Night’, a TV show which showcased unfortunate bloopers caught on camera.   At the back end of last week, it felt like the International Investment Summit (IIS) might fall into the blooper category, undermined by DP World threatening to stay away following Louise Haigh’s criticism of P&O, last minute invitations being issued, and media question-marks over the decision not to invite Elon Musk.   But, it actually looks like everything was alright on the night, with the Summit showcasing the UK's commitment to attracting global investment and driving economic growth.   At Henham Strategy, we've been discussing the IIS with our clients and contacts since Labour came into power, recognising its potential impact on local growth, trade, and investment. It was gratifying to see this Summit come to fruition, delivering on its promise to unlock substantial investment and hosting an impressive array of high-calibre guests from around the world.   The Summit's impact was further amplified by the simultaneous publication of the Industrial Strategy Green Paper (https://lnkd.in/eKC6MC27), aiming to provide a framework for the UK's economic future. Publishing the Green Paper is further proof of the government's ambition to align investment with long-term industrial goals.   The presence of most cabinet members, along with representatives from devolved administrations and regional mayors, underscored the government's dedication to the event and their ambition to channel investment into the nations and regions of the UK.   Of course, the work to unlock investment must extend far beyond a single day's event. However, the IIS marked an important moment in this ongoing ambition. It set the stage for continued engagement with global investors, particularly in light of future steps to enhance the Office for Investment's role.    Moving forward, the challenge will be to maintain this momentum and translate the Summit's success into tangible, long-term benefits for businesses and communities across the UK. While yesterday’s event was undoubtedly significant, there is more to do - and a government that seems determined to do it. Nick King - Managing Director, Henham Strategy #internationalinvestmentsummit #industrialstrategygreenpaper #publicaffairs #governmentaffairs

It has been a busy week at Henham!    ✔️ On Monday, Kate Fairhurst and Charlie Courtney were at an Local Government Association public affairs session to learn more about how local government is approaching engagement. It was great to hear from local authorities about their enthusiasm for more public affairs activity, with so many exciting issues to focus on, including housing, net zero, economic growth and many more.    👨💼 Also on Monday, Nick King was out at SME4Labour's event, with Ministers Rupa Huq and Gareth Thomas, and Ibrahim Dogus. We're always interested in learning more about what smaller businesses want from the new government, and with the Budget coming up on this month, the voice of small businesses is more important than ever.    🤖 On Tuesday, we were lucky enough to have James Hutt from Paradigm Junction speak to us about AI in public services. Thank you again, James, for taking the time to explain the ever changing world of AI to us and its impact on businesses.   🏛 Finally, yesterday Nick Glover attended the WMREDI, University of Birmingham Celebration event at the Exchange in Birmingham. He heard first-hand from Professor Rebecca Riley, Professor David Sweeney, Professor Edgar Meyer, Si Chun Lam, Hilary Smyth-Allen, Tara Verrell, Dr. Eliot Marston and Professor Anne Green about its fantastic track record over the last five years. It was inspiring to hear the real difference it has made by building the region’s analytical capabilities and a bridge between research & development and users across the public, private and academic sectors. #UKInvestment #localgovernment

A big thank you to James Hutt at Paradigm Junction for speaking to us this week! As a team working with governments and policymaking bodies at different levels, learning more about AI and what it means for the future of public services is invaluable. The potential impact of AI (or as James explained, what we currently think of as AI) on public services is a hot topic in Westminster and local authorities as it becomes increasingly ingrained in our day to day lives. Having our questions answered about what it will look like for service providers going forward and how to incorporate it into our work was a fantastic learning experience for the team.